CHAPTER 11

(SHIELA’S POV)

I ran past the rustling leaves and jagged rocks, my movements almost causing me to stumble, yet I managed to maintain my balance along with the cloth sack in my possession. My eyes remained fixed ahead, searching for a hiding spot within the woods, convinced that nobody was close behind. Spotting a large fallen tree, I quickly veered off my path, finding it spacious enough to conceal both my body and my bag, granting me a much-needed moment of respite from my frantic sprinting.

Just when I prepared to finally catch my breath and rest, a haunting howl shattered the silence around me. Its resonance, both powerful and desperate, carried an air of majesty that commanded attention without demanding obedience. Before I could fully process the sound, a sudden loud thud followed by the rustling of leaves nearby startled me.

I closed my own mouth to stifle any screams. My heart raced as I crouched low behind the fallen tree. I clutched the strap of the cloth sack tightly against