Mist swallowed the path whole.

No footprints.

Just the creak of pines like old bones settling.

He walked here ....defiant, torch held high,

Now?

Gone.

Ravens circle.

Why?

The Forest breathes ... a slow, rotting sigh.

GONE MISSING!

Vanished in the Forest of Doom!

Where shadow-things writhe

And ancient stones chant his name in the gloom!

Was it tooth? Was it root?

Or the Whispering Dark

That swallowed the spark?

GONE!

They found his flask.

Empty.

And a scrap of red cloak .. snagged on a thorn like flesh.

The trees leaned closer.

Watching.

Hungry.

No stars pierce the canopy.

Air thick as grave-soil.

Listen...

GONE MISSING!

Vanished in the Forest of Doom!

Where shadow-things writhe

And ancient stones chant his name in the gloom!

Was it tooth? Was it root?

Or the Whispering Dark

That swallowed the spark?

GONE!

GONE.

Did he bargain with the Moss-King?

Trade his voice for one more dawn?

Or did the things with too many legs

Drag him...

...down?

GONE!

FOREST!

OF!

DOOM!

ICE on the chain they found...

NIGHT without end...

GONE!