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The night fell like a heavy blanket, the trees pressing close, their twisted branches reaching out like the fingers of something ancient and malevolent. Inside the small log cabin, the campfire sputtered, casting long, flickering shadows that danced on the wooden walls. Despite the warmth and light, the air was thick with an unease that crept beneath the skin. It was a feeling that made the hairs on the back of the neck rise, a quiet whisper of something dangerous just outside the safety of the fire's glow.
Rite sat by the fire, his sharp eyes constantly scanning the windows, every muscle in his body coiled tight. He'd learned long ago not to let his guard down in places like this. The creatures outside were no ordinary beasts. They were something darker, something that knew how to wait, how to watch, how to make you feel their presence even when you couldn't see them.
Lisa sat on the floor, back pressed against the wall, her knees drawn up to her chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that the cabin was fragile, that it wouldn't be enough to protect them from whatever was lurking in the woods. The chill in her bones had nothing to do with the cold air. She wrapped her arms tighter around her legs, her thoughts a swirling mess as her gaze drifted to the window, where only darkness stared back.
Yuna, curled in a small pile of blankets beside her, appeared serene. The soft rise and fall of her little chest, the gentle rhythm of her breathing, was the only sound that offered any sense of comfort in the tense room. But that comfort shattered in an instant.
A soft tap on the window. A sharp, faint sound, so quiet it almost didn't seem real.
Lisa's breath caught in her throat, her heart slamming against her ribs as instinct took over. Without thinking, she pulled Yuna close to her chest, the small dragon's startled squeak cutting through the silence. Yuna immediately settled, sensing the shift in her human's mood, her tiny body pressing against Lisa's warmth as she felt the tremor running through the woman's arms.
The air was thick, suffocating. The tap—faint but deliberate—echoed in the room, a simple sound that held far too much weight. Lisa's pulse hammered in her ears. She could feel their eyes on her. The creatures outside. Watching.
Rite's voice broke through the tension, steady and controlled. "It's just them," he said, his gaze fixed on the window. "They're watching."
Lisa didn't respond. She couldn't. Her fingers curled around Yuna's soft fur, holding the little dragon tighter as if she could somehow protect them both from the cold presence outside. Another tap came, louder now, followed by the rustle of movement. They weren't attacking, not yet. They were waiting. Watching. Studying.
Yuna's low growl was a sharp contrast to the tense stillness in the room. The little dragon's tiny form tensed, her body alert as she mirrored Lisa's unease. Lisa stroked her fur, trying to steady herself. "I know," she whispered, her voice a fragile breath. "I hate it, too."
The air seemed to grow heavier with each passing second, as though the creatures were closing in on them. Lisa couldn't stand it anymore. She stood quickly, pacing restlessly, trying to shake off the claustrophobic sense of being trapped in this moment. Her breath quickened, her mind racing. The shadows outside seemed to shift with the wind, moving as if they were alive, as if the creatures were circling, waiting for the right time.
Rite didn't look up from the window, his voice calm but firm. "We can't let them get to us," he said, the words like a grounding force. "They feed on fear. Don't give them that."
Lisa nodded, though it did little to ease the knot tightening in her chest. "I know," she muttered. "It's just... so unnerving. I hate feeling this helpless."
The soft growl from Yuna seemed to echo her feelings, a low, deep rumble that vibrated through the room. Lisa knelt down beside the dragon, placing her hands gently on the little creature's form. The warmth radiating from Yuna's body was a small comfort, and for a moment, Lisa allowed herself to lean in, resting her cheek against the soft fur. She drew in a slow, steady breath, trying to center herself.
"Maybe it's better if we don't look at them," Lisa said quietly, more to herself than anyone else. "If we just ignore them, maybe they'll go away."
Rite's voice was practical, almost devoid of hope. "They won't," he said simply. "They're patient. They're not stupid. The longer we stay here, the more they'll learn about us."
Lisa shivered at his words. The thought of being studied, of every move being watched and dissected, was enough to make her skin crawl. She glanced at the window again, the darkness outside shifting with the wind. The creatures were still out there, circling, waiting.
Another tap. This one louder, more insistent. Lisa's heart raced in her chest. Without thinking, she scooped Yuna up and pressed the little dragon against her, the motion quick and desperate.
"I—I can't stand it," Lisa whispered, her voice raw, trembling. She squeezed Yuna tighter, as if the dragon could somehow shield her from the suffocating dread closing in. "I don't like being watched like this."
Yuna, sensing her distress, nuzzled into her neck, her warmth a soft, reassuring presence in the chaos. It wasn't much, but it was something. A reminder that she wasn't alone in this. Not completely.
Rite's gaze softened for a moment as he watched them, his voice steady as ever. "They won't hurt us," he repeated, the words firm, though he knew better than to sound entirely certain. "Not unless we give them a reason."
Lisa nodded, though the unease never left. She could feel the creatures outside, could feel their cold, predatory presence growing stronger, like a storm waiting to break. But for now, they were still just watching. And as much as she hated it, that was all they could do.
With Yuna in her arms, Lisa sank back to the floor, her body tense but, for the moment, a little calmer. The cabin seemed quieter now, the fire casting a soft, flickering light on the walls. But the creatures were still out there. And they were waiting.