As I ventured deeper, a shadow of swift movements caught my eye, confirming I was not the only one there. The haunting sounds of the night faded into an eerie hush. A lump formed in my throat as the deafening silence consumed me.

I cautiously pressed on, my heart thrumming in my chest. The once gentle sway of the trees now seemed foreboding, their branches stretching out like skeletal fingers, beckoning me further into the unknown. As I edged closer to the heart of the forest, the air grew heavy with a sense of anticipation, as if the very essence of the woods held its breath along with me.

Suddenly, a whisper of wind brushed against my cheek, carrying with it a faint scent of earth and moss. In that fleeting moment, the forest seemed to come alive, as if it were breathing in sync with my own racing pulse. A whispered voice echoed through the stillness, barely audible but unmistakably there.

"Who dares enter our realm?" it spoke in a melodic tone that was both enchanting and chilling.

My every instinct screamed at me to turn back, to flee from whatever unknown force lurked in the shadows. But something inside me refused to submit to fear. I had ventured this far and I would not back down. It was a thrill, it was exciting, I took a deep breath, and in a loud, authoritative voice, called back to whomever had spoken.

"Greetings! I am Reyna, may I know your name?"

I waited for the voice to answer but was left with nothing, gripping the dagger inside my pocket, I shrugged and continued forward.

"Go back, human." His rough and surly voice caught me off guard, but I refused to listen to someone who wouldn't even reveal their face."It's Reyna," I scolded, still not backing down. "And I have no intention of turning back unless there's a valid reason. So you can be on your way now, Mr. Mysterious!"

A soft breeze rustled the leaves, carrying my words away and leaving only silence in its wake. The stillness of the forest seemed to stretch on for eternity, until finally, a low chuckle rumbled through the air.

"Bold, I see," the voice replied, his tone filled with a curious mix of amusement and annoyance. "You humans always think you can conquer everything with your stubbornness."The way he spoke was unsettling, almost inhuman. Was he mentally disturbed or something more than human?

I was being stupid, I knew. Adventurous though was how I was born, and so I ignored the strange voice and endeavored to enjoy the little time I had left in this forest, for tomorrow all my worries would reappear.  In the city.