Corvus's agitated caws cut through the heavy silence of the ancient hollow. Kael immediately tensed, his brief moment of discovery at the warding symbols shattered. Something was indeed approaching, and the crows, with their superior vantage point and keen senses, had detected it first.
He didn't hesitate. He quickly tucked the Attunement Shard back into its leafy wrapping and secured it in his pouch. The entrance to the root-choked passage, with its unknown depths and depleted wards, suddenly seemed less like an invitation and more like a potential trap if he were caught between an unknown threat from within and another from without.
"System, what's Corvus reacting to? Can you detect anything in the direction he's indicating?" Kael whispered, his gaze fixed on the path back towards the less shadowed part of the forest.
[System Analysis: Corvus and associated flock are reacting to multiple approaching entities. Auditory and subtle ground vibration signatures detected. Entities are bipedal, estimated number: 3-5. Movement pattern suggests coordinated, cautious approach. No immediate hostile intent detected by System, but their vector is directly towards this location. Estimated time to arrival: 2-3 minutes.]
Three to five bipedal entities. Coordinated. That didn't sound like animals. It sounded like people. Or, at least, intelligent beings. Were they other survivors? Hunters? Or something else entirely? The "no immediate hostile intent" was somewhat reassuring, but "cautious approach" implied they weren't just wandering aimlessly. They were likely tracking something, or heading to this specific, energy-rich location.
Kael had a split second to decide: hide and observe, or retreat further into the deep woods? The hollow itself was too much of an unknown. Retreating might mean losing track of this significant location, or worse, being caught in the open by whatever was coming. Hiding seemed the most prudent option.
He scanned his immediate surroundings. The massive roots of the ancient tree provided numerous nooks and crannies. He spotted a particularly dense cluster of Shadowmoss-covered roots a little to the side of the main hollow entrance, forming a small, dark alcove that was almost invisible from the main path. It would be a tight squeeze, but it offered excellent concealment.
"Corvus, quiet now," Kael murmured, hoping the crow understood. He then activated 'Silent Step' and slipped into the alcove, pressing himself flat against the cool, damp earth and roots. The Sylphwing Quill in his tunic seemed to pulse faintly, and he focused on it, trying to extend his senses, to blend into the shadows. His 'Stealth (Rank E)' skill would be put to the test.
He peered through a tiny gap in the roots, his heart pounding. The Shadow Crows, after a few last soft caws, went silent, melting into the upper canopy like feathered ghosts. They knew how to disappear when danger was near.
The two or three minutes stretched into an eternity. Kael focused on controlling his breathing, remaining absolutely still. He could hear them now – the faint crunch of leaves underfoot, the occasional snap of a twig, the low murmur of voices. Definitely not animals.
Then, they came into view.
Three figures, clad in dark, roughly-tanned leathers and furs, emerged from the less shadowed part of the forest, moving with the practiced ease of experienced woodsmen. They were human, or at least humanoid, though their features were hard to make out in the gloom. Two were armed with crude spears tipped with sharpened stone or bone. The third, who seemed to be the leader, carried a short, heavy-looking club and had a string of what looked like animal teeth around his neck. They moved with a purpose, their eyes scanning their surroundings.
They stopped a short distance from the ancient tree, their gazes sweeping over the area, including the root-choked hollow Kael had been investigating. Kael held his breath, his muscles tensed, ready to draw his bow if discovered.
The leader grunted something in a harsh, guttural language Kael didn't understand. One of the spearmen pointed towards the ground near where Kael had brushed away the soil to reveal the warding symbols.
Kael's blood ran cold. Had he left too obvious a sign?
The leader approached the spot, crouched down, and examined the symbols Kael had uncovered. He ran a calloused finger over them, then grunted again, a sound that could have been surprise or recognition. He said something to his companions, and they all looked towards the dark entrance to the hollow with a new intensity, a mixture of wariness and anticipation in their posture.
They hadn't seen Kael. Not yet. But they were clearly interested in the same ancient site that had drawn him here. And their presence, armed and alert, felt far more immediately threatening than any depleted ward or dormant energy.