Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTQVZR8ZSFPXCEBF5S8CC4T

The thick canopy of ancient oaks blotted out the night sky, casting the Fae Grove in a deep, eerie twilight. Aurora tugged her jacket tighter, her breath fogging the chilly air as she made her way along the winding dirt path. The Heartstone pendant at her throat pulsed faintly, a steady warmth against her skin. She shouldn't be here. Something had called her, a pull she couldn't deny, but the wrongness of this place settled heavy in her bones. The grove felt alive, watching, waiting. Aurora quickened her pace, boots crunching on the fallen leaves. Overhead, the bare branches creaked and rustled, as if the trees themselves were whispering. A twig snapped. Aurora froze, heart pounding. She strained to hear over the rush of blood in her ears, but the forest had fallen silent, save for the distant hooting of an owl. Slowly, she turned, scanning the gloom. Nothing moved. Just shadows and the towering silhouettes of the oaks. Cautiously, she continued on, senses on high alert. The grove seemed to close in around her, the trees pressing in. She could feel their eyes on her back. Glancing over her shoulder, she caught a flicker of movement, just at the edge of her vision. Aurora spun, heart in her throat, but the forest was still. She shook her head, telling herself it was her imagination. Taking a deep breath, she pushed forward. The ancient standing stones materialized out of the darkness, worn and weathered. Aurora paused, staring up at them. They seemed to loom, ominous and foreboding. A faint rustling drifted to her ears. She whirled, hand going to the Heartstone. It glowed softly, pulsing with an inner light. Aurora peered into the shadows, searching. There, a flicker of movement. She took a step forward, squinting, trying to make out what it was. A branch snapped. Aurora jumped, swinging around. Something darted between the trees, just out of sight. Her stomach twisted with dread. Adrenaline spiking, she broke into a sprint, racing towards the center of the grove. The standing stones loomed before her, the Heartstone burning hot against her skin. She skidded to a halt, chest heaving, eyes darting. The grove was eerily silent, save for the pounding of her heart. She strained to hear anything, any sign of pursuit, but there was nothing. Slowly, Aurora turned, scanning the area. The shadows seemed to shift and swell, as if the very darkness were alive. She took a step back, the Heartstone's warmth her only comfort. A twig snapped. She whirled, but the forest remained still, mocking her. Faint whispers drifted on the breeze, too soft to make out. Aurora's skin prickled, the hairs on the back of her neck rising. She was not alone. Gripping the Heartstone, she called out, voice shaking. "Who's there?" Silence. The whispers faded, swallowed by the oppressive quiet. Aurora's throat tightened, panic rising. She backed towards the center of the grove, eyes darting, searching for any sign of movement. A low, guttural growl rumbled through the trees. Aurora froze, blood turning to ice. Slowly, she turned, every muscle tensed. A pair of glowing yellow eyes emerged from the shadows, reflecting the faint light of the Heartstone. Aurora's breath caught in her throat as a massive, shadowy form materialized, stalking towards her. She stumbled back, heart pounding. The creature moved with a preternatural grace, its limbs twisted and inhuman. Aurora's mind raced, struggling to process what she was seeing. "What are you?" she whispered, voice trembling. The creature let out a bone-chilling howl, its jaws gaping wide. Aurora turned and ran, feet pounding the soft earth. The Heartstone burned hot against her skin, the grove's wrongness pressing in. She could hear the creature's pursuit, its guttural snarls echoing through the trees. Branches whipped at her face as she ran, the grove twisting and turning around her. She had no sense of direction, only the instinct to flee. The Heartstone throbbed, its warmth a beacon in the darkness. A sharp pain lanced through her leg, and Aurora cried out, stumbling. She hit the ground hard, the air rushing from her lungs. Gasping, she scrambled to her feet, only to be tackled to the ground. Claws raked down her back, shredding her jacket. She screamed, thrashing wildly. The creature loomed over her, its hot breath washing over her face. Aurora stared up into those glowing eyes, frozen in terror. Drool dripped from its jaws, spattering her cheek. She could feel its weight pressing down, crushing the air from her lungs. Desperately, she groped for the Heartstone, her fingers curling around the warm pendant. With a strangled cry, she swung it up, the gemstone flaring to life. The creature reared back, a guttural howl piercing the night. Aurora shoved it off, scrambling to her feet. She ran, lungs burning, adrenaline coursing through her veins. The Heartstone pulsed, guiding her through the twisting maze of trees. She could hear the creature's pursuit, its savage snarls echoing all around her. Aurora burst through the treeline, the standing stones looming before her. With a desperate surge of speed, she reached them, the Heartstone blazing. As she passed through the boundary, the grove seemed to shift and warp, time twisting. She emerged, gasping, in the familiar surroundings of Richmond Park. Whirling, she stared back at the grove, now just a cluster of ancient oaks. The Heartstone's glow faded, its warmth fading. Trembling, Aurora sank to her knees, her breath ragged. Whatever that creature was, it was still in the grove, trapped behind the boundary. She hugged herself, shivering, her heart pounding in her ears. The Heartstone's power had saved her, but for how long? She glanced down at the pendant, the crimson gemstone dull and lifeless. Whatever lay in wait within the Fae Grove, she knew she would have to return. And next time, she might not be so lucky.