Chapter 26 Shadows Of Dusk

The evening atmosphere was heavy with the odor of blood and charred soil. Aeryn stood above the defeated creature, her chest heaving with deep breaths as she regarded its motionless body. The previously fearsome beast that had threatened them was ultimately vanquished, yet the triumph felt empty. The ground nearby continued to thrum with unnatural power, and an eerie, profound quiet enveloped the clearing. The fighters assembled behind her, their expressions displaying a blend of fatigue and discomfort. Talon removed a line of dirt from his forehead, his golden eyes examining the woods. "It's gone," he whispered. "Why does it seem that we’ve only started something more difficult?"