The night was bitter, the wind howling through the trees like a distant warning. Ghost adjusted his grip on his rifle, the cold biting through his gloves as he continued his rounds along the border of their temporary camp. The mission had been tense—hostile territory, sudden snowfall, limited resources, and now, the uneasy feeling that he wasn’t alone.

It started with the silence. The usual nighttime noises of the forest—chirping insects, rustling leaves—had faded into an unnatural stillness. Then, the low growls reached his ears.

Yellow eyes flickered between the trees, moving like specters in the darkness. A pack. Six, maybe seven wolves, all watching him with hungry patience. Ghost exhaled slowly, shifting his stance. He had his rifle, his knife, and his training, but against an entire pack? Even the most hardened soldier could only do so much.

The leader stepped forward, a massive creature with dark fur dusted with snow. Its lips curled, exposing sharp teeth. Ghost tightened his grip on the trigger, preparing for the inevitable attack.

And then—

The wolves hesitated. Their ears flattened, bodies shifting with unease. One by one, they turned away, tails tucking as they slunk back into the shadows.

Confusion flickered in Ghost’s mind. What had scared them off?

A gust of wind blew past Ghost. Carrying something faint, something he couldn’t quite place. An eerie aura that seemed to loom over him.

Ghost turned his head—and hesitated.

Standing among the trees was a horse.

It was massive, its coat a shade of white so pure it nearly glowed under the moonlight. Its mane was impossibly long, flowing like silk, moving even though there was no breeze.

But it was the eyes that held Ghost in place—deep, knowing, too intelligent to belong to any normal beast. A human glint in them that caused his body to freeze before he raised his rifle in defense.