Into the Woods

The Enclave warriors pushed deeper into the forest.

Their boots crunched against the snow, their breath fogging in the freezing air as they pressed forward without slowing. They had followed the Nightshade warriors into the woods, determined not to let them escape. There was no way they were going to let them get away—not after everything that had happened. Not after the ambush. Not after watching their comrades fall to poisoned arrows, their bodies convulsing as dark veins spread across their skin before life left their eyes.

Victory had seemed so close only moments ago.

The northern warriors had retreated.

At least, that was what they believed.

Now they found themselves chasing ghosts.

It had been several minutes since they entered the forest completely, yet there was still no sign of the warriors they had been pursuing.

No footprints.

No broken branches.

No scent strong enough to follow.

No voices.

Nothing.

The weather grew colder with every passing moment.

Snow continued falling from the sky in thick, relentless sheets, covering whatever traces might have remained. The wind howled between the towering trees, carrying with it an icy bite that slipped beneath armour and clothing alike. Many of the Enclave warriors had never experienced cold this severe before. Their hands had begun to stiffen around their weapons, and several quietly flexed their fingers every few moments just to keep feeling in them.

The North was far crueler than any story had prepared them for.

Even the moonlight failed to reach them beneath the dense canopy overhead.

Ancient trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their enormous branches locking together high above to form a natural ceiling that swallowed what little light remained. Their trunks were impossibly wide, their roots twisting through the snow.

The deeper they walked, the darker it became.

Even the beasts accompanying them had fallen strangely silent.

No Skylurs roared.

No Mirelurkers hissed beneath the snow.

No Virelops screeched from the trees.

It was as though every creature had disappeared.

The silence unsettled everyone.

Every crunch beneath their boots sounded unnaturally loud. Every gust of wind made warriors tighten their grips on their weapons.

“What the fuck is going on?” one warrior muttered, his voice barely louder than the wind.

“Perhaps they really did run away,” another answered.

“I doubt that,” a third replied, shivering visibly. “Fucking North… how do people even survive in weather like this?”

“Keep your eyes open.”

“I’m trying.”

“I can’t see a damn thing.”

“Watch your language.”

“You watch yours.”

Another warrior rubbed his arms.

“I don’t like this.”

“Neither do I.”

—

Far behind the advancing warriors, another carriage finally came to a stop.

Its door opened slowly.

A man stepped down onto the snow.

He was tall, broad-shouldered and powerfully built. His armour gleamed despite the grime of battle, polished so thoroughly that even beneath the dark canopy it reflected what little light remained. A thick crimson cloak rested across his shoulders, shifting gently with the wind.

Alpha Joshua surveyed the forest before him.

Something about this place unsettled him.

He had marched through forests before.

He had fought wars before.

He had walked into countless ambushes throughout his lifetime.

Yet something about this one refused to sit right with him.

It wasn’t simply the silence.

It wasn’t merely the cold.

It felt…

Wrong.

He strode forward, his heavy boots sinking into the snow.

Before long, a warrior hurried toward him, breathing heavily.

“Alpha Joshua!”

Joshua turned.

“We’ve lost them.”

His brows drew together immediately.

“What do you mean you’ve lost them?”

The warrior swallowed nervously.

“The northern warriors… they’ve disappeared.”

Joshua stared at him.

“We followed them into the woods exactly as ordered.”

“And?”

“We couldn’t find them.”

“No tracks?”

“No.”

“No scents?”

“They’re too faint.”

Joshua frowned.

“No sounds?”

The warrior slowly shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“It’s like…”

He hesitated.

“…it’s like they simply vanished.”

Joshua’s jaw tightened.

He disliked hearing words like that from experienced warriors.

People didn’t simply vanish.

Unless…

His thoughts immediately returned to the first ambush.

The northern pack had already demonstrated they were far more organized than anticipated.

He wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate them again.

He turned his head slightly.

“Captain Cam.”

A man immediately stepped out from among the surrounding warriors.

He was leaner than Joshua, his face weathered by countless campaigns. Scars crossed one side of his jaw, disappearing beneath the collar of his armour. His sharp eyes constantly swept the surroundings even while walking.

“Alpha.”

Joshua folded his arms.

“What do you make of this?”

Cam remained quiet for several moments before answering.

“Something is wrong.”

Joshua nodded.

“I arrived at the same conclusion.”

“At first, I believed the northern warriors were simply retreating,” Cam continued. “But it’s been several minutes now, and there’s still no sign of them.”

He glanced toward the towering trees surrounding them.

“These forests aren’t helping matters either.”

Joshua followed his gaze.

Cam continued.

“The trees block visibility. They absorb sound. The snow keeps covering tracks. And with every passing minute, following anyone becomes harder.”

Joshua remained silent.

“I was actually about to gather the other captains.” Cam said.

Joshua looked back toward him.

“For what?”

Cam answered immediately.

“I was considering burning the forest.”

Before Joshua could reply, another voice interrupted.

“I agree.”

Both men turned.

Cindy approached calmly through the falling snow.

Her silver brooch rested against her cloak, its design clearly visible despite the darkness—a black wolf flowing like a river.

She stopped beside them.

“Burning the trees is the correct decision.”

Joshua studied her.

“What makes you think so?”

Cindy’s expression never changed.

“The northern pack is using this forest as cover. They’ve disappeared because these woods allow them to. If we burn the trees…”

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

“…they lose their hiding place.”

Joshua considered the idea.

“They’ll be forced into the open.” He said.

“Exactly.”

“There is one problem.” Cam spoke up. “The trees surround us.”

He gestured toward the endless forest.

“If we set everything ablaze, our own warriors will also suffer.”

Cindy didn’t hesitate.

“In war sacrifices are necessary.”

Joshua stared at her for several moments.

Finally, he nodded.

“I agree. We need to force them out. That’s our main priority now.”

Cam frowned deeply.

Every instinct he possessed warned him against rushing this decision.

Yet every passing minute inside these woods seemed to favour the enemy even more.

He exhaled slowly.

“There’s also another issue, sir.” He said.

Joshua looked toward him. “And what is it?”

“The moisture.”

He gestured toward the snow blanketing everything around them.

“The snowfall will make it…”

He never finished his words as the wind roared through the forest.

The trees bent beneath its strength.

Snow erupted into the air, swirling violently around them.

Several warriors stumbled.

Others immediately shielded their faces.

Within moments the snowfall doubled.

Then tripled.

Visibility shrank dramatically.

Warriors who had been standing only a short distance apart could barely see one another anymore.

The darkness became even thicker.

Cam instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword.

A chill crawled down his spine.

It had nothing to do with the cold.

Something was off about this.

Something was very, very wrong.