In the darkness.
Those floating creatures glimmered with cold light.
A fierce white light flared from the tip of his wand, illuminating the tangled roots and spider webs ahead. Damp mist flowed close to the ground, wrapping around Ian's ankles like some living thing. The surrounding trees looked ever more sinister beneath the ghostly glow, like ferocious beasts baring their fangs and claws as they silently watched his every move.
The Forbidden Forest was as eerie as ever, but it was also unnaturally quiet.
"Strange... too strange!" Ian gradually slowed, his brow furrowing slightly. He looked around. This silent Forbidden Forest was truly far too quiet.
Bowtruckles usually leaped among the branches, and all sorts of small animals rustled through the bushes. Yet now, it was as though he had entered a forgotten world.
There were no Bowtruckles hopping between the branches, no owls hooting softly from the canopy, not even a single firefly. The entire forest seemed to have been emptied of life by some invisible force.
Only the dead wind sound and swaying tree shadows remained.
Having failed to encounter even one living creature, Ian could naturally tell that something was wrong.
The creatures of the Forbidden Forest had always been active. Even in the dead of night, nocturnal creatures should have been about. Yet now, every animal in the forest seemed to be hiding.
Or perhaps...
They had simply vanished!
Surely they couldn't all have been eaten by a dragon?
Even a dragon couldn't eat that fast!
And besides.
Ian crouched and touched the ground with his fingers. The soil was cold. There were no ants, no beetles, not even goblin footprints. He didn't think dragons liked snacks that were too small to even fill the gaps between their teeth.
"This is far too bizarre."
Ian stood