The rain poured down in sheets, a relentless torrent that soaked everything in its path. The earth beneath was slick with mud, and every step seemed to pull at the woman’s bare feet as they splashed through the puddles.

Her silver hair clung to her face, glistening in the pale moonlight that shone through the storm like a ghostly beacon. In her arms, she cradled her infant, the child's tiny face hidden beneath a blanket of cloth.

The baby’s cries were muffled by the rush of wind and rain, but they could still be heard, a sound full of fear and desperation.

“We have to keep moving, Mother! They’re close!” The older child, a boy with dark eyes full of worry, urged his mother forward, his own feet barely managing to stay steady as he ran beside her.

“I know, Sol. I know.” Her voice was strained, but she pressed on, not daring to slow down. “The forest will protect us. It always has.”

The sound of galloping hooves grew louder behind them. “They’re coming, Mother! We won’t make it if we don’t hurry!” Sol's...