A People in Fear

When Shen and Zara eventually came to the southern border, the last of the daylight streamed across the horizon in yellow and scarlet streaks. They saw the massive outline of Maveron's border station as they came out of the silent depths of the thick forest. With its tall stone walls and watchtowers that stood like grim sentinels against the waning light, it was a powerful building that exuded strength and alertness. The moon started to rise as the sun completely set, illuminating the fortress with a silvery, ethereal glow that turned everything ghostly white.

They were immediately noticed by the sentries circling the battlements. His armored boots clattered urgently on the stone steps as a man broke away from the wall. Wearing armor with a ranking officer's insignia, he halted in front of them and gave Zara a firm salute, making it clear that he respected her authority.

"Commander Zara," he stated in a formal, piercing voice. We were informed that you would be arriving. Having you here is an honor.

Zara nodded calmly and sparingly in answer, her eyes already sweeping the area. There was no place for politeness in her speech. "Statement report." Anything out of the ordinary?

The soldier bowed his head, his face hardening into a very worried one. "Commander, the border itself has been silent. But from a nearby community, we got a distress complaint. The mayor of the area is begging for our help. He sounded distressed, but there aren't many details. It's unclear whether they are being attacked or if there is another factor at work.

Zara furrowed her brows in a faint frown. She gave her directions without hesitation at all. "This position should not be left unprotected; maintain the defensive line. "You get a few of your best men together," she added, gesturing to the officer. We have you with us. I shall go to the village with Commander Shen.

With a brisk salute, the soldier pivoted on his heel to execute the order. Shen looked directly into Zara's eyes, and during that fleeting, meaningful exchange, they had a full discussion. Even though Shen was still carrying the weight of their lengthy journey, the idea of helping others in need rekindled his resolve. They moved as one, prepared for whatever was coming.

Under a sky that was an infinite, starless expanse of darkness without the moon yet rising above the trees, the tiny party made its way through the shadowy woodland. Shen could feel the stifling atmosphere growing heavier with each step as they approached the village, a tangible weight that seemed to cling to the air they were breathing. A cool silence fell on the scene as the village's first thatched roofs and timber frames emerged against the blackness. There was simply an odd, unsettling silence, with no voices in the night air or bulbs flickering in the windows.

Shen spoke in a low murmur that was lost in the quiet as he leaned very close to Zara. "This is incorrect. It should not be this calm in a village.

With her palm resting on the hilt of her blade, Zara's piercing gaze traveled across the empty streets. Her voice was tense as she whispered, "This place is steeped in fear." "It clings to the stones, as you can feel."

They discovered them when they walked into the village square. In the dim moonlight, a tiny group of people huddled together in the deepest shadows, their features pale masks of fear. They found little solace in the presence of armed soldiers; their anxiety was palpable, writhing in the air like a snake. An old man walked forward, his back straight from the weight of leadership. His eyes showed a deep, soul-deep fatigue, but his posture remained solid. He served as the mayor of the hamlet.

"Commanders," the mayor said in a gruff, shaking voice. "We had no other option. You had to be called. The Night Hunters are involved.

Zara's eyes turned to ice shards as her face instantaneously hardened at the name. "Hunters of the Night? For what duration have they been taking advantage of you?

The mayor winced and peered anxiously into the suffocating darkness surrounding them. "They've been coming from the forest for a while now," he stated in a dejected tone. They drag people from their houses while hunting in quiet. Last night, three more were seized. They never come back. The number is unknown to us, but He gulped hard as his voice broke. "My people are always afraid."

Zara made a strong, thin line with her lips. "When was the last assault? Three were seized, you said?

The mayor confirmed, his eyes dropping to the floor, "Just last night." "At least three... nobody has returned." We are unsure about what to do. The weight of his helplessness finally caused his composure to break, and his final words were a raspy whisper.

Shen felt a wave of icy resolve as she saw the old man's face furrowed with anguish. Zara spoke with a firm, unambiguous order without faltering. "Tell us where they traveled."

Shen looked to the warriors he and Zara had brought, then followed. “You two,” he said, gesturing to two of them, “remain here. Make certain that these villagers are safe. With us, the rest of you.

Shen and Zara led the way toward the village's outskirts, where the forest loomed like an impenetrable wall of black, under the mayor's guidance. It was a tiny route, cloaked in a darkness that seemed carnivorous and old. Shen finally broke the tight stillness by asking the question that had been bothering him while he was walking beside Zara.

"What are Night Hunters exactly?"

Zara halted and gave him a stern, disbelieving glance. After all of their conversations and time spent together, Shen's lack of awareness of the basic threats in their environment was a continual cause of annoyance. There was frustration in her voice. "Shen, do you know anything?"

Shen remained silent, which was a confession in and of itself. With a deep, exasperated sigh, Zara's voice softened, assuming the dismal rhythm of a grave warning as she began again.

"Night Hunters... Imagine something far worse after you've heard the worst stories you've ever heard. We are their prey, and they are predators rather than cannibals. They are ruthlessly strong, crafty, and bloodthirsty. One of them is five times more powerful than a soldier with training. "Our chances of walking out alive drop to nearly zero if we run into more than two out there," she added, staring at the ominous woodland.