The pregnant woman moved toward her as quickly as she was able, one hand pressed protectively at her rounded belly, her face pale with worry that gave way to visible relief the moment she drew near.
“Thank the heavens you’ve returned,” Judith said, catching hold of Bria’s arm as though to assure herself she was truly there. “You came through the forest alone?”
“I did,” Bria answered, though her voice carried a steadiness she did not fully feel.
Judith searched her face, her relief faltering as concern took its place.
“Did you see anything?” she asked, lowering her voice despite the noise around them. “Or hear something… strange?”
Bria hesitated, if only for a moment. “Why do you ask?”
Judith shot a quick glance toward the Hunters, then drew a breath that did little to steady her. “They came earlier today.Not long after the sun reached its height. One of their men was brought in, badly wounded. They say it was done by a huge creature in the forest, something none of them have seen before now.”
Bria felt the echo of the forest rise again within her, the memory of the beast pressing close.
“What kind of creature?” she asked, more calmly than she felt.
Judith shook her head. “They cannot agree, only that it was large… pale fur… and that it struck without warning. They barely got the wounded Hunter back here alive.”
Bria’s gaze shifted toward the healing cottage. “He still lives?”
“For now,” Judith said. “Arella and the others have been working on him since he was brought in. They’ve not stepped away.”
Judith’s hand tightened slightly on Bria’s arm. “I feared you might have crossed its path. I have never been so glad to see someone return safely.”
Bria managed a faint smile, though it did not fully reach her eyes. “Nor have I been so glad to see home.”
And it was home.
The place where she had always known her purpose, where her days were filled with work that mattered and a life that had never left her wanting more. She had never sought change, never felt the need to look beyond what Willowmere offered.
Yet standing there now, she felt the difference as clearly as if it had been spoken aloud. The calm she had always relied upon was gone. Something had disturbed it. Something that did not belong.
The sudden rise of voices from the direction of the main healing cottage drew every eye.
What had been scattered concern gathered into movement at once, villagers turning and making their way toward the cottage, unease sharpening into something far more immediate.
Bria did not hesitate. She glanced at Judith, and together they moved with the others, drawn by the urgency that now gripped the village.
Judith kept close to her side, one hand resting protectively at her belly as she hurried as best she could.
The shouts grew loudly from within the cottage.
“Something must have worsened,” Judith said, her voice tight with worry.
People whispered and mumbled amongst themselves, sharing their own fears as the crowd pressed forward.
They had barely reached the healing cottage when the door flew open and Arella stepped out. Behind her came the leader of the group of Hunters.
Her expression alone told enough, but she spoke up, her voice carrying clearly. “We could not save him.”
Though the villagers did not know the Hunter, they offered prayers that whispered softly through the crowd, their heads bowed. It was the way in Willowmere, every birth celebrated and every death acknowledged with prayers for a safe crossing.
The Hunter stepped forward. “A beast stalks the forest.”
Heads shot up and eyes turned wide with fright.
“It is huge, uncommonly so,” he said, with a force that carried easily across those gathered. “It cannot be killed easily; its fur so thick a sword can barely penetrate it. But make no mistake, this thing will pay for what it has done. The king will see to that.”
