READ NOVEL FREE Chapter 8: 8
Nina carefully opens the intricately carved wooden box. The scent of the strange herbs within is stronger now, almost cloying, a mixture of sweet and bitter notes that tingle in her nostrils. She selects a small, dried leaf, its surface a deep, almost iridescent green. It feels strangely warm to the tough, a faint thrumming sensation vibrating through her fingertips. Hesitantly, she offers it to Rex.
He sniffs at the leaf cautiously, his ears twitching. For a moment, he hesitates, then takes the leaf gently in his teeth, chewing thoughtfully. A low whine escapes his throat, and he looks up at Nina, his eyes reflecting a strange mixture of understanding apprehension. He then begins to move, not in his usual carefree manner but with a deliberate purpose, his nose to the ground, sniffing the air with intense focus. He doesn't follow the main path, but instead veers off, heading towards a thicket of bushes, almost invisible in the dim light of the woods.
Nina watches him, her heart pounding. This is not a random exploration. This is a guided path. A faint glimmer of hope shines through her apprehension. Rex's knowledge of the woods, coupled with his unusual reaction to the herb, hints a deeper understanding, a connection between his instincts and the mysterious contents of the box.
The woods remain a silent, but the tension has shifted; a sense of anticipation replaces the previous oppressive dread. The seemingly random choice of offering and herb to Rex has produced a tangible, unexpected result, leading them deeper into the heart of the Whispering Woods. The path, previously obscured, is now revealed, a path guided not by her own limited knowledge, but by the innate instincts of her loyal companion.