As we set off into the forest, I couldn't help but feel like I was making a huge mistake. But what choice did I have? I was lost, confused, and apparently in possession of powers I couldn't control.

"So," I said, breaking the silence as we walked. "Are you going to tell me where we're going? Or is this one of those 'you'll see when we get there' situations?"

Finn looked back at me, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Impatient, aren't we? We're going to the Order's hideout. That's all you need to know for the moment."

"The Order?" I repeated, ducking under a branch that was particularly low. "What, some secret society?"

"Something like that," Finn said with a mysterious grin. "They're the ones who brought you here. Well, sort of. It's complicated."

I snorted. "Yeah, no kidding. Everything about this place is complicated."

We walked in silence for a while longer, the forest growing denser around us. I attempted to follow our route, but it was useless. Every tree looked identical to me.

Then, suddenly Finn stopped, his hand up. "Wait," he said, his voice low and husky. "Do you hear that?"

I strained my ears, but all I could hear was the rustle of leaves and some bird's faraway call. "Hear what?

Finn's eyes narrowed. "Trouble," he said, tugging something from his belt. "Get ready. Looks like your second lesson is coming early."

Before I could ask him what he meant, the underbrush to our left erupted in a cyclone of activity. Something charged from it-massive, with matted fur and razor-sharp claws, its eyes glowing red in the night. Its body quivered as it crouched, teeth bared. It was easily twice the size of the creature I'd encountered earlier.

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"What the hell is that?" I yelped, stumbling backward.

"Shadowbeast," Finn growled, flourishing what appeared to be some kind of short sword. "Nasty buggers. Hope you remember how you did that trick with your hands earlier."

When the shadowbeast lunged at us, that same panic swelled in my chest. Inwardly praying for that blue glow to reappear, I instinctively threw up my hands.

Nothing.

"Any time now, newbie!" Finn shouted, dodging the shadowbeast's slashing claws.

I focused, willing the blue glow to appear-and nothing did. My chest buckled as the creature's attention landed on me.

"C'mon, c'mon," I threatened, waving my hands around frantically.

Then I felt something stir. The explosion wasn't of the shielding blue glow, though; it was of feral magic, pouring from my hands like water from a turned-on faucet. A blinding light illuminated the woods-at the exact moment a loud *pop* did.

As the light faded, I looked down in horror to see that my pants had vanished, leaving me in nothing but my underwear.

"What the—" I yelped, desperately trying to cover myself.

Finn burst out laughing, momentarily distracted from the battle. "Well, that's one way to distract it!

Equally baffled by this turn of events, the shadowbeast also stopped its attack. It cocked its head, peering at my naked legs as if it found this whole situation rather hilarious.

"This isn't funny!" I yelled, the skin of my face burning red hot with embarrassment. "How do I fix this?"

Still chuckling, Finn called out, "Try focusing on protection instead of. whatever that was!"

Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes and focused. Protection. Armor. Anything.

I felt another surge of energy-this time different. Opening my eyes, I saw a faint, pulsating blue shimmer surround me. And mercifully, a pair of pants had appeared.

"Ha!" I said triumphantly. "Take that, you overgrown furball!"

The shadowbeast, apparently offended by my new confidence, let out another roar and charged at me again. This time when I raised my hands, a wave of force exploded from them, sending the creature flying backward into the trees.

Finn whistled, impressed. "Not bad, pantless wonder. Now let's get out of here before it comes back!"

As we ran deeper into the forest, I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this world had in store for me. Well, for one thing, being the "chosen one" was going to be a lot more complicated-and embarrassing-than I'd ever imagined.