No Man's Land...
A small wooden cart slowly moved through the dense forest; its old wheels were creaking softly as they rolled over uneven ground. A lone steed pulled the cart forward at an unhurried pace while a cold wind whispered through the trees overhead.
The forest around them was unnaturally silent.
No birds chirped among the branches, and no beasts stirred within the undergrowth. The stillness in the environment carried an oppressive feeling, as though the entire forest were watching the travelers pass through it.
Inside the cart, several figures sat quietly beneath dark hooded robes that concealed their appearance and identities. None of them spoke. Their bodies remained motionless in meditative postures as they silently recovered their strength and mana.
Only the faint rattling of the cart disturbed the silence.
Then, suddenly, a sound was heard.
Swish!
An arrow tore through the air and landed directly in front of the cart.
