3. Lara

3

LARA

T he dae lies still in the snow, a solemn testament to my masterful skill. We kneel around the fallen dae, its lifeless eyes staring blankly at the sky. The cold air nips at my cheeks, but the thrill of a successful hunt keeps me warm. We begin to clean and prepare the dae, our hands moving with practiced ease.

Maya pulls out her knife, the blade glinting in the dim winter light. "Who's taking the first cut?"

"Go ahead," Aiden says, leaning back on his heels. "I'm just here for moral support."

"Like usual," I quip.

Maya chuckles and begins to work on the dae's hide. The smell of fresh blood mingles with the crisp scent of pine and snow. I focus on my task, my fingers deftly separating muscle from bone.

“Remember that time you almost shot me instead of the dae?” Aiden says with a grin.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I reply. “If I wanted to hit you, you would have had an arrow in your backside.”

Maya laughs, her breath visible in the freezing air. “That would’ve been a sight!”

Aiden rolls his eyes but chuckles too. “Just saying, my reflexes saved me.”

“You mean your clumsiness saved you,” I counter. “You tripped over your own feet and fell out of the way.”

We all laugh at the memory, the sound echoing through the snowy forest. It's moments like these that remind me why I cherish our expeditions. The camaraderie between us is as vital as any skill we possess.

"Pass me that cloth," Maya says, reaching out. I hand it to her without missing a beat.

The dae's hide feels smooth yet firm under my hands as I work on it. The process is second nature to us now—cleaning and preparing game is as much a part of our lives as breathing. Yet, the work goes faster when you’re among friends. When every joke and jab makes the effort less taxing and the chill less biting.

I glance at my friends. Their faces are flushed from the cold and exertion, but their eyes shine with joy and solidarity.

“We make a good team,” I say softly.

Aiden claps a hand on my shoulder. “The best.”

Maya nods in agreement. “Couldn’t ask for better company.”

As we continue cleaning the dae, my eyes drift toward something peculiar in the distance. It appears to be partially covered ruins nearby. The jagged edges of ancient stone, half-buried in snow and ice, seem to call to me with an almost magnetic pull. I can't ignore the itch of curiosity gnawing at me.

"We should check that out," I say, nodding toward the ruins.

Aiden looks up, eyebrow raised. "You serious? We're in the middle of something here."

"Yeah, but how often do we find something like this?" I argue. "Come on, it’ll be a quick detour."

Maya glances at the ruins and then back at me, skepticism written all over her face. "You think there's anything worth seeing in there?"

"Only one way to find out," I reply. My enthusiasm must be infectious because I see the glint of intrigue soon spark in their eyes.

Aiden sighs, shaking his head with a grin. "Fine, but if we get trapped by some ancient curse, it's on you."

"I'll take full responsibility," I quip, already on my feet. “Besides, when’s the last time we’ve allowed ourselves to explore a bit beyond our village?”

We leave our task behind and head toward the ancient structures hidden beneath the snow. Each step I take feels light with anticipation, my mind racing with possibilities of what we might uncover.

"Lead the way, fearless leader," Aiden says with a mock bow.

“Don’t mind if I do.” I take the lead, my heart pounding faster as we get closer to the ruins.

Maya stays close behind, her eyes scanning for any signs of danger. "Let's hope this isn't a waste of time."

"It won't be," I assure her. "Trust me."

The ruins loom larger as we approach. Crumbling walls and eroded statues emerge from the snow like specters from another time. My heart races with excitement. What secrets lie within these forgotten stones?

We inch closer to the entrance, the chill of the forest replaced by an eerie stillness. Snow gives way to stone, each step revealing more of the ancient structure. The air feels charged, almost humming with the weight of history.

"Look at these carvings," I whisper, tracing my fingers along the intricate patterns etched into the stone. "They’re beautiful."

Aiden kneels beside me, brushing away a layer of snow to uncover more. "Never seen anything like this before. Must be old."

"Ancient," Maya corrects, her eyes wide with wonder as she examines a nearby pillar adorned with strange glyphs. "What do you think they mean?"

"No clue," I admit, though the mystery only fuels my curiosity. "But they look important."

Aiden chuckles. "Always knew you had a thing for old rocks."

"These aren't just rocks," I protest, but I can’t help but smile at his teasing. "This is history."

Maya steps forward, her gaze fixed on a small alcove embedded in the wall. She reaches in and pulls out a tarnished metal object, its surface covered in more of those mysterious symbols. "Look at this."

Aiden peers over her shoulder. "Some kind of artifact?"

"Seems like it." Maya turns it over in her hands, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Think it’s valuable?"

"Probably," I say, feeling a thrill of discovery coursing through me. "But its true value might be in what it can tell us about who built this place."

Aiden nods toward a set of steps leading deeper into a dark opening. "Want to explore further?"

I hesitate for a moment, glancing back at the snowy forest behind us. The dae lies forgotten now, our task abandoned in favor of this newfound adventure.

"Yes," I decide, my voice firm with resolve. "Let’s see what else we can find."

Maya's eyes light up with excitement as she tucks the artifact into her pack. "Lead the way.”

Together, we venture into the shadowy entrance of the ruins. We descend the steps cautiously, each one taking us further from the world we know and deeper into the unknown.

"Watch your step," Aiden warns as he steadies me when I slip on a loose stone.

"Thanks," I murmur.

The air inside the ruins feels heavy with dust and age, but my excitement grows with each step forward. Each footfall echoes against the ancient stone walls, amplifying the sense of mystery that clings to this place. The carvings become more intricate, depicting scenes of battles and rituals that speak of a once-thriving civilization now lost to time.

"These glyphs," Maya murmurs, running her fingers over a particularly elaborate design. "They seem to tell a story."

"Maybe they do," I reply, my eyes scanning the walls for more clues. "A story we can uncover."

Aiden chuckles, but there's an edge of awe in his voice. "You always did have a knack for finding hidden things."

"That's why you keep me around," I tease, though my focus remains on the carvings. "This place is incredible."

Maya's eyes sparkle with curiosity as she moves deeper into the ruins. "Do you think anyone's been here before us?"

"Hard to say," I answer, noting the thick layer of dust and undisturbed cobwebs. "But it feels like we're the first in a long time."

We continue our exploration, our voices hushed in reverence for the history around us. The air grows colder as we venture further in, the temperature drop adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"Look at this," Maya says, pointing to a series of small alcoves set into the walls. Each one holds a different artifact—ornate weapons, delicate jewelry, and strange objects whose purpose we can only guess at.

"Treasure trove," Aiden remarks with a grin.

"More like an archive," I counter, fascinated by the sheer variety of items. "These things were important to whoever these beings were. Dark elves, maybe?"

Maya shrugs as she carefully picks up a small dagger adorned with precious stones. "Imagine what stories these could tell."

"Imagine what we could learn," I add, my mind racing with possibilities.

Aiden's hand hovers over an ornate amulet encrusted with deep red gems. His eyes gleam with curiosity, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

"Think it's cursed?" he asks, a note of challenge in his voice.

"Don't even joke about that," Maya warns, but her tone lacks conviction.

"Only one way to find out," he says, reaching out before I can stop him.

"Aiden, wait?—"

His finger brushes the amulet. The contact is brief, almost hesitant, but it is enough.

A low rumble begins beneath our feet. The ground trembles, sending small rocks skittering across the floor. Dust cascades from the ceiling like a fine mist.

"What did you do?" Maya's voice rises in panic, her eyes wide as she backs away from the alcove.

"I... I didn't think—" Aiden stammers, his bravado vanishing as the ruins groan around us.

"Hold on!" I shout, grabbing onto a nearby pillar for support. The carvings under my fingers feel cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the chaos erupting around us.

The walls shake violently. Ancient stones shift and crack, filling the air with a deafening roar. It's as if the ruins themselves awaken from a long slumber, protesting our intrusion.

"We need to get out of here!" Maya's voice barely carries over the crackling of stone. She clutches her pack tightly, eyes darting around for an escape route.

Aiden's face pales as he struggles to regain his balance. "I didn't mean to?—"

"Save it!" I snap. "We need to move!"

The floor beneath us splits open with a thunderous crack. Jagged fissures snake their way across the stone surface, widening into gaping chasms that threaten to swallow us whole.

"This way!" I gesture toward the steps we descended earlier, but they are now obscured by falling debris. Our exit is cut off.

Panic surges through me. Every instinct screams to find safety, but my mind races for another solution. We can't stay here; the ruins won't hold much longer.