The Unseen Threat

The forest around them had fallen into a tense silence, the soft rustling of the leaves and distant chirps of nocturnal creatures no longer offering comfort. They had set up camp earlier, hoping for a brief respite from the endless chase, but none of them could rest easy. Emily sat near the dim fire, staring into its weak flames as the others settled into their uneasy sleep. Her hand hovered over the relic, a subtle weight hanging around her neck that had grown heavier in recent days. There was something about the air tonight, an unsettling stillness, and though she hadn't voiced it yet, she felt it deep within her—something was watching them.