Lunar Enchantment

Shadows at Our Heels

The cabin buzzed with quiet urgency as everyone prepared to leave. My father's words, "We'll make it," echoed in my mind, a fragile thread of hope tethering us to the next step.

Grams barked orders, her tone sharper than usual, but no one dared to argue. Gregory and Rufus worked together, packing the remaining supplies into backpacks and checking the weapons cache. My mother knelt beside Sophie, her fingers brushing against Sophie's pulse with a practiced touch. "She's stable, but we'll have to keep her warm during the journey."

Aiden hovered nearby, his eyes darting between Sophie and the growing pile of gear. He looked as though he wanted to argue, but his hands remained at his sides, clenched into white-knuckled fists.

"We're splitting into two groups," Dad announced suddenly, his voice cutting through the tension. "It's the safest way to avoid detection. Grams will lead the first group with Sophie and Amber. Rufus and I will take the rest."

"What about you and Mom?" I asked, stepping forward.

"We'll cover the rear," Mom replied. "Ensure the path is clear."

A chill ran down my spine, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. I didn't trust my voice to sound steady.

Lauren, standing near the door, fidgeted with the straps of her backpack. "How far is Mooncrest?"

"About ten miles through the woods," Gregory answered, his tone grim. "If we keep a steady pace, we should make it by dawn."

Amber groaned softly from where she lay on the couch, her bandaged throat a glaring reminder of how close we'd come to losing her. "Walking through the woods at night... sounds like a blast," she rasped.

"We don't have a choice," Grams snapped, her patience clearly wearing thin. "The Lunae will be on us by sunrise if we stay."

Aiden straightened, his jaw tight. "Then we'd better not waste any more time."

The group moved as one, shuffling out into the cold night air. The forest loomed ahead, a black mass of tangled branches and shadows. My heart pounded as we stepped onto the path, each crunch of snow beneath my boots a reminder of how exposed we were.

The first hour passed in strained silence, the group weaving through the trees with only the faint light of the moon to guide us. Every creak of a branch or rustle of leaves set my nerves on edge.

"Do you think they're following us?" Lauren whispered, walking close beside me.

"They're always following," Aiden muttered from behind, his eyes scanning the shadows.

I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see the glowing red eyes of the Lunae peering back at us. But the forest remained eerily still, as if holding its breath.

Grams raised a hand, signaling for a halt. The group froze, and I strained to hear whatever had caught her attention. A faint rustling reached my ears—too deliberate to be the wind.

"They're here," Dad whispered, drawing his weapon.

The air around us seemed to thicken as a low growl rumbled through the trees.

The low growl sent a ripple of fear through the group. Grams gripped her staff tightly, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness. "Stay close. And stay quiet," she hissed. Her voice cut through the tension, steady and commanding.

"Lauren," I whispered, my breath visible in the freezing air. "Stay near me."

Her hand brushed against mine, trembling. "What's the plan if they catch up?"