Zayan sat lazily atop the sturdy branch, half-reclined against the thick trunk of the tree. It had been about half an hour since he climbed up, and in that time, he had done little more than peck at the apple-like fruits growing nearby and eat them one by one. The taste was mildly sweet, but it was the sensation of calmness that washed over him as he ate that eased him the most. This world, with its towering trees and strange quietness, was still unfamiliar, but for now, this moment of peace was welcome.

He had only eaten three fruits, including the one he held in his hand. He took another bite, lazily glancing at the sky through the mesh of leaves.

Suddenly, a loud howl echoed through the forest, startling Zayan so much that he nearly dropped the fruit. His head snapped toward the direction of the sound, his heart racing from the unexpected noise. From about 500 meters away, the noise repeated.

Zayan squinted, peering through the dense mesh of leaves. His eyes widened when he finally spotted the source of the commotion. Charging down the dirt path he had followed earlier was a white, massive, wolf-like creature, its size rivaling that of a full-grown grizzly bear. Its fur was probably as white as the clouds but now the fur was messy with dirt and blood, its eyes were wild with panic as it ran with all its strength.

But it wasn’t running alone. Behind it, 14 people chased the it relentlessly. Zayan’s breath was caught in his throat as he observed them. They looked strong—muscular, their brownish skin shining with sweat as they sprinted after the wolf-like animal. They were slightly shorter than Zayan, all about 5’9”, and wore nothing but animal skins as clothing. As they were sprinting towards the tree Zayan was in, Zayan could see them better—Eleven were men, three were women, and each of them moved with a precision that only came with years of experience.

Zayan froze as these people passed just in front of the tree he was in, his instincts screaming at him to stay as still as possible. He tucked his body closer to the trunk of the tree, hoping the leaves would shield him from their view. He watched intently as the group of hunters closed in on the creature. Luckily, the wolf was focused on survival and the people focused on their kill.

Four men at the front raised blow darts, their movements completely synchronized as if they were the same person. Zayan watched in awe as they fired almost simultaneously. The darts flew through the air with frightening speed, embedding themselves into the wolf’s side and back. The animal let out another howl, slowing its pace, but it continued to stagger forward, determined to escape.

Zayan’s mind raced. “Poison,” he thought. The darts must be tipped with something deadly. How else could they slow down a beast of that size so quickly?

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The three women, armed with spears, were next. Each carried three spears, and with great precision and strength, they hurled them toward the escaping creature. One spear hit the wolf’s leg, another in its back. The third missed, but it didn’t matter—the creature was faltering now, each step becoming more labored. It was evident that the creature was bound to fall today.

Zayan’s heart pounded vigorously in his chest. His eyes darted quickly between the hunters and the wolf, wondering how much longer the beast could survive. The remaining seven men charged forward, drawing knife-like weapons as they closed the distance. The wolf was barely moving by the time they reached it, and in a brutal, coordinated effort, they slashed and stabbed, delivering the final blow. The animal finally collapsed unable to even produce a last howl. They were already about 400 meters away from Zayan when the animal collapsed.

The forest fell silent once more.

Zayan swallowed hard. The scene he had just witnessed left him fearful. He had always read about hunters and predators in fantasy novels, but seeing such a one-sided battle in real life was overwhelming. These people—they were dangerous. They had taken down a beast that, under normal circumstances, would have been an apex predator, with nothing more than simple weapons and coordinated attacks. And they had done it with such frightening ease.

The group stood around the fallen wolf, speaking in low voices. They began retrieving their weapons from the animal’s corpse, their faces expressionless, as though this was nothing more than routine for them. Zayan couldn’t help but notice the scars on some of the men’s arms and legs when they had passed in front of his tree—evidence of past battles, no doubt. Their clothes, though simple, were worn and covered in dirt, suggesting they had spent days, if not weeks, in the wilderness.

Zayan’s muscles remained tense as he watched the hunters continue to butcher the wolf, taking out parts of its meat and putting them in a pouch made of animal skin. He held his breath, willing to be as still and quiet as possible. Every creak of the branch beneath him made his pulse quicken.

Once the hunters had moved on and went the way that Zayan had come from, Zayan exhaled slowly, his grip on the branch loosening. He sat there for a moment, letting the tension drain from his body. But his mind was still racing.

“I have to get out of here,” he thought. These people weren’t friendly. They weren’t just hunters—they were warriors, used to battle and survival. And if they could take down a creature like that so easily, what chance would Zayan have if they saw him as an outsider, an intruder in their territory?

He looked around the forest, suddenly aware of how vulnerable he was. This isn’t a game, he reminded himself. The danger here was real, and his survival depended on his ability to stay unseen and unnoticed.

With renewed determination, Zayan made his decision. He would leave the forest, and fast. Staying here was no longer an option—not with people like that around.

He glanced once more in the direction the hunters had gone, then began planning his escape, every step was carefully calculated in his mind. His diary had prepared him for scenarios like this—encounters with hostile locals, potential danger at every turn. Now it was time to put that knowledge to use.

Zayan couldn’t help but feel joy at the fact that he had memorized his diary to heart increasing his chances of survival.