The chase

...Elena POV…

As Rowland and I walked through the dark path, I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. The silence of the forest was only broken by our footsteps and the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.

But as the first rays of dawn started to appear on the horizon, I felt a sense of relief. The darkness was lifting, and soon we would be bathed in the warm light of the sun.

I turned to Rowland and smiled. "Look," I said, pointing to the sky. "The sun is rising."

Rowland nodded and looked up. "It's a beautiful sight," he said we arrived at the river, Rowland immediately bent down to take a closer look. I watched as he studied the water, trying to gauge its depth and strength.

"We can swim across it," he said, turning to me with a smile.

I felt a bit uncomfortable at the thought of swimming in the cold water, but Rowland took my h