Nico's heart pounded in his chest as he raced through the dense underbrush, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves beneath his feet. Beside him, Darius followed closely, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to keep pace with his leader.
"We're closing in on him," Nico muttered, his voice low and urgent as he scanned the surrounding trees for any sign of movement. "Stay alert."
Darius nodded in response, his eyes darting nervously from side to side as they plunged deeper into the heart of the forest. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs setting their nerves on edge as they pushed forward in pursuit of their elusive prey.
