Chapter 105: Into the Night.

CALEB. The forest was alive that night. Leaves rustled in the wind, twigs snapped under the weight of unseen creatures, and the distant howl of wolves made it seem like they announced our presence. My grip tightened on my torch, the bright glow casting elongated shadows that appeared to have control over themselves. 'We need to head east." Marcus said, breaking the silence. His voice was firm, but there was a hint of unease that I couldn't miss. I checked the map again. So far, we had covered around 5km on foot, far more than I have ever walked in my entire life. Then again, it was for Kyle. It would take a lot more to deter me. 'You sure about that?" I asked, still peering at the map. 'East takes us closer to the river. You know what lives there, right?" 'Trust me." He replied, adjusting the strap of his bottle. It was bigger than normal, and hung freely on his shoulder. 'I've done my research. The herbs we need are rare, but most of them grow near water. We have no choice." I sighed. 'Fine. Lead the way." We waded deeper into the forest, and the trees grew thicker and thicker. I had never seen this part of Hulvey before… so much vegetation. I couldn't even tell if we were still in Hulvey. The branches intertwined overhead us to form a canopy that erased the moonlight. Eventually, my torch died, and there was no time to stop and change batteries, so I grabbed my lantern. It cast a small, flickering circle around us. The path was narrow, forcing us to move in single file, with me ahead and Marcus behind. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves. At least, it wasn't raining. 'So," Marcus began, 'you ever think about how we ended up here? You know, wandering through a dark forest in the middle of the night, looking for some mystical herbs to save your brother?" I chuckled. 'Not exactly how I pictured my weekend. But a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. He's family." He nodded. 'Family. And werewolves. And curses. And all that fun stuff." 'But be rest assured that when we do return, I shall see to it that that half dead impersonation of a doctor is dealt with. She doesn't go until I say so." The words escaped my lips before I could think. Marcus stared at me with a blank expression, but his eyes were lidded with amusement. I scoffed, waving his teasing eyes off. We continued, and the sound of the river grew louder, a rushing roar that filled the air. The ground beneath my feet grew softer, wetter. We were getting close. 'Careful." Marcus warned, slowing his pace. 'The ground here can be tricky." 'Tricky… how?" I asked, but I didn't have to wait long for an answer. My foot began to sink into the mud, pulling me off balance. I stumbled, and caught myself against a tree. 'Like that." Marcus said, smirking. I glared at him. 'Yeah, thanks for the headsup." We moved more cautiously now, and I tested each step before I even dared committing my weight. The mud was thick and sticky, and it clung to my boots, making every movement a struggle. The river was close, I could see it, but the path ahead was treacherous. 'See anything yet?" I asked, scanning the ground for any sign of…anything, really. 'Not yet." Marcus replied, his eyes focused on the ground. 'But they should be around here somewhere. Keep looking." 10, 20, 30 minutes passed, then an hour, an hour and a half. The moon had risen higher in the sky, casting its pale white light through the canopy. I had already started to get tired of bending when Marcus let out a triumphant cry. 'Got it!" He reached out and plucked a small, purple flower from the ground. 'One down, two to go." I stared at the beautiful display of colors etched into that single petal. Moonflower petal, check. Who else knew that such herbs existed? 'Great. Let's keep going then. The faster we find these, the faster we can get back to Kyle." We continued the search, moving further along the riverbank. The night was growing colder, and a small drizzle had started. An odd chill settled in the air that seeped through my clothes. I shivered involuntarily, pulling my jacket tighter around my body. 'You cold?" Marcus asked, glancing back. 'I'm fine." I replied, trying to keep my expression as serious as possible. He nodded, but I could see the faint glimpse of concern in his eyes. We had been out here for hours, and fatigue was starting to take over my muscles. Every step felt heavier than the last, every breath a little harder to take. But we couldn't stop. Not now. Could we? My mind roamed aimlessly for a while, scanning through memories and what not. I remembered the times where I, Kyle and Brielle would go into the little patch or bushes behind our house, pretending it was a huge maze that needed navigation. Eventually, we got lost in what we thought was a 'small patch". If it weren't for Brielle's quick thinking to carry a compass, we would have probably still been in that patch of shrubs till this day. My reveries were short lived. A low growl rumbled through the forest, cutting through the silence. I froze, my hand instinctively reaching for the dagger hung on my belt. 'Did you hear that?" I whispered, scanning the darkness. Marcus nodded, his own hand moving to his weapon. 'Stay alert." The growl came again, closer this time. I could see movement in the shadows, something big, something fast. My grip tightened, and my heart raced violently. Then, without warning, the creature lunged. It was fast, faster than anything I had ever seen, not even in movies or online. I barely had time to react, and threw myself to the side as it barreled past, missing my gut by inches. 'Marcus!" I shouted, scrambling to my feet and pulling out my dagger. 'I'm fine!" He replied, drawing his sword. 'What the hell is that thing?" Something that was probably here to kill us, right?