Yenna crashed through the dense underbrush, her breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. Vell's voice echoed in her memory, "Stay calm!" It was easy for him to say. He was not the one who was completely alone in a forest that felt like it was alive with hostility.
She clutched her gauntlets, her fingers trembling slightly as she tightened her grip. She had to find Vell. Being out here by herself was not an option. 'Focus, Yenna,' she whispered to herself, trying to still the frantic pounding of her heart. 'You can do this.'
She forced a deep breath, steadying her nerves, and then broke into a run. Every step felt heavy, her fear making her movements clumsy and loud. She tried to summon the mana that Vell had taught her to use, the strange and powerful energy that was now a part of her, but it felt like trying to catch water with her bare hands. The panic made it impossible to concentrate, and every failed attempt made her feel more hopeless.
