Kai’s breath hitched as the pack of wolves slunk forward, their eyes glinting in the shifting sunlight. Their low growls rumbled through the iron-laced trees, sending waves of dread through his already exhausted body.
His legs moved before his mind caught up.
He ran.
The ground was uneven, loose rocks shifting under his weight as he bolted through the trees. The gravity worked against him, his limbs burning with every frantic step. Behind him, the wolves didn’t charge all at once—only one followed at first, trotting leisurely, its eerie patience more terrifying than an outright chase.
Kai''s lungs burned, his legs numb with exhaustion, but he forced himself forward. His only hope was the towering Ironbark Pine just ahead—a behemoth of a tree, its bark dark and unyielding like metal. If he could just reach it, maybe he could catch his breath, maybe the wolf would lose sight of him.
He threw himself behind the thick trunk, pressing his back against its cold surface. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart hammering like a drum in his ears. Stardust trembled beside him, clinging to his shoulder, its tiny body shivering in fear.
Seconds stretched. Silence.
Then—crack.
A soft footstep on the dry leaves.
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Kai’s stomach turned to ice. He barely dared to breathe as the realization hit him—the wolf knew he was here. It wasn’t charging. It wasn’t snarling. It was waiting. Playing.
A heavy exhale came from the other side of the tree, followed by the deliberate crunch of slow, measured steps circling the trunk. The wolf was toying with him, savoring the hunt.
Kai’s fingers dug into the Ironbark’s ridges. He turned his head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of the predator’s shadow slipping through the undergrowth, moving unnervingly slow.
Then—nothing.
He strained his ears, but the world had gone eerily silent. Even Stardust stiffened, sensing something unnatural.
A flicker of movement.
Infront of him, deeper in the forest, a shadow shifted between the trees. Too quick to make out. Too deliberate to be the wind.
"Oh no… it’s already there," Kai whispered through gritted teeth, forcing himself back into a sprint.
The moment he moved, the wolf reacted. No more games—it lunged forward in a full sprint, closing the distance in seconds. Kai pushed his body harder, but every step felt like his bones were splintering under the crushing gravity. His vision blurred, his breath came in short gasps, and then—pain.
It hit him like a hammer to the leg. A sharp crack shot through his right leg, and before he could even register the agony, his legs gave out. He collapsed onto the ground, his entire body screaming in protest.
"Come on… get up… don’t give up now." The thought barely formed in his head before another wave of pain crashed over him. He tried to stand, his arms trembling, but his body refused to obey. His muscles felt like dead weight, his mind slipping into the haze of exhaustion.
The wolf slowed. A deep, rumbling growl rumbled through the air as it loomed over him, savoring the final moment.
Kai clenched his teeth and forced himself to move—if he couldn’t run, he could crawl. But it was useless. The wolf was already upon him. Its eyes locked onto his, full of cold, merciless hunger.
Then, it lunged.
Kai threw up his arms, bracing for the impact—
SHNK!
A streak of red light cut through the darkness. A glowing arrow, its tip burning like embers, pierced straight into the wolf’s skull.
The beast barely made a sound as it crumpled, its lifeless body hitting the ground with a dull thud.
Kai lay frozen, his mind barely processing what had just happened. The rest of the pack, startled by the sudden attack, let out wary growls before retreating into the shadows, leaving their fallen kin behind.
The world blurred as exhaustion overtook him. His body, too battered to fight anymore, surrendered to the inevitable.
As his vision faded, the last thing he saw was that same shadow from before—watching. Closer now. Silent. Waiting.