" Really. I had a good rest last night, and I feel strong enough already. The southern ridge gets the best morning sun, and I want to get there before the light fades. I promise I won't overdo it."

Thomas studied him for a long moment, his experienced eyes missing nothing, whether it was the slight tremor in Adrian's hand, the shadows under his eyes that spoke of more than just one sleepless night.

But he also saw the stubborn set of the boy's jaw, the determined glint that reminded him of himself.

He let out a resigned sigh, shaking his head. "Stubborn as a mule."

' There's no use trying to change his mind, he's already set to do as he pleases.' he said to himself.

"Fine. Have it your way. But you be careful out there, you hear me? No heroics. If you see anything, and I mean anything, that looks even slightly off, you turn around and run back here to report to us, Understood?"

"Understood." Adrian said, his smile becoming a fraction more genuine at the man's gruff care. "Thank you, Sir."

With a final nod to the patrol, he turned and walked toward the tree line, the wicker basket bumping against his waist with each step. The men watched him go,Adrian didn't turn back once but continued to walk forward until they lost sight of him within the forest.

The forest was a different world once you stepped beneath its canopy. The weak winter light fractured into a thousand shimmering beams where it broke through the dense, snow-covered branches, but on the ground, the world was covered in shadows and the white of snow.

The forest itself was strangely quiet yet that quiet would constantly be broken by the crunch of Adrian's own boots and the occasional soft thumping sound of snow sliding off a pine tree and hitting the ground.

Adrian didn't seem to mind the quiet calm but instead felt more comfortable in it, his eyes scanning the frozen ground, searching for the herbs he knew and even those he might not know because he now felt as if he could ask the doctor about them on their next meeting.

His footsteps stopped and his eyes brightened when he spotted a cluster of useful-looking leaves near the base of a fallen log and crouched down, his fingers brushing away the powdery snow.

Yet all of a sudden, he stiffened, because there it was again. A chilling feeling similar to a prickling sensation on the back of his neck, a deep, instinctual feeling that told him that he was not alone.

That someone was watching him. And from the way his body was reacting, it was obvious they didn't have good intentions.

He froze, his breath stilling in his lungs, he tried using his ears to pinpoint the location of who or what it was but, He heard nothing but the frantic beating of his own heart.

The worst part was that this wasn't the first time this was happening today but It was the same unsettling sensation he'd felt half a dozen times already that morning, a ghost of a presence that vanished the moment he straightened up and looked around.

Every time he bent to his work, he felt exposed and vulnerable, as if was setting himself up for an unknown attack.

' No... Maybe I'm just overthinking it. It's not uncalled for, for me to still feel unsettled after that entanglement I had with those 3 monsters.'

Shaking his head to dispel the paranoia, he carefully harvested the herbs, placing them in his basket. He moved to another spot, this time it was a small, sunny clearing where the snow was thinner.

Again, he crouched, his hand reaching for the herb. And again, the feeling washed over him, stronger this time, more like a cold weight settling between his shoulder blades.

This time, however, his fingers didn't go for the plant. They closed around the familiar, worn wooden handle of the sickle tucked into his belt. He had taken to carrying it more prominently after his last trip into the woods. He'd finally had enough of this game of cat and mouse, this feeling of uncertainty and always being on edge wasn't something he was pleased with at all.

Adrian stood up slowly, before turning around to face whatever it was, his senses on high alert.

After a few seconds , as if his pursuer had noticed that he wasn't going to play around any longer. Adrian finally heard something.

He became more cautious because the fact that he heard something made him realize that he hadn't been sensing a ghost, all this while, he hadn't just been paranoid, this was not a figment of his imagination.

The sound he heard was similar to the distinct, soft crunch of a footsteps pressing down on the snow behind him, if not for his keen hearing, he wouldn't have been able to hear this faint sound that could've easily blended in with the forest. The footsteps stopped momentarily, as if surprised he could hear it's owner but after a brief moment, they picked up once more.

He continued to stare at where the sounds were coming from, sickle held ready, his body tensed for a fight he believed he would have with another green skinned monster.

He saw a faint gleam of light, making him tense up as he recalled that rusted dagger from his memories but then he became confused because he didn't recall them ever reflecting light with how filthy they were.

As if to answer his question, instead of a goblin, What he saw instead was a wolf. A lone, grey-coated wolf, its ribs just barely visible beneath its shaggy fur, standing about twenty paces away. Its eyes were a pale bright blue that would've no doubt looked majestic if not for the frenzied disposition it carried.

He caught sight of

that faint gleam again and saw that they came from the creatures bared fangs.

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