Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR8MZTGKEWR79E5A22Z3ZD

Rory took a final, uneasy look around before entering the fae grove. The moon hung low, its pale glow casting eerie shadows through the dense foliage. Tall, ancient oaks rose like guardians, their gnarled roots tangled and overgrown. Wildflowers danced in a soft breeze, their blooms a vivid contrast to the dimness. An otherworldly hum filled the air, a buzz she felt more than heard. Cautiously, she stepped onto the path, marked by time-worn standing stones. The grove's energy swept over her, a buzz under her skin. It stirred something deep within, a primal warning. She shivered, her breath forming clouds in the chill air. Something rustled in the undergrowth, invisible beyond the tall ferns. Rory froze, heart pounding. Was it just an animal? The sound paused, followed by an unsettling silence. She waited, straining her ears, feeling eyes on her from the darkness. A sudden gust made the trees groan. Branches creaked and rustled, casting shadows across the grass. She swore she glimpsed movement in the corner of her eye, a flash of colour retreating into the woods. But when she spun around, all she saw was an empty path. She took a step forward, determined. That's when she spotted them, faint and pulsing, the standing stones. Her pulse quickened. The pendant! How could she forget it? It had been a gift from an anonymous benefactor, but with the chaos of the journey, she'd forgotten it existed until now. Rory fumbled in her pocket for the chain, her fingers closing around the smooth gemstone. As she drew it forth, the pendant glowed brighter, a deep crimson against her palm. The heat it emitted made her want to look closer, but she resisted, aware something lurked in the darkness, watching. The pendant began to warm further, almost pulsing in her hand. She clutched it tightly, and it responded in kind, its hum soothing. But the warmth also made her nervous; its intensity seemed to reflect her own fear. She held it higher, using the crimson glow to light her way forward. As she approached the center of the grove, the pendant pulsed strongly, a beacon in the gloom. The more nervous Rory became, the brighter it shined, a cautious optimism in a perilous location. She wondered if it was a wayfinding tool, a guide through this place. She walked faster, the pendant leading her on. Despite the warmth, Rory felt a chill deep in her bones. The deeper she ventured, the stranger the grove became. Fae tricks, her mind whispered. But even her sharp mind struggled to find logic in the sights and sounds. The grove's silence enveloped her now, unsettling. The wind had stopped, and the rustling ceased. All she could hear was her own breath and the rush of blood in her ears. Suddenly, a loud snap broke the quiet, followed by more footfalls, heading directly toward her. Rory spun, the pendant swinging wildly in her hand. The woods erupted into chaos as dark forms emerged from the shadows, moving with preternatural speed. "Get back!" she yelled, brandishing the pendant like a weapon. The creatures halted momentarily, their glowing red eyes reflecting the stone's light. They hissed, their inhuman forms blending into the woods. "Stay away!" Rory shouted again, backing towards the stones. The crimson gem throbbed in her hand, its light a beacon to the encroaching darkness. A menacing hiss reverberated through the clearing as the creatures advanced. Rory realised their target wasn't her but the pendant, their gazes fixated on its glow. She considered throwing it, a distraction, but feared they might rip it from her grasp. In desperation, she raised it higher, almost beseeching. "Take it, but leave me be." Unexpectedly, the creatures froze, their eyes fixed on the gem. A soft vibration filled the air, the stones resonating with the pendant's energy. The creatures shrieked, a high-pitched wail, before vanishing as quickly as they'd appeared. Rory collapsed, panting, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Slowly, she became aware of her surroundings once more; the stones, the eerie stillness of the grove. She held the pendant in trembling fingers, studying its glow. It had saved her, for now. But what was its purpose? Who had sent it, and why? Her mind raced with questions as she retreated, vowing to uncover the mysteries of the fae grove, and her newfound pendant.