NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: The Dark forest
Zoser left his devastated village behind, his small feet trudging hesitantly into the unknown. Before him stretched a dark forest, its towering trees intertwined to form a canopy so dense it blocked the sunlight. The air was alive with strange whispers, carried on unseen winds, as if the forest itself was alive and watching his every move. Though fear gripped him, he knew staying behind in the ruins was no longer an option.
With each passing hour, Zoser's legs grew heavier, and his stomach churned with hunger. Around him, the forest seemed to grow darker, the trees clustering closer together, their shadows stretching like claws across the forest floor. Then, without warning, a series of strange sounds pierced the silence—a guttural growl, the clash of bodies, and heavy, hurried footsteps. Zoser froze, his heart racing as he darted behind a large tree trunk, pressing his back against it and holding his breath.
The noise grew louder, then began to fade, until silence reclaimed the forest. He waited, his heart hammering, before curiosity took hold. Tentatively, he crept toward the source of the commotion, each step deliberate and slow. When he reached the clearing, he was met with a gruesome sight.
A deer lay lifeless on the ground, its body torn apart in a savage attack. Blood soaked the grass, and much of the flesh had already been devoured. Zoser stared in shock, his stomach twisting with revulsion, yet the gnawing hunger in his belly was stronger than his fear. Trembling, he approached the carcass, eyeing the remaining scraps of meat.
As he reached out hesitantly toward a piece of flesh, a low growl rumbled behind him. He turned slowly, his body stiff with dread, and came face-to-face with a wild fox. The creature's eyes gleamed in the dim light, sharp and predatory. Its lips curled back, revealing sharp teeth, and it advanced toward Zoser with measured steps.
Zoser's gaze darted around frantically until he spotted a fallen branch. He seized it, holding it in front of him like a makeshift weapon. His hands trembled, and his breath quickened as he backed away. The fox, unfazed, continued its approach, each step deliberate, as if mocking Zoser's feeble defense.
But then, something changed. The fox halted abruptly, its ears twitching. It lifted its head to the sky, its glowing eyes widening as though it had seen something terrifying. Without warning, it let out a final growl before turning tail and vanishing into the forest.
Zoser stood rooted to the spot, his chest heaving as he struggled to process what had just happened. A chill ran down his spine as a sudden, cold wind swept through the clearing, rustling the leaves above him. Slowly, he turned, his gaze falling on an ancient, gnarled tree nearby. Its branches twisted and curled like skeletal fingers reaching for the sky. The wind intensified, and Zoser staggered as it whipped around him, its force unnatural.
He tilted his head upward, and his eyes widened in disbelief. A massive eagle was descending from the heavens, its wings stretched wide and powerful, its talons gleaming like daggers. With a deafening screech, the bird dove toward the deer's corpse, seized it effortlessly, and soared back into the sky, disappearing into the canopy of the forest.
For a long moment, Zoser stood motionless, his mind racing. The sequence of events felt like a warning, a message from the forest itself: this place was not safe, and he was not welcome here. Every tree, every shadow, every sound seemed to echo the same sinister sentiment: "Beware."
Zoser realized he must tread carefully, with vigilance in every step and caution in every decision. This forest was no place for the weak, and each passing moment could mark the boundary between life and death. Tightening his grip on his small staff, he resolved to press on, knowing the path ahead remained shrouded in uncertainty. But now, he was more alert and better prepared to face whatever awaited him.