After the encounter with the mysterious man and his ominous words, Kieran couldn't shake the unease settling over him. That night, he tossed and turned, replaying the stranger's warning in his mind. Rag seemed restless too, pacing the room before finally settling at the foot of the bed.
Morning broke through the thin curtains, and Kieran dragged himself up, fatigue still clinging to him. He couldn't let the village see his worry—not when he didn't fully understand it himself. As usual, he made his way to Mira's farm, Rag trotting at his side, though even the dog seemed unusually alert.
When he reached the farm, Mira was already outside, hefting a sack of feed over one shoulder. She flashed him a grin, wiping sweat from her brow. "Thought you'd sleep till noon."
Kieran forced a smirk. "Promised I'd fix the coop. Besides, Rag's been on edge."
"Probably dreaming of chasing chickens," Mira teased. She pointed to the coop, where broken boards leaned precariously. "Boar came crashing through last night. Scared the hens half to death."
He inspected the damage, running his fingers over the splintered wood. "Shouldn't take long. Maybe Rag will scare it off if it comes back."
"Better hope so. Dad's been cursing that beast since dawn."
They worked in companionable silence, Kieran hammering new planks while Mira gathered eggs. Rag dozed in the sun, ears twitching at every distant sound. Just as Kieran finished securing the last board, a shout echoed from the treeline.
Jace burst out of the woods, panting and wild-eyed. "Kieran! Mira! You gotta see this!"
Kieran dropped the hammer, exchanging a glance with Mira. "What now?"
Jace leaned against the fence, catching his breath. "Found something—near the old road. You're not gonna believe it."
Curiosity piqued, Kieran wiped his hands on his tunic. "Lead the way."
The three of them, with Rag trotting behind, followed Jace to the forest's edge. As they reached a small clearing, Kieran's eyes widened. A circle of charred earth lay before them, grass scorched black and twisted. At the center, a single, deep slash marked the ground—like a blade had cleaved the earth itself.
Mira frowned. "What did that?"
Jace shook his head. "No idea. Didn't hear a thing, but the air feels... heavy."
Kieran knelt, brushing ash from his fingers. An uneasy feeling crept up his spine. Rag whined softly, hackles raised.
"This isn't natural," Kieran muttered. "Something passed through here. Something dangerous."
They exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the discovery sinking in. The quiet forest seemed to hold its breath, and Kieran couldn't shake the sense that they were being watched. Whatever had caused this, it wasn't done yet. And it was closer than they thought.