Shallow Creek was built along a tiny river. On one side of the river, there were the grasslands and plains where people had decided to build their settlement. On the other, there was a forest, a forbidden land to all but the brave or suicidal.

Nine years had passed since Finn and his teammates had snatched their first win. Now, it was time for their graduation.

“Stop,” a 14-year-old Finn dropped on one knee and placed his left palm in the snow. Vibrations ran through it foretelling a stampede. “We need to get off the ground. Now.”

Despite the risk, the boy had kept his mother’s green hair. He was five feet and 11 inches tall but still growing. His chin was sharp and his muscles defined.

He climbed a nearby tree with a backpack and a bow on his back, as well as six knives and a sword on his waist. Still, even in the snow-covered canopy, he did not make a sound.

“I’ll try and jump them.” Michael hopped on the branch of a nearby tree. At a mere 15 years old, the boy had surpassed six feet in height. His back was broad and his arms were thick. Despite Mr. Griffin’s instructions, he had long since given up on the sword in exchange for the two spiked gloves he had constructed by himself.

“Wait for the command,” said Tommy. “And stop dropping snow.”

With blonde hair, blue eyes, and the smile of Adonis, Tommy was well built in all the right places and could have passed for a model back on Earth. Everyone liked him, so he was the linchpin of the group.

John John, on the other hand, felt like the black sheep. He hated Finn’s guts, and as the latest arrival, he had never managed to integrate into the team. Mr. Griffin gave him a chance due to his skills, but the more time passed, the more the boy lost confidence even in those.

Suddenly, the trees parted and a stampede of creatures marched down below. Natalie’s tree was knocked down, but she fortunately managed to jump onto another.

“Crap,” the redhead spit into the distance. “Annie, show them what’s what.”

In a nearby tree, a barely five feet girl was making a tiny snowman. She had silver-white hair in a short braid down her back, round facial features and a small nose. She wasn’t much of a close-range combatant, so she only kept a short knife on her waist. However, from beneath her waist, she took out a hand-crafted blow dart.

“Wait.” Finn suddenly grinned. “Everyone, scream.”

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“What?" asked John John.

The others obeyed without question. Michael’s guttural “Argh!” mixed with Natalie’s piercing screech. Along with Tommy, Annie, and Finn’s bellows, the creatures below halted their march.

Some got trampled under their pack's feet, but they did not seem to care. Long, furry necks twisted, and catlike heads turned towards the canopy. They stood on their hind legs, and their arms were unusually long.

‘A cat headed, giraffe necked, gorilla,’ was the only way Finn could describe them, 'but three times larger and uglier.'

“They’re gonna climb up!” warned Natalie. With a rapier on her waist, she looked like a young officer and had the air of one. The long and straight red hair tied neatly behind her back did nothing to hide her organized facial features and still growing chest.

As predicted, the monsters used their large arms and claws to easily go after them.

“We fight as we run,” said Finn. “We need to draw them away from the village.”

“You’ll get us all killed!” shouted John John while barely avoiding a claw towards his legs.

‘We’ll get you killed.’ Finn was getting annoyed.

While the others jumped from tree to tree, Michael stayed slightly behind, cheerfully dispatching any monster that got close with a solid punch to the throat.

Those who got past him were taken out by Tommy and Natalie’s swords. Further ahead, Annie shot poisonous darts at the pursuers while Finn observed the situation and kept an eye on John John.

“Why aren’t you fighting?” the black sheep complained.

“Everyone, go left!” Finn grabbed John John’s shoulder and all but threw him into a nearby tree. Despite the two year age difference, one boy stopped growing at around twelve while the other was becoming more of a giant by the day.

Speaking of giants, huge spiders with horns between their eyes appeared from in front and smashed into the trees. The canopy collapsed and the feline monkeys fell with it.

A chaotic battle ensued. Just barely out of range, the group drew its breath.

“We’ll take out the stragglers,” said Finn.

“John John, stay behind.” added Tommy.

“What? That’s bullshit. If anyone should back off, it’s Annie.”

John John almost bit his tongue as Natalie slapped the back of his head. “Annie’s the fastest out of all of us, dumbass.”

“You bitch...” John John caught Michael’s eyes, and he instantly regretted his words. “I mean, she’s tiny. How is she supposed to be the fastest?”

Tommy shrugged and nobody else could answer.

‘That’s the million-dollar question.’ Finn sighed right when a cat monkey jumped out of the bushes. Without missing a beat, he stepped to the side while leaving a poisoned knife into the enemy’s neck.

The boy then took one more step, kneeled, took out his bow, and released an arrow. As soon as the arrow left the string, a giant horned spider jumped out of the bushes only to meet its end a split-second later.

“How did you know it was coming?” asked Annie.

“The cat monkey had to be running from something, no? Better safe than sorry.”

“You’re a weirdo, Finn.” Michael laughed as he took off his gauntlet and punched John John full force in the gut.

“Let’s get in formation,” said Tommy.

“We can’t afford to screw around anymore.” Natalie gave Michael a look.

“Yep.” Finn gazed into the distance. ‘If I’m right and both groups of monsters were running away from something,… We’re about to get screwed.”