Myths and Legends

Chapter 16 | The Forest of Whisperwood

Laughter echoed through the courtyard of the Crimson Blade base. Eight-year-old Caspian chased his seven-year-old sister, Aurora, around a series of training dummies. Their playful shouts filled the air, a joyous melody that soon faded into an unsettling silence.

Inside Rei's office, a comfortable nostalgia filled the air as Meldrid and Rei reminisced about past missions. Time's touch was evident on Elric, whose arrival with a warm greeting was accompanied by a smattering of grey hairs.

"Hey, so you were here," he said, giving Meldrid a quick kiss.

"Welcome back, Elric. Good job out there," Rei congratulated, offering a friendly tap on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Rei," Elric replied, then turned to Meldrid. "Where are the little ones? I thought I'd play with them for a bit."

Meldrid smiled. "That's sweet of you, Elric. They were probably just exploring the base by now. Why don't you see if you can find them?"

Elric nodded. "Sure thing," he said, a playful glint in his eye. He stretched, then headed out of the office, humming a cheerful tune.

Concern flickered briefly across Meldrid's face, but she dismissed it. Elric knew the base well, and the children were unlikely to stray too far.

A tense silence followed Elric's departure. The playful shouts from the courtyard had vanished entirely, replaced by an unsettling stillness. Meldrid exchanged a worried glance with Rei.

**Several minutes later:**

The office door creaked open, and Elric stepped back inside. His playful demeanor had vanished, replaced by a frown.

"No sign of them," he reported, his voice laced with concern. "I checked everywhere outside the base, but they weren't there."

Meldrid's smile faltered completely, replaced by a surge of unease. "Everywhere?" she echoed.

Elric nodded grimly. "Everywhere."

**Flashback: 2 hours earlier**

Outside, the afternoon sun cast long shadows through the dense canopy of the Whisperwood. An unsettling stillness hung in the air, broken only by the occasional snap of a twig or the rustle of unseen creatures. Boredom gnawed at Caspian as he watched Aurora giggle while trying (and failing) to climb a particularly tall training dummy.

"Come on, Rory! You're too slow," he teased, his playful energy fading.

Aurora stuck her tongue out at him before tumbling down with a soft thud. "Hey, that's not fair!" she protested, wiping dirt off her knees.

Caspian's initial amusement morphed into restlessness. The thrill of the chase had worn off, and the familiar training grounds felt predictable. Glancing towards the edge of the courtyard, his gaze fell upon the dark woods bordering the base.

"Hey, Rory, have you ever been into the forest?" he asked, a spark of curiosity igniting in his eyes.

Aurora's smile vanished. "Mom said not to go in anywhere far, Casp. It's scary."

"But wouldn't it be an adventure?" Caspian persisted, his voice filled with an eagerness that bordered on defiance. "Just a peek, I promise. We'll be back before anyone even notices we're gone."

Hesitantly, Aurora glanced back at the familiar buildings of the base, then towards the forbidding shadows of the Whisperwood. Despite her fear, the pull of adventure and the need to keep up with her brother proved too strong to resist.

"O-okay, fine," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper.

Unaware of the unseen dangers lurking beneath the dark canopy, the two children, hand-in-hand, ventured deeper into the forest, their playful chatter fading into the oppressive silence.

**Back in the present:**

The carefree atmosphere in the room evaporated. A heavy silence descended, thick with unspoken worry. The weight of their unspoken dread hung heavy in the air.

"We need to find them," Meldrid said, her voice firm despite the tremor running through it.

Elric nodded, his jaw set in determination. Rei, who had been silently observing the exchange, spoke up. "I'll come with you," he declared without hesitation. "We need to find them. Now."

Together, the three of them rushed out of the office, their faces grim and determined. The once peaceful afternoon had taken a sharp turn, replaced by a frantic search and a growing fear for the safety of their children.