Night time

The night settled over the landscape, draping the world in a thick shroud of darkness. The forest was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves as unseen creatures moved through the underbrush. The trio sat around a modest fire they had managed to kindle with Jason's flames, its flickering glow barely pushing back the oppressive blackness that surrounded them.

Kyle poked at the fire with a stick, his expression contemplative. "Well, at least we had something to eat," he muttered, glancing at the remnants of their meal. The roasted bird had been tough but edible, and the fresh water from the river had been refreshing after their long day.

Jason leaned back, stretching his arms. "Yeah, I'll take a cooked meal over going hungry any day."

Kyle made a face, rubbing his stomach. "If you call that cooked. That was more like slightly-burnt-on-the-outside and completely-raw-in-the-middle."

Dylan smirked slightly. "We're not exactly expert chefs."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Hey, at least we managed to pluck it and roast it. Not bad for three guys who've never prepared a meal from scratch."

Kyle snorted. "Speak for yourself. I nearly gagged trying to get the feathers off. And don't even get me started on the smell."

Jason chuckled. "Yeah, not exactly the gourmet experience, but we didn't die from it. That's a win."

Dylan remained still, his head tilted slightly as if listening. "I'll take the first watch. You two should rest."

Kyle exhaled, stretching his arms before leaning back against a fallen log. "Fine by me. Just wake me up when it's my turn."

Jason hesitated. "Are you sure? You've been the one hearing things all day. You might need rest more than either of us."

Dylan shook his head. "I'm fine. If anything happens, I'll hear it before it gets close."

Jason wasn't entirely convinced, but he relented, settling into a more comfortable position. The warmth of the fire and the fullness from their meal made it easier to relax, but he knew better than to let his guard down completely.

"Then, the next shift is me and then Kyle, alright?"

"Sure, sure..." Kyle answered sleepily, rubbing his eyes before settling into a more comfortable position.

Dylan just listened quietly while smiling, appreciating the brief moment of camaraderie before the inevitable tension of the night returned.

As Kyle's breathing evened out and Jason allowed himself to drift into a light sleep, Dylan remained motionless, his sword resting against his shoulder. His senses stretched beyond the immediate clearing, catching the faintest of sounds—a distant howl, the whisper of wind through the trees, the skittering of small creatures in the underbrush. A few hours has pass in silence.

Then, something changed.

A faint rustling beyond the firelight caught Dylan's attention. His fingers tightened around his weapon. The sound was rhythmic, deliberate—footsteps. He rose slowly, careful not to make a sound, his muscles coiled like a spring. The footsteps halted just beyond the fire's reach.

"Wake up," Dylan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jason's eyes snapped open instantly, his training kicking in. Kyle groaned but sat up, blinking blearily. "What is it?"

Dylan's grip on his sword remained firm. "We're not alone."

The words had barely left his lips when a low growl emanated from the darkness. Then another. Then another. The fire crackled, casting shifting shadows, but nothing emerged. The growls seemed to circle them, echoing through the trees.

Jason stood, flames flickering to life in his hands. "Shadow wolves again?"

Dylan's expression darkened. "Yes. More of them."

A dozen glowing eyes appeared in the gloom, followed by another set, and another. The creatures slunk forward, their forms shifting and twisting in the dim firelight. Their numbers were greater than before, their presence overwhelming.

Kyle cursed under his breath. "Oh, come on! How many of these things are there?"

"Enough to make this a real problem," Jason muttered, tightening his stance.

The first wolf lunged, and Jason reacted instantly, hurling a fireball. It struck the beast, momentarily illuminating its twisted form—blackened fur, jagged fangs, and glowing blood red eyes. The creature screeched, recoiling from the flames, but the others surged forward.

Kyle thrust his hands outward, ice rushing from his palms and coating the ground in a slick sheet. A few of the creatures slipped, crashing to the earth with a snarl. Dylan darted forward, his sword a blur as he slashed through the nearest enemy. A strangled hiss escaped it as it drop dead split into two.

"They're fast," Jason gritted out, dodging a snapping maw. "But they can be killed."

Kyle let out a nervous laugh. "Great. So we just have to kill about, what, twenty of them? Easy."

Jason shot him a sharp glance. "Less talking, more fighting."

The fight raged on, the trio moving with newfound coordination. Fire and ice clashed against the creatures, while Dylan's blade struck with lethal precision. Yet, for every beast they felled, more glowing eyes appeared in the shadows, their numbers seemingly endless.

"We can't keep this up all night!" Kyle shouted, narrowly avoiding a set of claws.

Dylan gritted his teeth. "Then we run. Now."

Jason didn't argue. With a sweep of his arm, he unleashed a wall of fire, forcing the creatures back. "Go!"

Kyle hesitated. "You sure about this? I don't want to get mauled while running."

"Do you want to stay and fight them all?" Jason snapped.

Kyle groaned. "Fine, fine! Running sounds great."

The three of them bolted from the clearing, weaving through the trees as the sounds of pursuit echoed behind them. The howls of the shadow wolves grew louder, their numbers growing as more joined the chase.

Kyle panted as he ran. "Where exactly are we going?!"

"Anywhere but here!" Jason shot back.

Dylan led the way, his keen senses guiding them through the darkness. "There's a rock formation ahead. If we can get there, we might be able to lose them."

The night was a blur of movement and adrenaline, their only goal: survive until dawn.

And as the first hints of morning light crept over the horizon, one thing became clear—this world was far more dangerous than they had ever imagined.