Then, in one fluid movement, it turned and disappeared into the trees, vanishing as if he had never been there at all. Daniel stood frozen, his breath coming in slow, shaky exhales. The forest had swallowed Shadow whole. Daniel felt a hollow ache settling in his chest, deep and painful, like something had been carved out of him.
With a sigh, he adjusted his pack and forced himself forward. The trail sloped downward, leading toward the town at the mountain’s base. He told himself he wouldn’t turn around. That he wouldn’t look back. But he did. However, the trees stood silent, indifferent, as if Shadow had never existed at all.