Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMH2M7QHEWYDNM2KMXXRSC

The dense canopy of twisted oak branches overhead blotted out the moonlight, casting the Fae Grove in a deep, impenetrable darkness. Aurora shivered, the silver chain of the Heartstone pendant clutched tightly in her palm as she picked her way carefully along the overgrown path. The air was thick with the cloying scent of wildflowers, far too sweet and cloying for this hour. Rory's boots crunched over leaf litter, the only sound breaking the eerie silence that hung heavy all around her. Even the usual chorus of nocturnal forest sounds – the chirping of crickets, the hooting of owls – was absent, leaving an unsettling void. Rory paused, straining to hear anything beyond the pounding of her own heartbeat. Her pulse throbbed in her ears, the Heartstone pulsing faintly in time with each rapid beat. She had a queasy feeling that she was being watched, some unseen presence lurking just out of sight. Shaking off the paranoia, Rory pressed on, one hand trailing along the rough bark of the ancient oaks, guiding her way through the pitch black. She couldn't quite shake the sensation of eyes boring into the back of her neck. She quickened her pace, breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The grove seemed to stretch on endlessly, the path twisting and turning with no discernible pattern. Rory was hopelessly disoriented, lost in the tangled web of trees. Her fingers brushed against the standing stones that marked the boundary, the ancient carvings worn smooth with time. She hesitated, wondering if she should turn back, but a stubborn determination propelled her forward. The crunch of leaves underfoot abruptly ceased as Rory stepped into the small, moonlit clearing. Shadows loomed all around her, dark shapes that shifted and writhed at the periphery of her vision, just out of focus. Rory swallowed hard, forcing herself to hold her ground, one hand clenching the Heartstone. A faint rustling from the trees drew her gaze upwards, and she stifled a gasp. Perched on the highest branches were dozens of beady black eyes, glinting in the gloom. Huge, bat-like wings unfurled, and Rory caught a glimpse of sharp talons and fangs as the creatures launched themselves into the air with bone-chilling screeches. Rory stumbled backwards, heart pounding as the creatures swarmed around her, circling overhead. She counted at least a dozen, their shadowy forms blotting out the stars. The air was suddenly alive with the cacophony of their shrill cries, an eerie, discordant chorus that set Rory's nerves on edge. She darted towards the standing stones, fumbling to pull the Heartstone free of its chain. The pendant glowed faintly, pulsing in time with her racing heart. Rory pressed it against the ancient carvings, half-remembered words of power spilling from her lips. The stones began to hum, the vibrations reverberating through the clearing. The creatures let out a collective shriek and scattered, vanishing back into the inky blackness of the trees. Rory let out a shaky breath, sinking to her knees as the adrenaline faded. She stared down at the glowing Heartstone, its crimson light casting an ethereal glow across her face. A rustling from the edge of the clearing shattered the momentary calm, and Rory's head snapped up, heart racing anew. She scrambled to her feet, clutching the pendant protectively as a dark silhouette emerged from the shadows. It was humanoid in shape, but moved with a strange, liquid grace that was unnatural. Rory watched, transfixed, as it approached, its features slowly coming into focus. She felt her breath catch in her throat as it stepped into the moonlight, revealing a face that was at once familiar and alien. The creature - for it could not be truly human - had coal-black eyes that gleamed with a hungry intelligence. Its skin was ashen and mottled, crisscrossed with veins that pulsed with an unnatural light. A gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth stretched in a ghastly parody of a smile, and Rory shuddered at the sight. "What are you?" she whispered, voice trembling. The creature tilted its head, regarding her with an unsettling intensity. "I am many things, child of the Fae. I am the whisper in the dark, the shadow that haunts your steps. I am the fear that grips your heart in the dead of night." It took a step closer, and Rory instinctively retreated, the Heartstone pendant burning against her palm. "What do you want from me?" The creature let out a low, keening laugh that sent shivers down Rory's spine. "Your kind have always sought to control what they do not understand. The Fae, the Hel - you think to harness their power for your own gain. But you are but specks in the grand design, insignificant playthings in a game you cannot hope to comprehend." It moved with blinding speed, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Rory barely had time to react before a clawed hand wrapped around her throat, cutting off her air. She clawed at the creature's unyielding grip, the Heartstone slipping from her grasp as her vision began to dim. "You have something I want, little human," the creature hissed, its fetid breath washing over Rory's face. "And I will take it, whether you submit or not." Rory's vision blurred, the world narrowing to a pinprick as darkness encroached. She could feel the power of the Heartstone slipping away, the warm glow fading. With her last ounce of strength, she thrust her hand forward, fingers closing around the pendant. The creature let out an unearthly shriek as the crimson light flared to life, burning its flesh. It recoiled, grip loosening, and Rory gulped down desperate mouthfuls of air. She scrambled backwards, cradling the Heartstone against her chest as the creature thrashed and howled in agony. Snarling, it lunged forward, but Rory pressed the pendant against the standing stones once more, reciting the words of power. The stones glowed with blinding intensity, and the creature let out a bone-chilling wail as it was repelled, its form dissolving into black smoke that was swiftly consumed by the light. Rory stood there, trembling, as the clearing fell silent once more. The Heartstone pulsed feebly in her hand, its light slowly fading. She stared down at it, a sense of dread coiling in the pit of her stomach. Whatever that thing was, it was only the beginning. And she had a feeling her troubles were far from over.