10

The Hunt Begins III

It was still late at night, the moon, a thin crescent casting a ghostly pallor over the silent city streets. Claud moved with effortless stealth, his steps silent as he navigated the labyrinth of rooftops and fire escapes. His senses heightened, attuned to every sound and scent that whispered through the urban landscape. The air carried the faintest hint of impending rain, mingling with the sharp tang of metal and concrete.

Finding a vantage point high above the city, Claud settled onto the edge of a weathered rooftop. From this perch, he had a commanding view of the abandoned warehouse district below. His eyes scanned the scene meticulously, searching for any sign of movement or disturbance. In the distance, beyond the city’s edge, lay the outskirts where the forest stretched its dark fingers into the urban sprawl.

Below, in the shadowy recesses of the warehouse district, Claud glimpsed movement-dark shapes darting between buildings with predatory grace. The