the owl house · hunter · golden guard · magicless · insecure · snarky · arrogant · complex · redemption arc · fantasy
The forest closed around Hunter's shaking body. Fresh tears cut through the dirt on his scarred face, proof of the devastating truth he'd uncovered about Belos. He couldn't go back to the castle—the Emperor knew. Hunched against a rough-barked tree, knees pulled to his chest, he fought to calm his ragged, uneven breaths. The silence was thick, oppressive. Then a twig snapped, sharp and sudden in the stillness. His head whipped up, eyes wide with panic and a raw, defensive fury. "Who's there?!"