Cedric found himself in a dark and twisted version of the forest he knew so well. The trees were bent and warped, their branches writhing like serpents. The sky above was a sickly green, pulsating with a strange energy that made Cedric's fur stand on end.
As he moved through the twisted landscape, Cedric felt a sense of unease creeping over him.
Suddenly, he heard a voice calling out to him. It was a male voice, familiar and yet somehow distant.
Cedric started running, the voice growing louder and more urgent with every step. He pushed through the twisting branches and gnarled roots, trying to reach the source of the voice.
But just as he thought he was getting closer, the voice suddenly stopped. Cedric found himself standing in a clearing, surrounded by twisted trees and a strange mist.
It was then that he saw a body lying on the ground, his lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. He recognized the body of his first adventuring companion, Creighton. Cedric felt a sense of crushing guilt wash over him. He knew that he had failed to protect his friend, that he had let him down in his time of need. He remembered leaving his body behind as it had become too dangerous, and he was unable to return.
As he stood there, frozen with grief, the twisted trees around him started to move. Their branches extended and curled around Cedric, wrapping him up in a tight embrace.
The mist thickened, obscuring his vision as the trees started to grow and morph into grotesque shapes. Cedric felt himself shrinking, becoming smaller and smaller until he was the size of a mouse.
The twisted forest towered over him, its branches and roots writhing like snakes. Cedric felt completely powerless, unable to protect anyone or anything. Cedric felt as though he was drowning in a sea of doubt and inadequacy, sinking deeper and deeper into the murky depths of his own subconscious.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to see an older, more weathered version of himself standing behind him.
The older Cedric's fur was matted and tangled, and his eyes glowed with a fierce intensity that seemed to burn through Cedric's soul.
As Cedric watched, the older version of himself began to transform, his fur melting and warping until he was no longer a leonin, but a grotesque creature made of writhing tendrils and pulsing flesh.
Cedric felt a sense of terror grip his heart as the creature reached out a tendril and wrapped it around his arm, pulling him closer until he was face to face with the pulsing, writhing mass that was once his own reflection.
But even as he struggled to break free, Cedric realized that the creature was not trying to harm him. Instead, it seemed to be trying to show him something, to impart some sort of wisdom or knowledge.
And then, suddenly, the creature was gone, replaced once again by the older Cedric, who stood before him with a sad, knowing expression.
Without a word, the older Cedric reached out a hand and touched Cedric's forehead. He again saw Creighton's body laying alone in a dark cave, rats beginning to eat his flesh. Suddenly his body began to twitch as his head lifted slightly off the ground. His fingers dug into the earth as he began pulling himself forward, screaming silently.
Cedric broke free from his older version's grasp. Older Cedric tried to reach forward again, his message unfinished, before he was pulled backwards suddenly like a rope had been wrapped around his torso.
Cedric tried to chase after, but felt his legs sinking into inky black water. As he looked down, he saw that his legs were being grabbed by husks of people that looked like those he had failed. Beatrice clung to his leg trying to pull herself up, but as she reached the surface, she began to melt away.
Cedric shot awake, his mane matted with sweat. Summer had only just begun, but the heat was already unbearable. He tried to shake away the images, but could somehow still hear the silent screams.