The mysterious creature makes its appearance
Soon, led by Chill27 and Maxime, who was standing right next to him, the group of about forty men entered the forest that lined the sides of the mountain.
The trees, huge and twisted by the wind, formed a dense canopy above them, filtering the sunlight into a mosaic of green and golden hues.
The air was more humid, laden with the smell of moss and earth, and every step raised dead leaves that crunched under their boots.
The mercenaries advanced in silence, aware of the strangeness of the place. Occasionally, a rustle in the bushes caught their attention, but it was only rodents or small birds fleeing their presence.
Yet a tension hung in the air, an impression that the forest was watching them, testing their resolve.
Chill27 led the way, closely followed by his dogs. Their gait was fluid, almost instinctive, as if they had known these paths forever. They had no trouble avoiding the snare-like roots and crevices hidden under the damp leaves.