the golden glow hunt

The group of six stumbled onto the muddy bank of the lake, drenched, breathless, and shaken from the chaos they had just survived.

Jack was the first to stand, coughing up water and looking back at the lake where moments ago, a massive aquatic creature had destroyed their makeshift raft. "That thing... it came out of nowhere," he muttered.

Serena wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. "Did everyone make it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Brock, pulling his soggy backpack onto his shoulder, nodded. "We're all here... somehow."

Behind them, the lake was eerily calm again — as if the beast had never existed. The jungle loomed ahead, thick and humid, vines hanging low and the trees whispering secrets with every gust of wind.

As the group pushed deeper into the foliage, the sunlight barely pierced through the dense canopy. The silence was heavier than usual, as if the jungle itself was holding its breath.

About an hour into their cautious trek, Jack suddenly halted. "Wait… there it is again."

Everyone turned.

"See what again?" asked Lucky, squinting into the trees.

Jack's voice dropped into a whisper. "That golden glow. The same one Rick saw back in the beginning... I just saw it. It vanished again."

"Are you sure?" Serena asked, her brow furrowing.

"I saw it curve behind a tree. Just for a second," Jack replied. "It's like it's following us."

Rick stepped forward, unease rising in his chest. "It... it followed me too, remember? Back then I thought I was seeing things, but now..."

Sunny suddenly smirked, rubbing his hands together. "Alright, alright. I've got a plan."

Rick raised a brow. "Uh oh. That look on your face never means anything good."

Sunny chuckled. "Trust me, genius is about to strike. Rick, can you step aside for a minute? I just need to have a secret convo with the rest."

Rick narrowed his eyes. "Why do I feel like I'm being tricked?"

"Because you're paranoid," said Sunny casually, patting Rick's shoulder. "Go admire a leaf or something."

Suspicious, Rick walked a few paces away, muttering under his breath.

Now huddled close, Sunny whispered to the others: "So listen. I've observed something... the golden glow only appears when someone's alone. So what if... we leave someone alone again? Just for a bit. Maybe it'll show up and we finally figure out what the hell it wants."

Lucky groaned. "Already saying no to this plan."

Jack looked at Sunny. "Let him finish."

"Thank you, Jack," Sunny said dramatically. "So, I say we leave Rick alone again. The glow already showed up near him once. Maybe it has a soft spot for him."

Brock laughed. "As messed up as this sounds… it's actually a brilliant idea."

Serena shook her head. "I don't like it. Something feels off."

Jack sighed. "I don't know how to feel anything anymore."

"Time to execute the plan!" said Sunny with a grin.

A few moments later, Rick was examining a patch of moss when Sunny called out, "Hey Rick! Look at that! That leaf behind you — it's green!"

Rick turned with confusion. "Uh, most leaves are green, you idiot—" He spun back around just in time to see the others running away into the trees.

Rick stood there, dumbfounded. "Dude! Seriously?"

The golden glow arrived again

From above, Sunny peeked out from a thick branch, speaking calmly. "Rick, relax. Just trust me. Everything will be fine."

Rick looked around nervously. "You're still here?"

"Yes. Now, repeat after me," Sunny said.

Rick gulped. "Okay…"

Sunny (dramatically): "Hey God."

Rick (nervously): "Hey God."

Sunny: "Forgive my all fate."

Rick: "Forgive my all fate."

Sunny: "I, Rick, will be soon coming to you."

Rick paused, eyes widening. "I, Rick, will be soon coming to— WAIT, NO! I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die!"

Sunny replied casually, "Dude, everybody has to die someday."

Rick shouted, "SUNNY, YOU SON OF A—"

Sunny interrupted, "Hey hey, no swearing before death."

At that moment, a faint glow appeared — the golden one. It began to grow, softly pulsing in the shadows ahead, slowly approaching Rick.

Rick froze. "It's here. It's here. OH NO."

He stumbled backward, hit a tree root, and fell flat. "OH THIS IS HOW I DIE."

But... the glow suddenly flickered — and vanished.

Rick blinked. He sat up, stunned. "I'm... alive?"

The others emerged from the bushes.

Sunny grinned. "Aww man, you had a narrow escape! Hehehe."

Rick jumped to his feet. "YOU TRIED TO KILL ME!"

Sunny raised his hands. "It was just a plan to reveal the glow! Educational purposes!"

Suddenly, a voice echoed from above — mimicking Sunny's exact words.

Unknown Voice: "It was just a plan to reveal the glow! Educational purposes!"

Everyone froze.

Serena: "W-what…?"

The voice echoed again.

Voice: "W-what…?"

Brock narrowed his eyes. "Who's repeating us?"

Voice: "Who's repeating us?"

Lucky: "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

Voice: "Who the hell are you?"

Jack growled. "Show yourself already!"

A sudden blur of color swooped down from a high branch. A tiny macaw, shimmering in rainbow feathers with a long serpentine tail, landed on a low branch. Its wings were speckled with glitter-like feathers, and it had a little crest of fire-orange plumes on its head.

The creature blinked with big round eyes. Then it smirked.

Serena said "wow so cute"

Creature: "Oh yeah, I'm cute since I was born, but I never got cocky for that."

Lucky crossed his arms. "Yeah. We can tell."

Serena gasped. "A parrot with a tail of a dragon…"

The creature bowed. "Name's Paragon. Not a parrot. Jungle-borne mythical avian."

Rick mumbled, "That's just a fancy way of saying 'weird bird.'"

Paragon ignored him. "I've seen everything in this jungle. Every. Single. Creature. Their abilities, their secrets..."

Jack stepped forward. "Then what is that golden glow? It keeps following us."

Paragon's eyes dimmed. "That... I don't know."

Everyone blinked.

Sunny: "Wait... what?"

Paragon: "I've seen snakes the size of trees, plants that scream, even demons hiding as flowers. But that glow... it's unknown. Even to me. That's what makes it terrifying."

A faint crackle came from Jack's walkie-talkie, and Dr. Harrison's voice cut through.

Dr. Harrison: "What's going on? I heard everything."

Serena spoke into it. "We found a talking creature. Calls itself Paragon."

Dr. Harrison: "Paragon... I've read theories. It's believed to be one of the only creatures that's traveled out of the jungle and returned. You need to keep it with you. It may save your lives."

Lucky grabbed the walkie. "You're saying this rainbow puffball is a walking encyclopedia?"

Dr. Harrison: "More than that. Paragon might be the key to surviving in there."

Sunny grinned, bent down, and lifted Paragon gently. "Time to go in the pocket, Mr. Encyclopedia."

Paragon: "Oh great. What a day. First mocked, then pocketed."

Sunny chuckled. "Get used to it."

Paragon's Ranking System

As they walked through a quiet stretch of jungle, Paragon explained the jungle's hierarchy of creatures.

"There are eight tiers," he began. "Listen carefully."

"First: Basic. Like crawling vines, biting bugs, and lesser beasts."

"Second: Normal. These are intelligent creatures with unique powers, but nothing world-ending."

"Third: Powerful. Now we're getting serious. These creatures can control elements."

"Fourth: Ultra. Rare. Dangerous. One-on-one, they can wipe you out."

"Fifth: Legendary. Only a handful. Stories are written about these."

"Sixth: Mythic. Thought to be extinct. They warp reality around them."

"Seventh: Godly. Can manipulate space and time."

"Eighth… and final: Devil. There is one known being in this tier. It doesn't just live in the jungle. The jungle exists because of it."

Everyone went silent.

Rick: "So... what was the water monster?"

Paragon: "That? Likely a Creklin. Ultra tier. Amphibious. Very territorial."

Jack: "And the snake?"

Paragon nodded. "Ah yes. Bixnix. Weaker than Creklin. It came under the legendary tier, maybe even ultra. Hard to tell — some creatures mutate in this jungle."

Serena whispered, "And the glow?"

Paragon looked troubled. "Still unknown. But if even I don't know it... maybe it doesn't belong in the hierarchy."

The group exchanged nervous glances.

As the sun began to set, the jungle grew darker... but now they had a guide.

Or at least... someone with wings and a mouth.

To be continued...