The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and shadows stretched long and eerie across the forest floor.
Adel had always been drawn to the unknown, to the places others feared. The elders in her village spoke of this forest with horror voices, warning that no human who entered ever returned. But Adel was someone who wanted to always know.
Adel had very beautiful hair that fell in wild waves around her shoulders and sharp green eyes that were with untamed curiosity, she had always been a wanderer, an explorer who refused to be bound by rules. Her desire for discovering the unseen, of unraveling ancient mysteries, was too great to resist.
The sky darkened and the trees seemed to close in around her, an unsettling feeling was around her. She was lost from taking pictures.
And what scared her the most was that she wasn't alone. A black bird echoed loudly.
Adel froze, her fingers tightening around the dagger strapped to her thigh. She turned slowly, scanning the darkness for movement. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but she stood her ground. Then, from the depths of the shadows, they emerged, eyes glowing, predatory pierced through the night, accompanied by the rustle of bodies moving swiftly through the underbrush. Their forms were seen by the darkness, but their presence was unmistakable. These were not wolves nor bears, They were something different, all black-coated.
This creature circled her, their guttural snarls sending a chill down her spine. She could see the gleam of sharp teeth, the glint of claws catching the faint moonlight.
This was it. Adel braced herself, raising her dagger. If she was going to die tonight, she wouldn't go down without a fight.
She had broken her ankle in anxiety. From the darkness, a figure stepped forward with a grace so fluid, it was almost inhuman.
Tall and lean, with raven-black hair that fell just above his shoulders, his piercing silver eyes glowed with an intensity that seemed to command the night itself. He was dressed in dark, fitted garments that made him blend seamlessly into the shadows, but there was no mistaking his presence.
The air between them crackled with tension. Adel, gripping her dagger with trembling fingers, forced herself to remain standing despite the sharp pain in her ankle. She couldn't show weakness. Not now.
The creatures that had circled her moments ago slunk back into the darkness like it was all an illusion to her, their snarls fading into silence.
The man before her stood motionless, his piercing silver eyes fixed on her like he was trying to decipher something. The way he moved, the effortless control in his stance, the unnatural stillness, sent shivers down her spine.
The way he looked at her, she wasn't sure if that made him less dangerous… or more. Who was he?
Adel tightened her grip on the dagger. "Who are you?" Her voice was steadier than she felt.
The man tilted his head slightly, his expression was unreadable. Then, with a fluid motion, he stepped closer.
Adel took a shaky step back but hissed as pain shot up her leg. She nearly collapsed, but before she could hit the ground, he moved "Easy" he said softly. He held her faster than she could register.
His strong hand caught her wrist, keeping her upright. His touch was cool, almost too cool, even through the fabric of her sleeve.
"You're injured," he observed. His voice was smooth, deep, with an edge of something she couldn't place, concern? Amusement?
"I know that," she shot back, trying to ignore the way her heart pounded. She pulled her hand free, motioning to herself "I can handle myself."
The corner of his lips twitched, just barely. "Is that so?"
Adel narrowed her eyes. "You didn't answer my question. Who are you?"
For a moment, he didn't respond. The silver in his eyes gleamed under the moonlight, reflecting something ancient, something unreadable. Then, finally, he said, "Rico."
The name was simple, yet it held weight. It held power.
Adel straightened as much as she could, ignoring the throbbing pain in her ankle. "Well, Rico… how come you here?"
Rico's gaze flickered, just for a second. "Someone who doesn't belong here," he murmured.
Adel frowned. That wasn't an answer. She opened her mouth to push further, but a sudden rustling in the trees made her stiffen. Rico's head snapped toward the sound, his entire body tensing.
"Come on." His voice was lower now, urgent.
Adel hesitated. "Why?"
He stepped closer, dropping his voice. "Because you're hu..." he paused "You don't want to be here, it's not safe."
Something about the way he said it made her blood run cold.
And before she could argue, he reached for her again.
She barely had time to react before he lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
"Hey..!"
"Quiet."
Adel clamped her mouth shut as he moved. And gods, did he move fast?
The forest blurred around them, the trees mere streaks of shadow as Rico maneuvered through them with inhuman speed. Adel clutched at the fabric of his coat, her heart racing from more than just the movement. How was he doing this? What was he?
By the time they stopped, she was breathless. It felt like a gift.
He set her down gently against a large rock near a small, abandoned-looking stone structure. Adel blinked rapidly, trying to steady herself.
"You…. This is probably my best adventure" she started, pointing a shaky finger at him. "That… that wasn't normal."
Rico merely looked at her, silver eyes calm. "You shouldn't be alone."
Adel scowled. "That doesn't answer my question."
Rico let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. "It doesn't need to." He calmly said. Rico was a gentke person, a slow talker.
Before she could argue, he crouched beside her, eyes moving to her ankle. "Let me see."
Adel hesitated. Then, with a reluctant sigh, she shifted her leg forward.
Rico reached out and, with surprising gentleness, ran his fingers over the swelling. His touch was cool, but not unpleasant.
"It's sprained," he said after a moment.
"No kidding." Rico's lips twitched again. "You're rather stubborn."
Adel crossed her arms. "I take that as a compliment." He shook his head slightly but didn't argue. Instead, he tore a piece of fabric from his coat and began wrapping her ankle with practiced precision.
Adel watched him carefully. "You're good at this." He didn't look up. "I've had practice." The way he said it made her pause. "How old are you?" she asked suddenly. Rico's fingers stilled for a fraction of a second before he resumed. "Old enough."
Adel exhaled through her nose. "You're really bad at answering questions."
"And you ask too many."
She huffed, but there was no real irritation in it. "Fine. I won't ask anything else."
Rico glanced up, his eyes glinting with something amused. "Somehow, I doubt that."
Adel pressed her lips together, but she was going to ask more later. For now, she let him finish.
An unknown man in the forest had just helped her.