(Dascar's Pov)

        Snap! I thrust the large branch through the brush ahead of me, creating a path for the youngsters and I to walk through. We continued trekking through the maze-like forest, shadows dancing before us on the forest floor. The deeper we dived into the forest, the darker it seemed to get. I heard the sound of twigs snapping and the thump of someone landing on the ground. I turned around to see my brother had tripped and fallen, and Storm had hurried forward in worry, and was anxiously worrying over him.

        "Are you okay? Did you hurt anything? I'm so sorry, I didn't catch you in time! This is all my fault," Storm worried as tears pricked in the corners of her eyes. She looked like a puppy that was trying to cheer up its sad owner. I couldn't help but mentally squeal at how adorable it was. I would never say it out loud, though. I have a tough guy reputation to protect.

        "Hey, it's fine! It wasn't your fault, I just tripped! I'm fine, your just overreacting!" he comforted her, a sweatdrop forming on the side of my head. I held back a small smile of amusement.

        "Let's get going you two! We're losing daylight. I want to set up camp before it gets dark," I said, nodding my head towards the 'path' ahead. Drago quickly stood up, grabbing Storm's hand in the process and helping her up. Storm, what a strange name... I wonder how she got it.

        About an hour later, we came across a small clearing. The forest floor was covered in dead leaves and an occasional acorn or two. There were two medium-sized oak trees in the center, casting shadows to the west. Their long branches and large leaves shaded the undergrowth a darker color in the dimming light. The area around the clearing was thickly covered with different kinds of trees just like it was everywhere else in the forest.

        "Okay, Drago, you know the drill. Clear out the dead leaves, and now that we have Storm, she can gather sticks and dry wood for the fire. As always, I will set up the shelter," I instructed, the other two nodded in understanding and headed off to do their jobs. I set down my bag and reached into it, pulling out the large grey tarp and nails from inside the sack. I walked up to the two trees, then I put a corner of the tarp onto the first tree and held it there by pushing the nail into the tree, and then did the same with the other tree and opposite corner of the tarp, creating a tent-like structure. I nailed the remaining corners into the ground, completing the structure.

        By the time I finished, Drago was done sweeping out the area, while Storm had yet to return from gathering firewood. That's strange, usually gathering firewood doesn't take that long... Concern stabbed at me, the wounds it left burned with anxiety.

        "Hey Drago, has Storm returned yet? Have you seen her?" I ask, masking my concern with a nonchalant expression, not wanting to worry Drago.

        "Now that I think about it, no, no I haven't... I wonder if she is alright...?" he answered, his red eyes clouding with concern. Where was she? That's when we heard an ear-splitting scream and deadly screech erupt from the forest, birds rushing out and away from the canopy near the noise.