Page 1 of Heatbound Hearts

1

ZYX

"Something's not right," I whisper beneath my breath.

I move silently through the dense forests of northeastern Terramyst, my footsteps barely disturbing the crystalline moss beneath my feet. The air thrums with a deep, resonant energy that sets my nerves on edge. Something's off today.

My wings are folded tight against my back as I weave between towering trees with bark that shimmers like polished obsidian. Their leaves pulse with an inner light, casting an eerie glow across the forest floor. Bioluminescent fungi cluster at the base of each trunk, their soft blue glow usually a comforting sight. But today, they seem muted, as if holding their breath.

I pause, extending my senses outward. The usual cacophony of Terramyst's wildlife is absent. No chirping of crystal-winged birds, no rustling of gem-scaled forest creatures. Even the ever-present hum of the earth feels subdued.

My silver eyes scan the surroundings, searching for any sign of movement. The floating islands off the coast that usually drift lazily between the realms look still, suspended in the twilight sky like frozen sentinels. Rivers of flowing gemstones that typicallybabble and gurgle their way through the underbrush are eerily quiet, their surfaces unnaturally smooth.

I flex my fingers, feeling the tips of my retractable claws itching to emerge. Every instinct screams danger, but I can't pinpoint the source. The air feels thick, charged with an unfamiliar energy that makes my skin prickle.

Ahead, a clearing opens up, revealing a vista of Terramyst's landscape. Mountains rise in the distance, their rocky faces sparkling beneath the twin moons. Usually during the week of the solstice, we can see more, but the ever-present twilight seems to be thick with clouds right now.

I crouch low, using the shadows cast by a cluster of crystal formations to conceal my presence. My midnight blue skin shifts, adapting to the surrounding colors. It's a handy trick for hunting, but right now, it feels more like a necessary precaution.

The winter solstice festival looms large in my mind. I wanted to hunt before the festival so I could spend the night in the city and have plenty to eat tomorrow after all the wine I know I'll drink tonight. But with the forest this quiet, I'm starting to wonder if there's anything left to hunt.

A faint tremor runs through the ground beneath my feet. It's subtle, barely noticeable, but in this unnatural silence, it might as well be a thunderclap. I freeze, every muscle taut, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

I hold my breath, every sense on high alert. The tremor fades, but the unease lingers. And something calls me forward.

I follow where the sound came from, the magic in the air feeling tumultuous. Shadows cling to my form, helping hide me or guide me, I'm not sure, as I move toward the source of the disturbance.

And that's when I see them.

Two figures lie sprawled on the forest floor, motionless. My heart races as I approach cautiously, wings twitching with nervous energy.

The first figure is unmistakably a demon. His obsidian skin gleams in the dim light, covered in blue runes that pulse faintly with an energy I don't recognize. Small horns protrude from his forehead, and his white hair fans out around him like a halo. A soz'garoth demon, if I'm not mistaken, though I've never seen one in person. What is he doing in Terramyst? Or Nythorra at all.

But it's the second figure that truly throws me. A… woman?

"What are you?" I murmur as I sink down into a crouch, careful to be ready to fight if she wakes.

I blink, certain I must be seeing things because I have never seen or heard of this creature. I know of all the races of Nythorra, even some from Aerasak like the demon.

Yet this creature… She has a form like mine, though much shorter, with brown skin a stark contrast to the crystalline ground beneath her. Freckles dot her face, and her black curly hair is tangled with leaves and twigs. And there's no wings.

My mind reels. A demon and another creature, both unconscious here in Terramyst? It doesn't make any sense. Every instinct screams danger, tells me to turn and run, to alert other guards.

But something stops me. Maybe it's the vulnerability in their faces, or the way the woman's hand is stretched out, fingers barely touching the demon's arm. Whatever it is, I don't feel danger from them.

I pray to the Seven that I'm not wrong.

I move a little closer to them, my claws extending from my fingertips as I scan the area for any immediate threats. The forest remains unnaturally still, as if holding its breath.

"Hey," I whisper, gently shaking the demon's shoulder. No response. I try the woman next, careful not to scratch her with my claws. "Can you hear me?"

As I consider my options, my wings slightly spread in a non-threatening manner, I notice the demon's eyelids fluttering. He groans, a hand coming up to rub his forehead.

"Easy there," I say, keeping my voice low and calm. "You've had quite a tumble."

The demon's silver eyes snap open, immediately alert. He sits up abruptly, then winces, clearly regretting the sudden movement.

"Where am I?" he demands, his voice rough.

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