The forest was too quiet.
No birds.No wind.Even the leaves seemed to hold their breath.
Rafe stood in front of Mara and Lyn, small fists clenched at his sides, chest still heaving from the chase. His body trembled from exhaustion, but his eyes were sharp, calculating.
"We can't outrun him," he said. "We can't fight him head-on. So we change the rules."
Mara tightened her hold on Lyn.
"How do we do that?"
Rafe pointed to the deeper part of the forest.
"We go in."
Mara froze.
"That place is dangerous."
"Exactly."
Lyn looked up, pale and shaking.
"The scout… won't follow?"
Rafe shook his head.
"He'll follow. But he'll have to do it carefully. The forest gets thicker the farther we go. More places to hide. More ways to lose him."
Mara swallowed.
"So… what's the plan?"
Rafe didn't hesitate.
"We lead him somewhere he can't move freely. Somewhere tight. Narrow. Where his size works against him."
He scanned the terrain until he found what he needed — a natural choke point: two boulders leaning against each other, creating a cramped passage between them.
"There," Rafe said.
Mara followed his gaze.
"That's… small."
"For someone like us, perfect.""For someone like him, a problem."
Lyn shivered.
"But… what do we do after we lead him there?"
Rafe took a breath.
"We trap him."
Mara's eyes widened.
"How?"
Rafe gestured to the forest floor.
"Nature did the hard part for us already."
He knelt, brushing aside fallen leaves to reveal loose rocks, unstable soil, and a steep drop past the choke point. A person charging too fast would stumble.
He could use that.
He would use it.
Mara watched him work.
"You're… scaring me," she whispered.
Rafe gave a faint smile.
"Good. You'll stay alert."
He stood again.
"We only get one chance. When he reaches us, we run through the gap. You two go first. I'll follow last."
Mara immediately shook her head.
"No. You can't be last."
"I have to be."
"Rafe—"
"If he catches anyone," Rafe said quietly, "it'll be me. Not you. Not Lyn."
Lyn grabbed his sleeve with trembling fingers.
"No… don't say that…"
Rafe gently moved her hand aside.
"You awakened your mana. You're the reason we're alive. I'm not letting him take you after that."
Footsteps echoed faintly in the distance — heavy, controlled, getting closer.
Mara's eyes widened.
"He's coming."
Rafe nodded once.
"Then let's move."
They guided Lyn through the tight entrance between the two boulders. Mara stayed right behind her, bracing Lyn with one arm.
Rafe remained outside.
Waiting.
Listening.
The footsteps grew louder.
Breaking sticks.Crushing leaves.Breathing harsh.
Then a voice:
"Clever little brats…"
The scout emerged from behind the trees, fury simmering in his eyes.
"You think running will save you?"
Rafe stepped into view.
"Running isn't the plan."
The scout blinked —
And Rafe bolted into the narrow passage.
The man lunged after him.
But the space was much too tight for his size. His shoulders slammed into the stone. He cursed and forced himself sideways, slowed and off-balance.
Exactly as Rafe needed.
Ahead, Mara and Lyn reached the end of the passage.
"RAFE, FASTER!" Mara cried.
Lyn held the walls, unsteady but trying to stay upright.
Behind Rafe, the scout roared:
"You can't escape!"
Rafe didn't look back.
He ran harder, each step scraping his feet against sharp stones.
When he was halfway through—
"MARA! NOW!" he shouted.
Mara grabbed Lyn and jumped down the small drop on the other side.
Rafe felt the ground give way beneath him.
The loose rocks shifted.
He leaped.
The scout reached the collapse point at that exact moment.
The ground crumbled.
The narrow passage twisted.
And with his weight—
The entire section of earth collapsed beneath him.
The scout roared as he fell into the pit below, rocks crashing down around him.
Rafe tumbled hard on the other side of the passage, rolling until Mara caught him by the arm.
They landed in a heap.
Dust filled the air.
Silence followed.
Rafe's ears rang.
His chest burned.
But—
They were alive.
Mara stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You… you actually did it."
Rafe pushed himself up slowly.
"Of course I did it."
Lyn lay on the ground, breathing hard, but conscious.
"T-That was… scary…"
Rafe gave her a tired smile.
"Welcome to safety."
"But will he get out?" Mara asked quietly.
Rafe nodded once.
"Yes."
Mara's breath hitched.
"Then we're still—"
"We have time," Rafe said. "He's injured now. And angry. He won't find us immediately."
Lyn tried to sit up, but Rafe stopped her.
"Save your strength. You're the reason we survived."
Lyn trembled.
"I didn't… do much."
Rafe shook his head.
"You did enough."
Mara placed a hand on Lyn's shoulder.
"We stay hidden until night. Then we move again."
Rafe looked at both girls — battered, exhausted, terrified — but alive.
Together.
And for a moment, something like pride filled his chest.
A trio of children, against a trained hunter.
And they won.
DING.
Quest Completed — "Shield the Awakener."Reward: +1 AgilityBonus Reward: +1 Willpower
Rafe felt the haze in his mind clear.His breathing steadied.His eyes sharpened.
He wasn't just surviving anymore.
He was growing.
Mara leaned close.
"Rafe," she whispered, "what now?"
Rafe stared deeper into the forest.
"We get stronger," he said softly."And we prepare for whoever sent him."
Because one scout was only the beginning.
Someone important wanted Lyn.
And they wouldn't stop.