The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the dense canopy of the Whispering Woods. Kedrin's boots crunched softly against the forest floor as she trudged deeper into the heart of the ancient woodland. She adjusted the straps of her backpack, the weight of her supplies comforting against her shoulders.
The forest seemed alive with a strange energy, the air thick with anticipation. Kedrin couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, but she brushed it off as mere paranoia. She was an experienced explorer, after all, and the Whispering Woods held no fear for her.
As twilight descended, Kedrin found herself surrounded by towering trees, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers towards the darkening sky. Strange whispers seemed to emanate from the shadows, teasing at the edges of her consciousness.
Pushing aside her unease, Kedrin pressed on, guided by the dim light filtering through the thick canopy above. She had heard tales of hidden treasures buried within the depths of the forest, and she was determined to uncover their secrets.
Suddenly, a chill ran down Kedrin's spine as she stumbled upon a clearing bathed in moonlight. In the center stood a crumbling stone altar, ancient runes etched into its weathered surface. A sense of foreboding washed over her, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the mysterious monument.
Drawing closer, Kedrin reached out to touch the cold stone, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns carved into its surface. As her hand made contact, a surge of power coursed through her, sending shockwaves of energy racing through her body.
With a gasp, Kedrin stumbled back, her heart pounding in her chest. The forest seemed to come alive around her, the trees twisting and contorting as if in agony. She knew then that she had awoken something ancient and malevolent, something that should have remained buried beneath the earth.
As panic threatened to consume her, Kedrin turned to flee, but it was already too late. From the depths of the forest emerged a monstrous figure, its eyes burning with an otherworldly light. With a roar that shook the very ground beneath her feet, the creature lunged forward, its razor-sharp claws outstretched.
Kedrin's scream echoed through the Whispering Woods as she disappeared into the darkness, the hungry eyes of the monster following her every move. And in that moment, Steven knew that he was her only hope for survival.
Steven A. Leach Jr.
