The sun was unable to shine through the thick canopy of the Pines, turning the forest floor into a shade-filled abyss of hidden shrubs and trees. Trails and pathways blended in with the darkness, making it nearly impossible to navigate. Even in the early morning, it felt as if it was midnight when deep within the Pines.
Rauen was sprinting through the darkness. His hair was drenched in perspiration, sticking to his forehead as beads of sweat poured down his face. He seemed to follow the invisible trail of shade by instinct rather than vision. He could not see too well as the pine trees swallowed the sunlight. Rauen would jump over hidden tree roots and mud puddles. It was as if he had memorized the entire path. A boulder protruded in the way, Rauen would dodge it. A decline in the trail a
