They hadn't been walking long when Valeria suddenly froze mid-step, one hand flying to the hilt of her sword.
"Celeste," she hissed, low but sharp, "stop."
Celeste halted without question, her fingers tightening around her staff as her eyes flicked to Valeria. "What is it?"
Valeria didn't answer right away. Her gaze was locked on a patch of brush up ahead, eyes narrowed, body still. Even the birds seemed to quiet.
"There's something in the bushes," she muttered. "Big. Could be a bandit. Or worse."
Celeste swallowed hard. Her grip on the staff tightened, knuckles white. "Are you sure?"
"I'm never sure," Valeria replied, "but I've learned not to ignore my gut."
A tense silence settled over them. The air seemed thicker. Heavier. Then, the bush moved.
No rustle. No gentle sway. It shook.
"On your left!" Valeria shouted.
Celeste spun just in time to see a blur of gray and teeth lunging from the undergrowth. A wolf, larger than most, jaws wide. Instinct took over, she ducked, barely missing the full weight of the beast as it sailed over her and hit the ground hard.
Valeria was already in motion. She didn't hesitate. The wolf had stumbled from its missed strike, and that was enough.
"You outstayed your welcome!" she growled, sword flashing as she brought it down.
The blade sank clean into the wolf's neck. It hit the ground with a thud, blood seeping into the grass beneath it.
Valeria panted, adrenaline still buzzing in her veins. She looked over at Celeste, who was on one knee, breathing hard but alive.
"You alright?"
Celeste nodded shakily. "Yeah... just startled." She pulled herself to her feet with her staff, brushing dirt from her cloak.
They barely had time to breathe before the bushes erupted again.
Four more wolves padded out of the undergrowth, silent but focused, their yellow eyes locked onto the two girls. This wasn't an ambush, it was a pack.
"Of course they travel in groups," Valeria muttered under her breath. She raised her blade again, stepping in front of Celeste. "Alright, round two then. Let's-"
"Wait." Celeste's voice cut her off. Calm, but firm.
Valeria glanced back, frowning. "Celeste?"
"Let me handle it." Her voice was quiet, but steady now. There was something in her eyes. Determination, or maybe just desperation disguised as it.
Valeria hesitated, then slowly lowered her sword. "Fine. Just don't take too long. I really don't want to get eaten today."
Celeste took a step forward. The wolves didn't move, but they were watching. Waiting. She tapped her staff once against the earth.
"Noctis vincla, silex mens," she whispered, voice steady as the chant rolled off her tongue.
Light pulsed from the tip of the staff, a soft radiance that spread outward in waves. The wolves paused. One blinked slowly, then another. Then, one by one, they collapsed to the ground, eyes closed, breaths even.
Sleep.
Not death. Not pain. Only slumber.
Celeste exhaled, her body sagging slightly with the effort. "That won't hold forever. Let's move before they wake."
Valeria didn't argue. She cast one last glance at the wolves, then nodded and fell into step beside her companion.
They moved quickly now, deeper into the woods, away from the tension, from the blood on the grass, from whatever else might be watching.
"Nice work back there," Valeria said after a few minutes, her voice quieter now.
Celeste gave her a small smile, still a bit shaken. "Let's just hope the forest is done testing us for today."
But even as they pressed on, neither of them fully believed that.
The forest had teeth, and it wasn't done biting.
[—To Be Continued—]