As the group reached the other side of the lake, they found themselves in a dense pine forest surrounded by massive rocks. The atmosphere was thick with mist, making it difficult to see far. Rose squinted through the haze and suddenly spotted something that made her heart race.
"GUYS! Look!" she shouted, pointing towards a familiar canoe washed up on the shore, half-hidden by the underbrush.
Everyone rushed over, adrenaline pumping through their veins. Micheal immediately set up his drone, searching for any signs of Annie. The drone's camera picked up a trail of footprints leading up the slippery, rain-soaked rocks.
Micheal exclaimed, "Annie must be close by!"
The gang prepared to climb the muddy, wet rocks. Tina hesitated, her face twisted with a mix of disgust and fear. John and Clark exchanged exasperated glances.
John's patience wore thin, and he snapped, "Get your ass over here, Tina."
Clark's anger flared, and he considered using his strings to pull her along, but Rose quickly intervened. "Umm... Clark, my hands hurt. Can you cover the mud and water with your string?" she asked, trying to keep the situation calm.
With a sigh, Clark complied, weaving his strings over the rocks to create a safer path. They carefully climbed the rocks, following the trail, which led to the entrance of a dark cave. A sense of foreboding hung in the air as they approached.
Inside the cave, the group spread out to search for any signs of Annie. The air was damp and cold, the only sound their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. John, feeling uneasy, ventured deeper into the cave and stumbled upon something unusual. At the back of a large rock lay a broken egg, its shell shattered into pieces.
"What the hell is this?" John muttered, puzzled. The egg looked like it belonged to some strange creature, adding an eerie element to the already tense situation.
Despite the mysterious broken egg, there was no sign of Annie. Yet, Zenn sensed something—traces of her presence still lingered. It was as if she had been there recently but had vanished without a trace.
"She was definitely here," Zenn confirmed, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But where could she have gone?"
John's voice broke the tense silence as he called out, "Guys, look at this!" He beckoned the group over to where he stood, revealing the shattered remains of an egg. Clark, who had a deep knowledge of mythical creatures, stepped closer to examine the fragments.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "Guys... it's..." he began, the realization dawning on him. "It's a dragon egg!"
The revelation sent shockwaves through the group. The presence of a dragon egg heightened their worry for Annie's safety and added a new layer of urgency to their search.
Meanwhile, just before the group arrived on the other side of the lake, Annie was nestled in the cave, cradling the tiny creature she had found. The fire she had set up had burned out, and as she cleaned up the ashes, she noticed something unusual beneath the fire pit. With curiosity piqued, she brushed away the remaining debris to reveal a stone trapdoor.
Annie's eyes widened with a mix of hope and skepticism. A trapdoor in a cave was not something she had expected to find. Bell, sensing the situation, noted something surprising.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"Zero percent danger?" Bell exclaimed, her voice ringing inside Annie's head.
Annie winced at the volume. "Don't yell so much; it hurts," she scolded Bell gently.
With cautious optimism, Annie heaved the heavy trapdoor open, revealing a spiral staircase leading down into the darkness, lined with lanterns that suggested recent use—perhaps months or even a year ago.
"Should I go in?" Annie asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and hesitation.
Bell, still cautious, replied, "I guess... but let's be careful."
Annie secured her belongings and placed the little creature in the front pocket of her shirt, where it nestled comfortably, adding a touch of cuteness to the eerie situation. She began her descent into the mysterious underground staircase. The spiral path seemed endless, winding down and down, each step echoing with the weight of the unknown.
The journey felt longer than it was, the winding stairs making Annie's head spin slightly. The walls were damp, and the air grew colder as she descended. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she stumbled into an open space—an ancient dungeon, shrouded in shadows and mystery. The air was thick with an unspoken history, and Annie's heart raced as she took in the surroundings, wondering what secrets lay hidden in the depths of this strange place.
The air was thick with an unspoken history, and Annie's heart raced as she took in the surroundings, wondering what secrets lay hidden in the depths of this strange place [https://img.wattpad.com/88c760a813edda34c11afd4ac9e2ff33669872a4/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4b5f4a304458446373592d304f773d3d2d313436353432363338302e313765363632333835393861613533303238333136323335313238332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Annie continued her cautious exploration, the eerie silence amplifying every sound she made. The dungeon felt like something out of a video game, its cleanliness contrasting sharply with the damp, cold walls she had passed on the way down. As she wandered, she came across a single, unassuming door.
With a deep breath, Annie carefully opened the door, Bell's anxiety echoing in her mind. Inside, she found a small library, lined with old books and scrolls, and a single, inviting bed. Exhausted, she decided to take a moment to rest. The bed looked comfortable, a rare comfort in this strange, hidden place.
The bed looked comfortable, a rare comfort in this strange, hidden place [https://img.wattpad.com/400a0e44690895494525c7493fa732ad1d18358e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4d794f7336424977334f725434413d3d2d313436353432363338302e313765363632313632643739373666663833393036343038383538362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
As she lay down, she felt something lumpy beneath the sheets. Annie's heart skipped a beat. "What the hell was that?" she whispered to herself, sitting up quickly. Hesitantly, she pulled back the covers to reveal a thick book—a journal, by the looks of it. The cover bore the title, "The Lost Magic Tribe."
Intrigued and cautious, Annie felt compelled to take the journal with her [https://img.wattpad.com/0ab8604c0bec669635b3eea7d69db90a3a869ab2/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f34796948684e6c645a65484d54773d3d2d313436353432363338302e313765363631656234623632623161363832303433313833323935312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Intrigued and cautious, Annie felt compelled to take the journal with her. She tucked it away, intending to read it later. Just as she was about to settle down, a sudden noise broke the stillness—a growling and barking sound, unmistakably that of a dog, but with a monstrous edge.
Panic surged through her. Annie quickly hid under the bed, clutching the little dragon creature tightly against her chest. Her heart raced as the door creaked open, and heavy footsteps entered the room. The air seemed to thicken with tension, and Annie could barely breathe, her heart pounding wildly in her ears.
From her hiding spot, she could see a pair of shadowy, canine-like feet, the creature's growling resonating with a chilling menace. Annie's mind raced with thoughts of what to do next, but she knew one thing for certain: she had to stay hidden and quiet, hoping that the creature wouldn't find her.
The growling louder...