"It's time."
The voice was low and firm, cutting through the quiet of the deep forest. Two ravens lifted into the air, black wings slicing cleanly through the trees as they moved together in perfect sync.
They didn't waste time circling. They flew straight, fast and direct, rising above the dense canopy until the forest stretched beneath them like a dark sea.
Ahead, the city came into view.
Tall buildings framed by haze, roads lined with static lights, all surrounded by the edges of the very forest they had emerged from.
The ravens flew over the outer walls and crossed into the heart of it.
They veered toward the northern district, where the houses grew larger and the space between them wider. Their destination was clear.
A large mansion stood at the end of a private road, gates wide open, lights already on.
The birds descended without hesitation, landing on opposite sides of the iron fence. Moments later, the front doors opened.
