Velia

The forest lay silent, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy. I stood still, my paws sinking slightly into the damp earth, ears perked, heart pounding. Dario had vanished. One moment, he was beside me, his presence a comforting weight; the next, he was gone, leaving only the rustle of leaves in his wake.

Confusion and a pang of hurt coursed through me. Dario had always been steadfast, his possessiveness a constant, his affection unwavering. This sudden absence was uncharacteristic, unsettling.

‘What's wrong with him?’ I reached out to Raven, our shared consciousness stirring.

‘I…I don't know,’ she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. He's...