Meanwhile

The mist clung to my skin as we walked, cold and heavy, winding between the trees like it had a life of its own. I stole a glance at Alex, my pulse quickening. I hated the idea of him being out here, but we didn't have a choice. Water was running out, and the four of us couldn't hold on much longer without finding more.

"You think we'll run into one of them?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Maybe," Alex replied, giving me that calm, reassuring look. "But we know what to look for now. We'll be careful."

I nodded, but my nerves prickled at every sound. The forest felt still, too still, like something was waiting just beyond the edge of sight. But then, through the quiet, I heard it—the faint sound of water trickling. A flicker of hope sparked in my chest as I met Alex's eyes. Maybe we'd actually found something.

But as we rounded the bend, my heart stopped.

A massive creature loomed in front of us, barely visible through the mist. It was taller than anything I'd seen, its bark-like skin wrapped in thick vines and patches of moss, with eyes that glowed an unnatural green. It just stood there, watching us, as if deciding whether we were worth its time.

"Kai," Alex whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. "Slowly... let's just back away."

But I couldn't move. There was something in the way it watched us, not attacking, just... observing. It hit me then—the creature wasn't there to hunt. It was guarding something.

"It's guarding the water," I murmured, my voice trembling with a strange mix of fear and awe. I felt Alex's eyes on me, but I was rooted in place, feeling like I understood something I couldn't quite put into words.

Slowly, I took a step forward, raising my hands in a gesture of peace. "We just need a little," I said, hoping it could somehow understand. "We're not here to hurt you or the land. We're just... trying to survive."

The creature's eyes bore into mine, unblinking. My heart hammered in my chest as the silence stretched. Then, slowly, it took a step back, revealing a small, clear pool of water nestled among the rocks.

I exhaled in relief, turning to Alex, who looked as stunned as I felt. "Let's fill up and go," he said quietly, his voice thick with disbelief.

We filled our canteens as quickly as we could, stealing glances at the creature. When we were done, I looked back at it, offering a nod of thanks. It watched us as we left, and I could still feel its eyes on me as we disappeared back into the trees.