Aias had been wandering the enchanted forest for what felt like hours, though he had long since lost track of time. His heart weighed heavy with the bitter sting of abandonment, left behind by his own kind. He had always known he was weaker than the others, the object of their taunts and ridicule, but he never imagined they would truly leave him behind, alone, lost, and afraid. That harsh reality was something he wasn’t ready to face.

Exhausted, Aias was about to sit down and rest when he heard a sudden rustling in the bushes nearby. Panic surged through him, but instead of preparing himself to fight or flee, he stumbled over a twisted root and fell hard onto his back. His breath left him in a sharp gasp, and as he lay there, the sound of the rustling grew closer, a reminder that danger was closing in, and this time, there was no one left to save him.