Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTRMZNEBVMQ6NDF6YKR24PJ

The chill night air nipped at Aurora's bare arms as she stepped into the Fae Grove. The familiar ancient oaks stood silent and watchful, their gnarled branches reaching up to the inky sky like clawed fingers. She pulled her worn leather jacket tighter, wishing she had thought to grab a scarf before leaving her flat. Her footsteps crunched on the path, the sound seeming unnaturally loud in the still night. The grove was shrouded in moonlight, the muted silver glow casting long shadows that flickered and shifted at the edges of her vision. Aurora paused, straining her ears, but the only sounds were the faint rustling of leaves and her own steady breathing. Why had she come here, again? The details of her earlier decision were already slipping away, like wisps of dream. She shook her head, letting out a small sigh. It didn't matter now. All that mattered was getting back home. With a decisive nod, Aurora started walking again, keeping her pace brisk. The sooner she reached the edge of the grove, the sooner she could leave this eerie place behind. As she moved deeper into the forest, the shadows seemed to deepen, enveloping her in a cocoon of darkness. Aurora's heartbeat quickened, her footsteps faltering. She strained her eyes, trying to make out any landmarks, any sign that she was heading the right way, but the blackness was impenetrable. A twig snapped somewhere off to her left, and Aurora froze, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, she turned her head, peering into the gloom. Her eyes frantically searched the darkness, but she saw nothing. Just endless, swallowing black. Swallowing hard, Aurora forced herself to keep walking, her steps more hesitant now. The air felt thick, almost stifling, and she had the unsettling sensation of being watched. Her fingers curled around the pendant at her throat, the familiar warmth of the Heartstone a small comfort. Another sound, this time a faint rustling, came from behind her. Aurora whirled around, her heart pounding. "Hello?" she called out, cursing the slight tremor in her voice. "Is someone there?" Silence. Shaking her head, Aurora turned back and continued on, her pace quickening. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed, that something was stalking her through the shadows. Her skin prickled with unease, and she fought the urge to break into a run. Up ahead, a dim light flickered. Aurora squinted, her pace slowing as she approached what appeared to be a small fire. Relief flooded through her, and she hurried towards it, the warmth of the flames a welcome sight. As she drew closer, however, a strange sensation washed over her. The light seemed to pulse and flicker, as if it were alive. And the shadows around it seemed to move, to twist and writhe, as if they had a mind of their own. Aurora paused, her brow furrowing. Something was wrong, very wrong. She took a cautious step forward, peering into the darkness beyond the fire. And that's when she saw it. A figure, tall and gaunt, stood just beyond the firelight. Aurora's breath caught in her throat as it turned towards her, its movements jerky and unnatural. She couldn't make out any distinct features, but she knew, with a sinking feeling, that she was not alone. Instinctively, her hand went to the pendant at her throat, her fingers curling around the warm, familiar gem. The faint glow pulsed and brightened, casting a soft, crimson light over the scene. In that flickering light, Aurora caught a glimpse of the creature's face - if it could be called a face. It was a twisted, almost inhuman visage, with sunken eyes and a gaping, lipless mouth. The sight sent a shiver of terror down her spine, and she took a step back, her heart pounding in her ears. The creature let out a low, guttural growl, and Aurora knew she had to get away. She turned and fled, her lungs burning as she ran blindly through the darkness. The world around her blurred, and she could hear the creature's heavy footsteps pounding behind her, closing in. Her foot caught on a tree root, and she stumbled, nearly falling. Panic surged through her, and she pushed herself onwards, driven by pure, animal fear. The pendant at her throat pulsed with a steady, comforting rhythm, as if it were urging her on. As she ran, Aurora's mind raced, desperately searching for a way out. She knew she couldn't keep this up forever, and the creature seemed relentless in its pursuit. Her only hope was to somehow lose it in the maze of trees and shadows. Up ahead, she saw a faint glimmer of light - the edge of the grove, she realized with a surge of hope. Summoning the last of her strength, she pushed on, her lungs burning with the effort. But just as she neared the exit, a new sound reached her ears - a deep, rumbling growl, coming from directly in front of her. Aurora skidded to a halt, her eyes widening in horror as a second creature, larger and even more grotesque than the first, emerged from the shadows. She was trapped.