Lunar Enchantment

Into the Forest

The moon hung low, its pale light filtering through the skeletal branches of the forest. The air carried an eerie stillness, broken only by the occasional crunch of leaves underfoot. Every sound, every shadow seemed amplified, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.

Grams walked ahead, her staff glowing faintly as it tapped against the uneven ground. The group followed in tense silence, their weapons ready, their eyes scanning the darkness. Aiden stayed close to me, his presence a reassuring anchor in the oppressive gloom.

"We need to keep moving," Grams said, her voice low but firm. "The sanctuary bought us time, but it won't last. The Lunae will regroup."

"And when they do?" Gregory asked, his tone edged with frustration.

"We'll be ready," Aiden said, his voice steady. "We have to be."

Lauren stumbled over a root, catching herself against a tree. "How much farther? This forest feels like it goes on forever."

"We're close," Grams said, though her tone carried a note of uncertainty.

Close to what? I wanted to ask, but the question died on my lips. Something about the way the shadows moved—a flicker here, a ripple there—made me feel as though we were being watched.

"Rory," Aiden whispered, his hand brushing my arm. "Do you feel that?"

I stopped, closing my eyes and letting the forest's energy wash over me. At first, there was nothing—just the cold wind and the faint rustle of leaves. But then, like a distant hum, I felt it. A pulsing rhythm, faint but insistent, pulling me forward.

"There's something ahead," I said, opening my eyes.

Grams nodded. "The Veil's edge. We're almost there."

"The Veil?" Amber asked, her voice sharp. "As in the thing keeping the Lunae from overrunning us completely?"

"Exactly," Grams said. "It's thin here. We'll need to be careful."

Careful didn't begin to cover it. The air grew heavier with each step, the pulsing rhythm growing louder, almost deafening. The trees thinned, giving way to a clearing bathed in an unnatural glow. At its center stood an ancient stone archway, covered in twisting runes that seemed to shimmer and shift in the light.

"This is it," Grams said, stopping at the edge of the clearing. "The Veil's anchor."

"What do we do now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Grams turned to me, her eyes filled with both pride and sorrow. "You cross it."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. "What?"

"The Moonstone's pieces lie beyond the Veil," Grams said. "If we're to have any hope of restoring it, you need to retrieve them."

"You're sending her in there alone?" Aiden demanded, his voice rising.

"She won't be alone," Grams said calmly. "The Veil will test her, but she's strong enough to face it."

Aiden stepped forward, his jaw tight. "Then I'm going with her."

"No," Grams said sharply. "The Veil chooses who it allows. If you try to force your way through, it could destroy you both."

Aiden's hands curled into fists, but he didn't argue. Instead, he turned to me, his expression fierce. "You don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do," I said, though my voice shook. "If the Moonstone's the only way to stop this, then I have to try."

He searched my face, his eyes softening. "Come back to me."