<h4>Breakfast in the Drak’Zir Marketplace</h4>


    Tlandar and Akashma awoke at dawn in the modest lodge where they had stayed the previous night. Gathering their belongings—rucksacks, provisions, maps, and essential supplies—they made their final adjustments before departing. As they passed the lodge’s front desk, they returned their keys.


    “Thank you,” Tlandar said politely to the receptionist before stepping outside.


    The village of Drak’Zir was beginning to stir as they made their way toward the marketplace, where merchants were preparing for another busy day. They sought a final meal before beginning their arduous climb into the Salgaran Mountains.


    Akashma soon spotted a street kitchen nestled among the vendor stalls. The scent of roasted meats and freshly baked bread filled the air.


    “This looks promising,” Tlandar said, nodding toward the stall.


    They took their seats on round stools, where a waitress promptly approached them.


    “What would you like to order?” she asked attentively.


    “We’ll have two breakfasts,” Tlandar replied.


    “Here’s the menu,” she said, handing them a parchment with a list of meals.


    “I’ll take eggs, sausage, and hot chocolate,” Akashma said.


    “I’ll have the same,” Tlandar added.


    With a nod, the waitress returned to the kitchen, and the cook began preparing their meals.


    Tlandar gazed up at the towering peaks in the distance. “Akashma, what awaits us in those mountains? What will happen when we reach the summit?”


    Akashma’s expression grew serious. “The mountains are home to creatures native to Astashica, not brought here by the Asemeri. Some are highly predatory. We must remain vigilant—they will not hesitate to attack if we intrude upon their territory. I am trained to handle them, but you are not. Stay close and follow my lead.”


    She paused, then continued, her tone softening. “Beyond these mountains lies the Sanctum of Orchids, a hidden village where trade flourishes. Merchants from all across Salgar travel there, even some from Val’katl. But its exact location is known only to those who live there. The Sanctum is meant to remain unseen by outsiders. It thrives in secrecy, preserving what truly matters.”


    Their conversation was interrupted by the return of the waitress, who placed their meals before them.


    “Enjoy,” she said before stepping back to attend to other customers.


    Tlandar exhaled, steadying himself for the journey ahead. “After this meal, we begin our climb.”


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    <hr>


    <h4>The Mountain Ascent</h4>


    With their hunger satisfied, Akashma and Tlandar left the marketplace and made their way toward the base of the Salgaran Mountains. The towering peaks loomed above them, shrouded in drifting mist.


    They began their ascent along a winding, uneven trail, their boots crunching against the rocky terrain. The path was treacherous, weaving through jagged cliffs and sheer inclines. They moved carefully, navigating each ledge with precision.


    After hours of relentless climbing, they reached the summit of the first mountain. Three more lay ahead, connected by narrow rope bridges that swayed precariously in the wind. With measured steps, they crossed the first, then the second, and finally the third—each bridge an ancient relic of the Salgaran wayfarers who once traversed these heights.


    Upon reaching the final peak, the landscape changed. The dense rainforest canopy concealed the sunlight, casting eerie shadows upon the ground. A chilling stillness settled over the land.


    Then, they sensed it.


    Something had been watching them.


    <hr>


    <h4>The Stalker in the Trees</h4>


    A Xel’Quari, an apex predator of the Salgaran wilds, emerged from the foliage. It had been trailing them unseen, concealed within the treetops, its chameleon-like skin blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Now, it stepped forward, its movements measured and predatory.


    The creature stood ten feet tall, its elongated snout lined with a hundred serrated teeth, its powerful hands ending in deadly curved claws. Its two round, crimson eyes, encircled by black irises, locked onto them with chilling intelligence.


    It crouched low, one clawed hand pressed against the earth, coiled like a predator prepared to strike.


    “Tlandar—watch out!” Akashma warned.


    Tlandar rolled behind a thick tree, taking cover beneath its hanging branches. Akashma reacted swiftly, hurling three Kuprix throwing daggers toward the beast.


    The Xel’Quari evaded effortlessly, its movements an unpredictable blur. Zigzagging through the underbrush, it released a guttural growl that distorted into an eerie, chittering laugh, almost mocking them.


    Then, with inhuman agility, it lunged into the air, sinking its claws into the bark of a towering tree. Within seconds, it vanished into the canopy, its chameleon-like skin blending seamlessly with the shadows.


    It was no longer visible—but it was there.


    High above, the leaves rustled unnaturally. Then came a sharp, burning sensation.


    “The air smells peppery!” Tlandar gasped, his eyes stinging from the creature’s presence.


    “Yes! My eyes burn as well!” Akashma said, shielding her vision. The Xel’Quari’s venomous musk had saturated the air—but now, it was dissipating, the creature having shifted deeper into the treetops.


    “Let’s get out of here—now!” Tlandar called from his cover.


    Akashma nodded. “Move cautiously. It could still be near.”


    Treading lightly, they proceeded through the rainforest, their senses heightened. Every movement in the treetops sent waves of tension through them, but they could not see the predator.


    Tlandar tightened his grip on his rucksack. “I don’t see it…”


    “That doesn’t mean it’s gone,” Akashma whispered.


    <hr>


    <h4>Reaching Safety</h4>


    Their escape led them down a steep incline, where the dense jungle gradually gave way to an open clearing.


    Before them, nestled against the mountainside, was a tribal village—elevated wooden huts with thatched conical rooftops, their foundations resting upon tall stilts.


    “We made it,” Tlandar breathed.


    Akashma exhaled, scanning the treetops one final time. “If it weren’t for this village… we would already be dead.”


    Behind them, the forest remained eerily silent, the Xel’Quari unseen—but never forgotten.


    The hunt was over… for now.