A What If Moment

It was one of those what-if situations.

And the what ifs at play here? Well, they weren't the kind you'd want to mess around with.

The odds of them ending well was a chance none would be willing to gamble their lives on.

This particular what if that was in play also happens to tilt in an unfavourable condition for them.

"Certainly. As much as I hate to admit it, it's plausible it could be true!" Ian said, his tone acknowledging the unsettling possibility.

"I don't think 'plausible' is the word we're looking for here," Aldrich replied, his voice tinged with scepticism. "Just think about it: they leave behind no trace, and then it starts raining. Suddenly, there are footprints. Some unknown things walking around in the rain. Do you really think that's a coincidence?"

Aldrich's theory hit a nerve, and Ian couldn't deny it anymore.

The idea had its tracks to lay its assumption on.

"Crap!" Ian muttered, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

Trevor, sensing their quiet deliberation was lasting too long, finally spoke up.

"Uh... Is there anything we should be worried about here, guys?" he asked, trying to figure out what exactly was going on.

Camelia, who had been walking alongside Trevor, glanced at the two, her thoughts running through with the same question Trevor asked.

"So, guys, it seems we'll have to turn back and follow the one trail we were trying to avoid."

Ian wasted no time giving them the hard truth.

"What! Why?" Trevor exclaimed, alarmed by the sudden change in direction.

"It's a simple equation," Ian explained. "The second-years left no trace, no message, nothing. Then the rain falls, and something walks by, leaving footprints behind. How much of a coincidence do you think that is?"

"But earlier you guys said—"

"We know what we said," Ian interjected, cutting Trevor off. "And now we're saying something different."

"Hey, now. No need to be so harsh on him," Camelia said, stepping in to diffuse the tension.

It was understandable.

Frustration had built up with each passing moment, but sometimes they needed to remind themselves to stay focused on the bigger picture.

"We're going back, Trevor," Aldrich chimed in, his voice steady. "This could be our one lead to get out of here. We have to take it, no matter how dangerous it might be."

The explanation settled over the group, and Trevor, though still confused, didn't argue.

It was clear that there was no alternative path forward, better than the one with possibilities of leading them to the way out.

Thankfully, they hadn't ventured too far before making the decision to turn back.

If they had, they might've been lost by now.

And luck was on their side in another way.

The footprints were still visible, and easy to follow, and they were able to retrace their steps with ease.

The group walked in silence, the air thick with tension.

Each of them was hyper-aware of the unknown that lay ahead.

No one knew exactly what they were trailing, and the thought of what could be lurking in the shadows made every step feel heavier.

Ian led the way, his focus unwavering.

Aldrich and Camelia followed behind, while Trevor brought up the rear, with Aldrich keeping an eye on their backs.

They were all on edge, senses heightened.

For they had no idea where the danger could come from or what could leap at them from above.

Every crack of a twig, every rustle in the leaves, it put them on high alert.

Trevor, typically the one to try and lighten the mood with conversation, knew better than to speak now.

Silence was necessary. Their survival depended on it.

The group halted when Ian, leading the charge, raised a finger to signal them to stop.

Everyone froze, instinctively falling into position.

Ian moved ahead cautiously, and Camelia followed close behind, her eyes darting to the right, while Trevor kept his gaze fixed to the left.

Aldrich, ever watchful, turned around to keep an eye on the rear.

"What is it, Ian?" Aldrich asked, his attention still fixed ahead, his back to the others.

"A footprint?" Ian muttered aloud, his voice barely a whisper as he crouched down to examine it.

"Isn't that the point? We're supposed to be following the footprints, right?" Aldrich replied, trying to make sense of it.

"No, it's not the one we're trailing," Ian responded, shaking his head. "There's another one here. Different."

"What do you mean, different?" Aldrich asked, turning around momentarily.

But as he did, his eyes widened in horror.

In that instant, before he could fully react, something dropped from above!

"Look out!" Camelia shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

Instinctively, she dropped to the ground, palms pressing into the earth.

The ground beneath her hands shifted and moulded into a defensive shield, forming a roof-like structure just above Aldrich.

The impact from whatever had fallen collided with the earth's shield, shaking the ground beneath them.

The force was enough to knock the creature to the ground with a loud crash.

"What was that?!" Trevor shouted, panic evident in his voice.

He rushed to Camelia's side, instinctively positioning himself in front of her as though to protect her.

Ian, meanwhile, had already moved to help Aldrich, pulling him to his feet.

"Get up! We need to be ready!" Ian urged, his hand gripping Aldrich's arm, the other raised to form the signs for combat.

Aldrich, still dazed from the attack, was on his way to standing up with Ian's help.

He also had his eyes on the lookout for whatever just attacked, and where it landed.

Trevor looked up and froze. "It's... a wolf? A really big wolf!"

Aldrich's eyes widened in recognition as he spotted the creature emerging from the undergrowth. "A wolf pack!"

He had presumed.

Camelia shook her head, heart racing. "No, not the pack. It's the alpha wolf of the pack we killed!"

She corrected, sensing the overwhelming presence and dominant prowess posed by the wolf before them.

In sheer size and shape, it easily surpasses the wolves they had faced earlier.

Now fully recovered and standing tall once more.

It was larger, more imposing than before, its fur matted with the remnants of its previous wounds.

The alpha wolf stood on all fours, its posture proud and defiant.

Its eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence as it snarled at the group.

"How did it find us?!" Ian demanded, his voice filled with frustration and confusion.

It was the question that hung in the air, unspoken, because no one had the answer.

They had been together all this time, so how could they have the answer to what the other didn't?

Nevertheless, the answer didn't matter now.

The wolf was here, and the only question left was how they would deal with it.

"Does that even matter right now?!" Aldrich snapped, his voice harsh but urgent. "It's here, and we need to figure out how to subdue it!"

The alpha wolf growled low in its throat, the sound reverberating through the forest.

The ground trembled with its rage as its body began to transform before their eyes.

Its form grew larger, its muscles bulging, claws extending, and its fangs stretching to an unnatural length.

The creature's presence filled the air, heavy and oppressive.

"Crap!!!" Ian swore, his body tensing for the inevitable clash.