As they walked along the stream, Yome found himself glancing over at Neri, her earlier words about the witches still ringing in his ears. He couldn't help but wonder about the magic she had mentioned—the ancient spells passed down through generations. How powerful were these witches, and what would they do if they encountered them?

"Neri," Yome began hesitantly, breaking the silence. "You said the witches are dangerous… but do you think they'd listen to us? If we tried to talk to them?"

Neri's expression darkened, and she shook her head slowly. "I don't know. They're not like the werewolves—they're not driven by instinct or rage. They're intelligent, but that makes them even more unpredictable. If they see us as a threat… they might not give us a chance to speak."

Elara, who had been listening closely, nodded in agreement. "Witches are known for their cunning. They might listen to us, but they could just as easily decide to use us for their own purposes. We have to be careful."

Yome felt a knot of worry tighten in his chest. He didn't want to think about what could happen if they encountered the witches, but he knew they had to be prepared for anything. "We'll be careful," he said, more to himself than to the others.

As they continued to follow the stream, the landscape gradually began to change. The swampy ground gave way to more solid earth, and the trees became taller and less twisted. The mist that had clung to them for so long started to dissipate, revealing more of the forest around them.

Yome couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief as the oppressive atmosphere of the swamp began to lift. But that relief was short-lived. Just as they thought they might be out of danger, a soft, melodic voice echoed through the trees.

"Well, well… What do we have here?"

The voice was calm, almost playful, but there was an underlying edge to it that made Yome's skin crawl. He turned slowly, his heart pounding, to see a figure stepping out from behind one of the trees.

It was a woman, tall and graceful, with long, flowing hair that seemed to shimmer in the dappled sunlight. Her eyes were a striking shade of green, and her lips curled into a knowing smile as she regarded them.

Elara immediately moved in front of Yome and Neri, her hand tightening around her sword. "Who are you?"

The woman's smile widened, revealing sharp, pointed teeth. "Oh, don't be so hostile, dear. I'm just a traveler, like you."

Neri's ears flattened against her head, and she whispered urgently to Yome, "She's one of them… a witch."

Yome felt his heart skip a beat as he realized the gravity of the situation. The witch's smile remained, but there was a flicker of something darker in her eyes—something that sent a chill down his spine.

Elara's stance remained defensive, her voice firm as she addressed the witch. "We don't want any trouble. We're just passing through."

The witch chuckled softly, the sound like the tinkling of glass. "Oh, I'm sure you are. But trouble… well, it has a way of finding those who wander where they shouldn't."

Yome felt the air around them grow colder, the shadows of the forest seeming to stretch and twist as if alive. The sense of unease he had felt earlier returned tenfold, settling heavily in his chest.

"Let us pass," Elara demanded, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

The witch tilted her head, considering them for a moment, before her smile widened. "Perhaps I will… but that depends on how interesting you can make it for me."

Before anyone could respond, there was a sudden rustling in the bushes behind them. Yome turned just in time to see another shadowy figure emerging from the mist, its form hulking and feral. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized the familiar, fearsome shape—a werewolf, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

The witch's smile turned into a full grin, her eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "Ah, it seems the fun is just beginning."

Elara's grip on her sword tightened, her eyes darting between the witch and the werewolf. "Yome, Neri—stay close to me," she commanded, her voice low but urgent.

The werewolf growled, its claws digging into the earth as it began to circle them, its gaze fixed on Yome. He could feel the panic rising in his throat, but he forced himself to stay calm. They had faced danger before, and they had survived. They would survive this too.

The witch watched them with interest, her expression unreadable. "Well, what will it be? Fight or flight?" she mused, clearly enjoying their predicament.

Yome's mind raced, searching for a way out, for something that could tip the balance in their favor. But before he could come up with a plan, the werewolf lunged, its powerful body moving with terrifying speed.