After Jack shoved the wounded wolf off the cliff, he began walking deeper into the forest, his steps heavy and uncertain.
"It's going to get dark soon," Jack muttered, clutching his side and gritting his teeth through the pain.
His brother was still unconscious. "Why is he still out cold? I've never seen him like this before… something's off..." Jack thought to himself—then suddenly winced, letting out a sharp "Ah!" as pain shot through his side.
As Jack continued walking, his mind drifted to his father's teachings during their hunting trips.
"...Whenever you're in the forest, make sure not to get lost," his dad whispered, eyes locked on their prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"How will I know if I'm getting lost? And how do I remember all these paths?" Jack whispered to his father.
At that time, Jack was only seven years old, yet he already showed intelligence and strength beyond his age—like he was born gifted.
His father patted Jack's head and said, "Don't worry. There's a technique we hunters use—I'll teach it to you now."
"Take a deep breath, listen to the birds, and feel the air pressure around you," Jack's father said.
Little Jack took a deep breath and focused on his surroundings, then on the subtle pressure in the air. "Ah, I can feel it, Dad," he said with a bright smile."
"Wow, I can't believe you're still just a little kid," his father said with a chuckle, giving Jack an affectionate glance.
"Now just focus on the pressure and your intuition. You'll feel a subtle pull in all directions, but only one will point you north," his father said, still watching the deer, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Now, Jack did just as his father had taught him,
breath in... breath out....
He took a deep breath and felt a distinct pressure pulling steadily from one direction.
"Father, I don't feel any pull from all directions... but I can feel it coming from this one," Jack said with a surprised gleam in his eyes. Though his face lit up with excitement as he pointed north.
"You little kid, I can't believe you sensed that on your very first try," his father said with a wide grin, patting Jack's head proudly. "I'm proud of you..." he added, his heart swelling with joy, though his eyes still remained fixed on the prey, waiting for the right moment.
"That's north, my son. You don't need to sense every direction—if you can sense even one, that's more than enough," his father said gently.
"Remember, son, everyone has their own unique sense. They rely on what comes naturally to them. Sensing even one direction is enough—and some may perceive it differently. But what's most important is knowing your strengths and weaknesses," his father said softly, readying his knife as the prey crept closer.
"Remember... son... it's important... you must..." the words echoed faintly as Jack's vision blurred.
"brother .... brother .. hello are you there ...." his brother kept shouting
"Oh—ah! What is it, Jade?" Jack suddenly snapped awake mid-step. "Sorry... I got lost in thought," he added with a smile, speaking to his little brother who was tied securely to his back.
"Brother, are you alright? You seemed to have lost a lot more blood," Jade asked with a worried expression.
Jack kept walking, but his steps grew slower, his eyelids heavy. He swayed slightly from side to side, like a puppet about to collapse, as he battled the creeping fog of unconsciousness. Still, he pressed forward, driven by the desperate need to find shelter and save his brother.
"Ah... ye... brotherrr... I've lost some..." Jack whispered weakly, his voice fading like a dying ember, each word slipping out as he drifted further into unconsciousness.
But Jack kept pushing forward, his willpower the only thing keeping him going. He had survived this long on sheer determination alone.
From behind, his brother watched in growing worry. Jack was clearly at his limit, relying on a single walking stick while his broken arm swung uselessly at his side, offering no support at all.
Jade didn't speak to Jack afterward. Fear crept into his heart as the forest grew darker, shadows stretching like claws beneath the fading light. The distant howls of a wolf pack echoed through the trees, accompanied by eerie, unplaceable sounds that filled the forest with a haunting life of its own—a living, breathing home for predators that thrived in the night.
Startled by the sound, Jade buried his face into Jack's neck, seeking safety in the warmth and comfort of his brother's presence. He clung tightly, hiding his fear in the only place that still felt secure.
The gentle touch of his brother's face against his neck brought Jack a deep, comforting warmth. For a fleeting moment, the pain in his body dulled, replaced by a sense of peace. A faint smile curved his lips as his eyelids began to flutter—his consciousness slowly slipping away.
A quiet joy bloomed in his chest from the warmth he felt—fragile, yet comforting. Holding on to that feeling, Jack kept walking, each step heavier than the last.
Then, as if pulled by an unseen force, Jack felt a strange chill creep through his spine. His vision blurred, yet instinctively, his eyes lifted—slowly, cautiously—toward the distance. There, standing motionless amidst the thickening shadows, was a dark figure.
The dark figure raised its hand in a slow, beckoning motion, as if urging Jack to follow. Something about it pulled at him—cold, unnatural, yet irresistible. Without thinking, Jack began to walk toward it, his pace quickening with each step, driven by a force he couldn't understand.
His brother was startled—and fear crept into his heart—as Jack suddenly quickened his pace. But he remained silent, quietly watching, trying to understand where Jack was heading and why he was moving so fast.
As Jack followed the dark figure, it led him to a place where a small hill rose quietly from the earth—and nestled within it, a shadowed cave awaited, hidden and still.
As Jack approached the figure, it vanished into thin air—leaving only silence behind. Then he noticed the cave. A faint smile touched his lips as hope sparked within him, and he turned slightly to speak to his brother.
"He...y... broth...e.r... we... sta...y..." Jack whispered, his voice barely audible, each syllable dripping with exhaustion. He spoke as if the words were slipping through his weakening grip on consciousness.
After that, Jack stepped cautiously into the cave, checking for any sign of danger. Though his eyes found nothing, he paused—closing them briefly to sense, just as his father had taught him. He focused on the air, the pressure, the subtle instincts honed from childhood. But there was nothing—no danger, no threat—only stillness.
Then Jack stepped into the small cave. He walked to the end, where the wall stood close, but left a small gap. There, he gently sat down, untying his brother with care before shifting himself to his brother's right side, trying to make them both as comfortable as possible.
Jack took the cloth he had used to tie his brother and began wrapping it carefully around his own body, looping it from his neck down to his injured arm, trying to create a makeshift sling.
By doing this, Jack felt a surge of pain so intense he couldn't bear it. He shouted, "Aah... ah," his voice fading, drained of strength.
Seeing this, his brother stepped in and gently placed his hand on the cloths. "Let me help," he said, worry heavy in his voice.
Jack flinched in surprise and instinctively slapped his brother's hand away. "Oooh... no... no... giv... m... suppor...t..." he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, fading with each word. His consciousness continued to blur and slip away like mist in the morning light.
Then his brother supported him, trying to arrange and position the rope correctly. He didn't even know how to tie it, nor did he have the strength. But Jack, using only one hand, guided his brother's hands gently. Then, gripping one end of the rope with his teeth and pulling the other with his only working hand, he managed to tie it tightly around his leg.
after finishing it, Jack's consciousness faded away. He slipped into a deep slumber. As the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness enveloped the forest, his brother also leaned against the wall and fell asleep.
At that time, both of them were deep in slumber.
Suddenly, a tossing sensation brushed against Jack's mouth. He heard a faint shout beside him, "Whaaa...t brot..r." he murmured, his eyes still closed, feeling something softly touching his lips.
Jack slowly folded his lips and tasted it. It was flesh—raw flesh. He thought it was just a dream. But then, with his eyes still closed, he began to eat it.
"Aah, aah! Brother, wake up! Wake up!" Jade shouted, his voice trembling in fear, as his brother stirred, terrified by something unseen.
Then Jack kept eating the raw flesh slowly, each bite stirring something inside him. As the metallic taste of blood touched his tongue, a flicker of consciousness returned.
Through half-lidded eyes, Jack saw a being whose face was hidden beneath thick, tangled hair. "Bah... bah... bahh..." it muttered. it was giving him some raw flesh in the dark it eyes sparkled as red .
Jack suddenly panicked and let out a terrified scream, "Aah! Ahh! Get the hell out of here—get away!"
In a desperate burst of fear and instinct, he kicked the creature in the face. The impact sent it staggering backward. Gasping for breath, Jack slowly regained his senses and focused on the figure before him.
"It's... it's a girl," Jack said, his voice trembling, eyes wide with disbelief. Shock froze his face, while beside him, his brother collapsed into sobs, paralyzed by fear and hopelessness.
Then, through the haze of confusion, Jack caught a clearer glimpse. It was a girl—her torn dress clinging to her frame, her appearance hauntingly close to his own age. Her face was smeared entirely with the blood of a deer, whose lifeless body lay opposite, its limbs torn and twisted beyond recognition.