Closing In

Bastian's POV -

The smell of smoke and rot grew stronger with every step we took. It clung to the air like a warning, thick and bitter, seeping into my lungs. The forest that had once whispered softly now felt alive with malice-every rustle of leaves, every faint snap of twigs a reminder that we were being watched.

We'd been riding for two days straight, following the rogue scent trail north