Chapter 4: This Is Fine. Probably
Caelen sat frozen in his wobbly chair, one hand gripping his stone axe, the other holding onto the table like it might save him from death-by-something-outside.
The forest outside had gone full nightmare mode. Every branch crack sounded like footsteps. Every gust of wind sounded like whispering. And something out there just made a noise that sounded like a cat being stepped on—if the cat was forty feet tall and possibly on fire.
He slowly nudged the leaf-door closed. It fluttered open again like, Nice try.
He sighed and propped it shut with a stick. "This is fine. This is shelter. This is what winning looks like."
Sniff sniff.
Caelen froze. Something was sniffing the hut again.
Sniff... SNORT.
He didn't breathe. Didn't blink.
His entire body screamed, Don't move. Don't exist. Maybe it'll leave if you're boring.
Then silence.
Eventually, the sniffing stopped. The sounds faded into the woods. Whatever it was... lost interest.