READ NOVEL FREE Chapter 6: 6
Nina kneels, placing the intricately carved wooden box on the ground. Rex, ever vigilant, approaches cautiously, sniffing the air before tentatively nudging the box with his we nose. He circles it once, twice, his tail giving a hesitant thump against the damp earth. A low growl rumbles in his chest, a sound that's more a warning than aggression.
He sniffs at the box again, his attention drawn to a particular spot near the latch. He nudges it once more, then looks up at Nina, his blue eyes conveying a strange urgency. There's something in the box that deeply unsettles him. The silence of the woods seems to deepen, punctuated only by the soft sounds of Rex's breathing and the rustling of leaves disturbed by an unseen creature.
The air grows heavy, thick with an almost palpable sense of unease. Nina feels a prickling sensation on her skin, a premonition of danger, and realizes that the Whispering Woods are more than just a forest; they are sentient, watchful, aware. The scent of the herbs within the box mingles with the earthy smell of the forest floor, creating a strange and unsettling aroma. A shiver runs down her spine, not from the cold, but from the feeling of being watched, of being judged.
The simple act of letting Rex investigate has introduced a new layer of complexity to the situation, transforming a simple walk into the woods into something far more ominous. The forest waits, seemingly holding its breath, as Nina and Rex stand poised on the edge of the unknown.