Luc cautiously raised his hands, trying to communicate with the wolf. "I'm not the one who started it, you know. It was it" he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"See my hand? It's because of that thing over there. Maybe we can just forget about it and go our separate ways." He pointed at the fresh bite marks

The wolf bared its fangs, a silent warning. Luc backed away, pressing himself against the cave wall.

What do I do?

He glanced around the cave, searching for something, anything to help.

His eyes landed on the cub’s still body. An idea formed in his mind.

Luc acted quickly, picking up the cub and throwing it toward the cave entrance, hoping to distract the wolf.

The mother wolf glanced from Luc to her cub as it slid across the cave floor, hesitating for a moment as she sniffed the air

Luc didn’t wait to see what she would do next.

He knew he can't beat the wolf with a rock like the cub before, so there was only one way out—straight through the wolf.

Without hesitation, Luc charged forward, aiming to slip past the wolf.

She lunged, fangs bared, but Luc ducked to the side, avoiding her snapping jaws.

Her teeth grazed his arm, a sharp pain flaring up, but he kept moving, adrenaline carrying him toward the exit.

He could feel the wolf close behind.

With a final push, Luc dove out of the cave, hitting the ground hard. He got to his feet and ran, ignoring the pain in his arm.

Luc's lungs burned as he dashed into the forest, his feet thumping on the ground. The pain in his arm grew with each heartbeat, but he couldn't afford to slow down.

He glanced back. The wolf was still there, its red eyes glowing in the dark, its body moving with relentless determination.

Damnit!

Luc's mind was racing, grasping for a way out, but the forest offered nothing—just endless trees and the sound of his own labored breathing.

His foot caught on something, nearly sending him sprawling, but he managed to steady himself against a tree, his hand scraping against the rough bark.

Something was off.

The forest wasn’t the same. It had changed in the night, and now everything felt more menacing. The trees towered like dark sentinels, their branches twisted and reaching out like skeletal fingers.

What the hell?

The forest had transformed. The thick fog was gone, replaced by a landscape that seemed to have been drained of life. The underbrush had withered, leaving only dead leaves and tangled roots behind.

Luc’s mind struggled to process what he was seeing, but he didn’t have time to make sense of it. A low growl from behind snapped him back to the moment. The wolf was closing in.

Luc knew he couldn’t keep running forever. He needed to find somewhere to hide or something to defend himself with.

He pushed off from the tree. His eyes darted around, searching for anything that could help—a weapon, a place to hide, anything.

If you're going to throw me into this insane situation, at least give me some cheat!

But the universe didn’t comply. The sound of the wolf’s footsteps grew louder.

Luc’s foot caught on an exposed root, and he went down hard. Pain shot through his chest as he hit the ground, the world spinning around him.

Get up or you're dead!

He rolled onto his back, gasping for air. The wolf’s snarl grew louder, snapping him back into action.

His heart pounded in his ears, and his muscles screamed for relief, but his instincts suddenly screamed

Move!

Without thinking, Luc threw himself to the side.

He hit the ground and rolled through dead leaves and brittle twigs. A sudden wave of heat passed over him, so close it singed the hair on his arms.

What the—

He scrambled to his feet, his mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened.

The spot where he’d been lying was smoldering, wisps of smoke rising from the charred ground. The acrid smell of burnt earth filled the air.

Did that thing just... breathe fire?

His legs moved on instinct, carrying him through the twisted forest. He ducked under low branches and leaped over fallen logs, not daring to look back. But the sound of the wolf’s claws scraping against the ground was close, too close.

Luc risked a glance over his shoulder. The wolf was closing in fast. Another burst of fire shot past him, so close that he could feel the heat brush against his skin, scorching his eyebrows.

Think, damn it!

Luc's eyes darted around, searching for anything—anything—that might give him a chance. The forest, stripped of life, offered little. Just endless trees and—

He stops running

Up ahead, something loomed. A creature that looked like it had stepped out of a nightmare. It was massive, towering over the forest floor, its bulk blocking the path. Blue scales gleamed in the dim light, as if they were forged from steel. Three horns jutted from its wolf-like head—one straight out of its forehead, the other two curving back like cruel hooks.

Stolen story; please report.

Its eyes glowed a cold, eerie blue, locking onto Luc with a kind of intelligence that made his blood run cold.

Well, shit. Jumping from the wolf's mouth into the…whatever the hell this is.

Behind him, the sound of the Darkwolf’s paws pounding the ground suddenly stopped.

Luc didn’t dare look back, but he could feel the creature’s heat on his back.

The forest fell silent, except for Luc's heavy breathing.

Then, with a speed that Luc couldn’t comprehend, the massive creature’s head snapped toward the Darkwolf. A low growl reverberated through the air, so deep it shook Luc to his core

The Darkwolf answered with a snarl of its own, the smell of brimstone suddenly thick in the air.

Nope. Not sticking around for this

As if responding to some unspoken signal, both beasts lunged at each other. The ground trembled as the creature charged, its claws tearing into the earth, while the Darkwolf leapt with flames curling from its jaws.

Luc didn't wait to see what happened next. He dove to the side, rolling through the dead leaves and brittle twigs. Pain shot through his injured arm, but he pushed it aside, scrambling to his feet and plunging deeper into the forest.

Behind him, the sounds of their battle erupted—roars of pain, the crash of trees being felled, the crackle of fire.

The ground shook beneath him, nearly tripping him up more than once, but he kept running.

He had no direction other than away. Branches whipped his face, leaving stinging cuts, but he didn’t slow down.

This can't be real. It can't be. I'm going to wake up any second now.

But the pain was too sharp, the fear too real. This wasn’t a dream, no matter how much he wished it to be.

Luc ran until the sounds of the battle faded into the distance, until his legs finally gave out beneath him.

He collapsed against the trunk of a gnarled tree, sliding down into the tangle of its roots.

As the adrenaline faded, the full weight of his situation hit him. Luc buried his face in his hands, a bitter laugh escaping his lips.

What the hell kind of world did I wake up in?

Waking up in a strange forest, dressed only in his boxers and a T-shirt. The bizarre, vibrant plants. A river that led nowhere. The day that seemed to stretch on forever. The wolf cub, and then the mother wolf with its impossible fire breath. And now, a creature straight out of some fantasy genre.

"What the actual f*ck," Luc muttered, lowering his hands to look around at the dead, twisted forest.

His mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. Everything had changed when night fell—not just the appearance of the forest but its very essence.

During the day, it was eerily quiet, almost like nothing live there. But at night? The fog lifted, revealing a landscape of dead trees and lurking monsters.

He looked up through the bare branches at the night sky. How long had he been running?

A distant roar echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down his spine. The battle between the wolf and that creature was still going on somewhere nearby. He needed to move, find shelter, do something.

But exhaustion had settled deep in his bones. His muscles ached, his lungs burned, and the bite on his hand throbbed in time with his heartbeat. The adrenaline that had kept him going was fading fast, leaving him drained and disoriented

I can think about it later. Right now, I need to-

A twig snapped somewhere in the darkness. Luc froze, his breath catching in his throat.

He peered into the shadows, trying to see what was out there.

His heart jumped as a small, white-furred creature appeared. It was barely waist-high, with big, curious eyes and an adorable face.

For a moment, Luc felt a flicker of relief. After the monsters he’d faced, this one seemed almost... harmless.

But instincts told him to be careful. He stayed completely still, watching it closely, waiting to see what it would do.

"Ki kik?"

The little creature tilted its head, watching Luc with interest. It chirped, taking a cautious step forward.

"Ki ki kik."

Luc’s mind raced. Was it trying to communicate?He slowly raised his hands in a ‘stop’ gesture, hoping to maintain some distance.

The last thing he needed was another dangerous encounter.

"Ki kik?" The creature's head tilted further.

Luc pressed a finger to his lips, hoping to keep it quiet. “Ssst,” he hissed, praying the creature would understand.

For a moment, everything was quiet.

Then, suddenly, the little thing threw its head back and let out a piercing shriek.

"KIK KIK KIK!"

F*ck.

Luc’s heart sank as the sound echoed through the dead forest. His teeth clenched as the shriek was answered by more calls, followed by the rustling of leaves and snapping twigs.

"Shit" Luc muttered, his blood turning cold. He didn't wait to see what was coming. Despite the pain in his legs, he bolted deeper into the forest.

Behind him, the forest erupted with noise. Branches creaked and leaves crunched as whatever was out there gave chase. It wasn’t just one or two—it sounded like a pack.

Luc’s lungs burned as he forced himself to keep running, ducking under low branches and leaping over fallen logs. His mind raced, trying to find a way out, but the forest seemed endless.

A flash of white fur to his side nearly made him stumble. They were flanking him, using the trees for cover.

Luc’s heart hammered as he tore through the twisted woods, the shrieks and rustling leaves growing louder, closer.

White blurs flashed between the trees, their movements unnervingly coordinated.

These weren't mindless beasts - they were hunting him with frightening skill.

A branch whipped across his face, leaving a stinging mark, but he barely felt it. His muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed on.

Just keep moving. Don't look back. Don't-

A blur of white fur, faster than he could react. Something solid slammed into Luc’s side, knocking him off his feet.

Ah-

The world spun as he hit the ground hard, leaves and twigs tearing at his skin as he tumbled. The world spun as he came to a stop, gasping for air.

Luc tried to get up, but his legs gave out, causing him to stumble forward.

Then something heavy crashed onto his back, forcing him down.His face hit the ground, dirt and blood filling his mouth.

Above him, a triumphant shriek filled the air.

"KIK KIK KIK!"

Luc twisted his head to see his attacker.

The creature stood over him, its white fur glowing in the moonlight. It pounded its chest, muscles rippling under its deceptively cute exterior.

The sound it made was anything but cute—a war cry that sent a chill down Luc’s spine.

More shrieks answered, closer now. Luc struggled, trying to throw the creature off , but it was like wrestling with a boulder.

Then they were on him.

Furry bodies piled up, pinning him to the ground. The weight was crushing, squeezing the air from his lungs. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Panic clawed at his throat as the world began to fade.

Is this it? This is how I die?

As consciousness began to slip away, Luc's eyes caught something.

Tendrils of mist began to creep across the forest floor, wrapping around the twisted trees.

The oppressive darkness lifted, replaced by a soft, diffuse light. It was as if the world itself was shifting.

"kik?"

The creature on top of Luc paused, its shriek turning into a puzzled chirp. It glanced around.

Their prey had suddenly disappeared.