Riven's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on Arachne. He could sense that she was hiding something, that there was more to her words than met the eye.
But he also knew that killing her wouldn't provide the answers they needed. And so, with a swift motion, Riven signaled to Thane and Zarek.
"Let her go," he whispered, his voice low and menacing. "But tell us, Arachne, what is this larger game you speak of?"
Arachne's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "The forest is not what it seems," she whispered, her voice like a cold wind. "There are forces at work here, forces that threaten to destroy everything."
Riven's eyes locked onto Arachne, his gaze burning with intensity. "What forces?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Arachne's laughter echoed through the forest, her voice like a cold, mirthless wind. "You'll find out soon enough," she whispered, before turning and disappearing into the shadows.
Riven watched her go, his eyes narrowing in thought. He knew that Arachne was hiding something, that there was more to her words than met the eye.
But he also knew that they had to be careful, that the forces Arachne spoke of could be powerful and dangerous.
Riven's eyes narrowed in thought as he turned to Thane and Zarek. "We need to return to the mountain," he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "We must warn the others about the potential danger."
Thane nodded, his eyes locked onto Riven. "Agreed," he whispered. "We can't let our guard down, not even for a moment."
Zarek's gaze swept the surrounding area, his eyes scanning the shadows. "I'll take point," he whispered. "Make sure we're not ambushed."
Riven nodded, his eyes locked onto Zarek. "Let's move," he whispered.
The three of them set off, their footsteps quiet on the forest floor. As they climbed higher, the trees grew thinner, the air growing colder and more crisp.
Finally, they emerged onto the windswept slopes of the mountain, the snow-capped peaks stretching out before them. Riven's eyes locked onto the mountain, his gaze burning with a sense of responsibility.
He knew that he had to protect his people, to keep them safe from the forces that threatened to destroy them.
Riven's eyes narrowed in thought as he considered the best course of action. He knew that he couldn't alarm the human inhabitants of the mountain, not without causing widespread panic.
Instead, he decided to seek out the wisdom of the elders, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the forces that threatened the mountain.
He turned to Thane and Zarek, his voice low and urgent. "I need to speak with the elders," he whispered. "They may know something about the forces that Arachne spoke of."
Thane nodded, his eyes locked onto Riven. "I'll come with you," he whispered.
Zarek's gaze swept the surrounding area, his eyes scanning the shadows. "I'll keep watch," he whispered. "Make sure we're not ambushed."
Riven nodded, his eyes locked onto Zarek. "Let's move," he whispered.
The three of them set off, making their way to the elder's hut on the outskirts of the human settlement. Riven's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with possibilities.
What would the elders know? Would they be able to provide the answers he sought?
As they approached the hut, Riven could feel a strange energy emanating from within. It was as if the elders were waiting for him, their wisdom and knowledge at the ready.