Ghruz struggled to move through the foliage of the dark forest almost tugging on their pants and clawing at their bare skin, as if to drag them into the underbrush. They walked for what felt like hours, but the dim sky never changed, an ebb and flow of energy washing over the night like the tide. Their limbs felt heavy, as if wading through a mire, exhaustion creeping upon them.

The orc felt as if they were about to collapse when they saw a light in front of them, peeking through the colossal trees. They picked up pace, rushing forward faster and faster until they burst out into a clearing. In the center was an altar, a shimmering blue crystal hovering above, a silver light beaming into the sky.

Ghruz continued forward, as the pure white stone of the altar shimmered faintly. Laying in the center was Titania, completely motionless, her naked form completely devoid of any colour. The orc walked closer, and their heart sank as a feeling of pure, unadulterated dread fell upon them. The blade was gone from Titania’s abdomen, but the skin around the gaping wound was tainted in jet black veins that seeped deep into her skin.

An abhorrent group of howls echoed throughout the forest. Ghruz spun around to see hunched figures crawling from the forest line, blood red eyes staring hungrily. The orc hunched over, readying their sword, as the five beasts prowed and spread themselves around the altar.

The largest of the pack launched itself at Ghruz, too fast for them to be able to react, sinking its needle-like teeth into their arm. Ghruz howled in anger as pain shot through their body, like they had been struck by lightning.

The orc brought their blade up to the pack leader's neck, then staggered back in shock as the beast leapt back, its forked tongue licking its massive teeth. Two of the beasts dashed to either side of Ghruz, their speed far lesser than that of their pack leader. As they leapt into the air, the orc slid under, bringing their blade into the stomach of a beast, and its body crashed into the other. Ghruz brought their blade down on the second creature, sheathing it in its skull. The remaining three beasts barked at the orc, their mouths dripping a black liquid. Ghruz glanced at their wounded arm, eyes wide with shock. The bite marks weren’t bleeding, but the skin around the wound was pitch black.

As if to take advantage of Ghruz’s lapse in focus, the three creatures lunged at the orc. With a brilliant flash, a dazzling figure appeared in front of Ghruz and sliced through them with their bare hand. The creatures fell to the ground and their heads rolled away from their bodies. Ghruz looked up to see Titania standing right before them. She was twisted around like a ragdoll, her eyes pitch blank but her face expressionless.

Her mouth twisted into a wicked snarl. “You shouldn’t be here.” Her voice was raspy and otherworldly.

Ghruz paled, their eyes darting around in panic. Titania reached forward, placing her finger on the orc’s forehead, and spoke something incomprehensible, before the nightmarish world fading into nothingness.

Ghruz’s eyes snapped open, and the familiar sight of the twilight skies greeted them. They took in a deep breath, jerked up from the ground, and leapt onto their feet, ready to attack. Their eyes darted around, to see a startled Silviana, shaking, eyes filled with tears.

The orc relaxed their shoulders, and let out a deep sigh sigh of relief. Silviana rushed up to them, wrapping her arms around them tightly.

“I thought you were dead! Our lady was… was killed. Everyone near her suddenly fell to the ground. Lifeless.” Silviana began to choke on her words. “ Not even you were breathing.” she sobbed.

Ghruz pat the elf on the back, hissing in pain. They brought their left arm up, the bite mark was still there, and their forearm and hand were pitch black. Silviana pulled back to see what Ghruz was fussing about, flinching at their arm.

“You saw the fellgrove didn’t you?” Silviana whispered. Ghruz nodded at her.

“A dark forest with uh, hostile beasts yeah?” they asked. Ghruz shuddered while recalling that memory, but nothing of that place was more terrifying than the look Titania gave them.

Silviana offered a reserved nod. “You died. Your soul was dragged there with Titania.”

Ghruz flinched, and dashed over to the queen’s pale corpse. They put the back of their fingers to her cheek, her face drained of all warmth. Silviana knelt down beside Ghruz, her eyes red and puffy from crying. The remaining three soldiers who Ghruz left by the river bowed their heads in sadness, everyone completely silent.

Titania began to glow a silvery hue as the wound on her stomach closed up, and the void tainted skin dissipated. Her eyes snapped open, and her metallic gaze rested on Ghruz. Everyone flinched back as she awoke, a wide grin forming on her face. She stood herself up, dusting her silken gown as if nothing had happened, but there was a certain sadness to her smile.

“Ghruz, I’m glad you made it back.” Ghruz’s mouth hung open in shock. They were sure she was dead, but they didn’t know what they saw in the dark place. Titania looked around, only the five of them alive. “Well, this is an issue. I assume, Ghruz, that you have questions - but we need to send our fallen back home.”

Ghruz snapped out of their confusion, before nodding. “Are we going to walk back to the city then?”

Silviana spoke up for the first time in minutes. “N-no, I assume the queen will be able to use her abilities to send them back.”

Ghruz could see the sheer relief written all over her face. Titania nodded, whispering something in the language that Ghruz had heard her speak in the nightmarish realm, and a brilliant portal opened up.

“Take them through, SIlviana, my guards, please take our fallen through. This will open up in my palace. But be quick, I can only keep this up for the next half hour.” Titania commanded, her authority absolute.

But Ghruz could hear it, the familiar sound of bitterness in one's voice. They all nodded, and carried the dead through the portal.