you begin to walk faster, and the echo crunches out of time. there is definitely someone following you! 

you whip around, surprising your sneaky shadow. whoever it is darts into the trees, but doesn't go far. you can see them hovering behind a treetrunk, but their face is shrouded in shadow.

who's there? you yell. come out!

the figure doesn't move. you stand your ground, waiting. eventually, they whisper something.

want to help you, they say. out of the forest.

how? you ask.

path ahead, they say. take the right. city there.

you look ahead, searching for the path to the right. when you turn around, the figure is gone. you may as well follow their instructions. you're already lost.

you keep walking. after a while, you see it.