We finally made it out of the dark tunnel and into the Dark Forest. Although it was sunny outside, barely any sunlight penetrated through the thick trees. The forest was so dense that we could hardly see beyond a few feet ahead of us. The trees were tall and twisted, with their gnarled branches and leaves creating a canopy that obscured the sky. Tangled roots and thick moss covered the ground, and the air was damp and cool.

As we walked deeper into the forest, we heard strange noises coming from all around us. The rustling of leaves, the creaking of branches, and the occasional hoot of an owl. The forest was alive with sound and movement, but it was also eerily quiet. We couldn't see any animals or birds, and it seemed like we were the only living things in the forest.

I shivered as a cold gust of wind blew through the trees, making them sway and groan. Salina pulled her cloak tighter around her and Kevin muttered something about wishing he brought a jacket. Terrin seemed unfazed, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.

The further we walked, the more I felt like the forest was closing in on us. The trees seemed to lean in, their branches reaching out to grab us. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, and it made my skin crawl. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

Our picnic under the tree began with my opening my bag and pulling out a loaf of bread and dried fruit. I tried the beef jerky, tearing off a small piece and chewing it carefully. The salty, savory taste exploded in my mouth, and I felt my teeth sink into the tough, chewy meat. 

As a werewolf, I could only eat meat, but this jerky was perfect. It was like biting into a fresh kill, and I savored every bite. The taste lingered in my mouth, and I couldn't help but grab another piece.

Kevin offered me a flask of water, and I took a sip. The water tasted slightly metallic, probably from the flask, but it was refreshing after our journey through the swamp and tunnel.

Overall, the snacks were simple but satisfying. I felt grateful for them, as we didn't know when we would have the chance to eat again.

Terrin got up to watch for danger, I felt a nudge of curiosity. I knew that this was my chance to talk to him in private. I got up and followed him as he walked a few meters away from the tree where the others were resting. I stood behind him, keeping my distance, but close enough to hear him speak.

"Terrin?" I called out.

He turned around and looked at me. "Yes, Jessica?"

"I just wanted to say thank you for helping us back there in the swamp and the tunnel," I said, feeling grateful for his bravery.

Terrin smiled and replied, "It's no problem, Jessica. I'm just glad we made it out alive."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Yeah, me too. This journey has been...intense."

Terrin chuckled, "That's one way to put it. But we have to keep going if we want to get to Lord Dregan's castle."

I sighed, "I know. But sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. Risking our lives like this."

Terrin placed his hand on my shoulder. "I understand how you feel. But we have to keep pushing forward. We're almost there."

I nodded, feeling reassured by his words. In silence, we observed the forest around us. The chirping of birds and rustling of leaves filled the air. It was peaceful, yet eerie at the same time.

“Exactly where you came from and how did you become a knight?” I asked.

Initially, he hesitated, but then opened up. “Well, I wasn't always a knight," he started. "I grew up in a small village on the outskirts of the kingdom, and my family was poor. My father was a farmer, and my mother sold herbs and medicines she made from the plants we grew. My grandparents came from Africa and settled here. I always dreamed of doing something more with my life, something that would make a difference. So I became a squire for a knight and worked hard to achieve my own title.”

 "Wow, that's incredible," I said, impressed. 

Terrin shrugged modestly. "It wasn’t easy, especially being a person of color in this country. But I won't let that stop me from fighting for what's right."

I nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of admiration for Terrin's determination. “I understand what you mean. It's not easy being a werewolf too.”

Terrin shook his head, a look of surprise on his face. "I just can't believe it," he said. "I've heard stories about werewolves my whole life, but I never actually thought they were real."

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? You've never seen one before?"

Terrin shook his head. "No, I never have. I've heard all kinds of stories, but I always thought they were just that – stories."

I couldn't help but feel a little surprised. As a werewolf myself, I had grown up knowing that I was different from other people. But I had always assumed that others like Terrin had at least seen a werewolf before in this time period. It was strange to think that he had gone his whole life without encountering one. Did nobody also tell him Lord Dregan was a werewolf before he embarked on his mission? 

"Well, now you have," I said with a small smile. "And you don't have to be afraid. Not all werewolves are bad."

Terrin smiled back at me, relief clear on his face. "I'm glad to hear that," he said. “And I'm glad I met you.”

I nodded, feeling a little uneasy. I wasn't sure how Terrin would react to my true nature. But to my surprise, he didn't seem fazed at all.

"You must be powerful too," he said with a smile. 

I blushed, feeling a little self-conscious. "I don't know about that. I'm still learning how to control my transformations."

Terrin nodded in understanding. "Well, we all have our struggles. But we can't let them define us. We have to keep fighting, no matter what."

I smiled, feeling grateful for Terrin's words of encouragement. "You're right. We have to keep pushing forward, no matter what obstacles come our way."

As I stepped closer to Terrin, I could feel my heart racing with excitement.

 "What about you, Terrin?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual. "Do you have someone waiting for you back home?"

Terrin chuckled. "No, I don't. Why do you ask?"

I felt a rush of relief flood through me. "No reason, just curious," I said, trying to play it cool. "I'm single and available, in case you were wondering."

He raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Is that so?"

I couldn't help but grin. "Yep, I'm all yours if you want me."

Terrin laughed heartily. It's likely he thought I was joking.

I leaned in closer to Terrin, hoping to make him understand I wasn't joking. But before I could even make my move, Kevin's voice broke through the moment.

"Hey, guys, I found something interesting!" Kevin exclaimed, breaking the romantic atmosphere. 

I sighed inwardly, feeling disappointed that the moment was lost.

"What is it?" Terrin asked, his attention now diverted from me.

"I found a map of the Dark Forest!" Kevin said, holding up a crumpled piece of parchment.

“Let's take a look.” I followed the others back to our spot beneath the tree, my mind still racing with thoughts of Terrin.

Damn, I was totally close!

****

I felt a flutter in my heart as we huddled around the map. Terrin's deep voice explaining the path to the castle made me want to lean in closer. 

It was clear we needed to follow the path if we wanted to find Lord Dregan and put an end to his evil reign.

As we started to make our way through the forest, I found myself stealing glances at Terrin. I couldn't help but feel a pull toward him. I wondered if he felt the same way.

But we had a mission to focus on, and I couldn't let my feelings get in the way. We needed to work together if we were going to succeed. So I pushed my thoughts of Terrin aside and kept my eyes on the path ahead.