Unease

The trio moved cautiously along the riverbank, their senses heightened after the encounter with the shadow wolves. The sunlight shimmered off the water's surface, casting light reflections that danced with every ripple. The dense trees overhead muffled any distant sounds, making every step they took seem louder than it was.

Jason kept his kunai at the ready, his grip firm. Kyle, though still slightly rattled, maintained a defensive stance, frost lightly curling from his fingertips. Dylan moved with calculated steps, tilting his head now and then as if listening for something beyond their perception.

After several minutes of walking in tense silence, Kyle let out a long breath. "So… do we have a plan? Or are we just hoping for the best?"

Jason glanced at him. "The plan is survival. We need shelter, and we need to figure out where the hell we are."

Dylan nodded. "We also need to be careful. We still don't know the rules of this world. If those wolves were any indication, we can't afford to assume anything is normal."

Kyle sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Love being thrown into an unknown world with shadow wolves and mysterious new abilities."

"But I'd still like some instructions. A tutorial would've been nice," Kyle grumbled.

Jason smirked slightly. "Could be worse."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? How?"

Jason gestured at the river. "We could be fighting those things while they rip us apart."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Fantastic. Thanks for that mental image."

The sound of rushing water grew louder as they followed the river's winding path. The forest around them remained dense, the towering trees casting long shadows even as the sky began to darken.

Jason's eyes flicked upward. "Sun's going down. We need shelter."

Dylan nodded. "I don't like the idea of being out here when it gets dark."

Kyle scanned the area, then pointed ahead. "Look—there's a clearing up there. Maybe we can find something useful."

They picked up their pace, emerging into a break in the trees. The clearing was small but offered a better view of the sky. In the distance, a rocky outcrop jutted out from the landscape, partially obscured by mist.

Jason narrowed his eyes. "That could work. If we can get up there, we'll have the high ground. Easier to defend if anything comes after us."

Kyle smirked. "And if nothing attacks us, we get a nice view. Win-win."

Dylan's expression remained unreadable. "Something tells me we won't be that lucky."

They carefully made their way toward the outcrop, climbing over uneven terrain and maneuvering through thick underbrush. The closer they got, the more they noticed the remnants of something unnatural. Deep scratches in the bark of trees. Scattered feathers. A lingering sense of unease in the air.

Jason frowned. "Looks like we're not the first ones here."

Kyle crouched down, running his fingers over a patch of disturbed dirt. "And whoever was… didn't have a great time."

Dylan stepped forward, tilting his head slightly. "There's something else… I can hear it. Something moving."

Jason and Kyle instantly tensed, gripping their weapons. "Where?" Jason whispered.

Dylan turned his head slowly, his focus sharpening. "Above us."

A sharp cry echoed through the air as a massive bird, nearly half the size of a human, burst from the rocky outcrop. Its feathers shimmered with a strange, unnatural sheen, and its beady eyes locked onto them with unsettling intelligence. With a powerful beat of its wings, it swooped downward, talons gleaming.

Jason cursed under his breath. "You have got to be kidding me."

Kyle groaned. "Can we catch a break just once?!"

The bird dived toward them, and Jason barely had time to react before rolling out of the way. Its talons slashed the ground, kicking up dirt and debris.

Kyle unleashed a burst of ice, but the creature twisted midair, dodging effortlessly. "Oh, come on!"

Dylan moved instinctively, drawing his sword and shifting his stance. "It's fast. Stay on your guard!"

The bird circled above, its wings creating powerful gusts of wind that rustled the trees. It let out another shriek, eyes gleaming with challenge.

Jason gritted his teeth. "Great. An oversized chicken."

Kyle exhaled, his breath misting in the cold air. "So… any bright ideas?"

Dylan tightened his grip on his sword. "Same as before. We find its pattern. We time our attacks."

Jason took a deep breath, flames flickering at his fingertips. "Then let's figure it out—fast."

The bird dived again, talons extended. This time, Jason waited, his instincts kicking in. Just before impact, he sidestepped and lashed out with his kusarigama. The blade struck true, cutting into the bird's wing and forcing it to retreat with an angry screech.

Kyle seized the moment, gathering frost in his palms. "Alright, let's see how you handle this!" He sent a wave of ice toward the creature. The cold clung to its feathers, weighing it down slightly.

Dylan stepped forward, gripping his sword. He listened, waiting for the perfect moment. Then, with precise timing, he lunged, slashing through the bird's flank as it tried to rise. The creature shrieked in pain, flapping wildly to escape.

Jason grinned. "We've got this!"

The bird let out another cry, furious. But now, the trio had adapted. They weren't just reacting—they were fighting back. And they were winning.

The bird, refusing to go down easily, let out a piercing screech, sending a shockwave of force that pushed them back. It flapped its wings with renewed vigor, clawing at the air. Jason ignited both hands in flames and hurled a barrage of fireballs. The flames seared its chest, but it charged forward, undeterred.

When it was about to land, Kyle froze the ground beneath it, causing it to slip. Dylan took the chance and slashed deep into its throat with a decisive strike. The bird let out one final, strangled cry before collapsing in a heap.

Kyle wiped his forehead. "Finally, it's dead."

Jason exhaled. "Yeah. But if we want to survive, we need to train. We need to control these powers before something stronger shows up."

Dylan nodded. "Agreed. The more we understand our abilities, the less we'll be caught off guard."

Jason flexed his fingers, feeling the residual warmth of his flames. "Then we start now. No more hesitation. We train, we learn, and we survive."

Kyle smirked. "Well, as long as I don't end up slipping again, I'm in. Plus, we even got dinner."

Dylan adjusted his blindfold, his expression unreadable. "Then let's get to work."

With renewed determination, they pressed on, the weight of their new reality settling in deeper. Whatever world they had been thrown into, one thing was certain—this was just the beginning.