The forest was quiet. So quiet, you could hear ants doing things they shouldn't be doing.
Leaves shifted only when the wind passed through, and even then, the sound was light, barely there. A stream could be heard far off, muffled by trees and moss.
A young boy stood near the edge of a small ridge, half-hidden by the trunk of an old tree. He looked about sixteen.
His black hair hung slightly over his eyes, which were green and sharp, scanning the area ahead. His clothes were simple.
A plain blue shirt, black pants, and worn shoes covered in dirt and leaves. On his left hand, he wore a single black glove that looked newer than the rest of his outfit.
In his right hand, he held a weapon. It wasn't clean or polished.
It looked like it had been built from broken parts, metal scraps, bolts, and pieces of a rusted handle.
Despite its rough look, he held it with purpose, like he knew how to use it.
He didn't move much. Just a small shift of his stance, a slow breath, eyes flicking from tree to tree. Whatever he was waiting for, it hadn't come yet. But he was ready.
His eyes glowed from the reflection of a pale green portal hovering a few feet ahead.
He had been waiting here for almost an hour. Still, he didn't move, only adjusted his grip on the weapon now and then.
His ears twitched at a low hum. Narrowing his eyes, he noticed a shift in the portal's surface.
It rippled, no longer smooth like glass, but now unstable, as if disturbed by something on the other side.
The color deepened, flickering between shades of green and grey. Thin cracks of light stretched across the edges, pulsing slowly, like the portal was breathing or reacting to pressure.
Something was coming through.
Suddenly, a large rat popped out from the portal.
But this wasn't a normal rat. It was the size of an adult pig, with thick, patchy fur and no eyes in its skull. Its back was swollen, pulsing slightly as it moved, giving off a faint, sickly glow. A Hollow Rat.
They were mutated creatures, known for hiding in tunnels and dark spaces. They only came out when everything was quiet, when there was no motion, no threat.
That's why they appeared near unchecked portals like this one. If no one sealed the breach, they leaked through.
He watched it closely. The rat sniffed at the air, then crawled forward on thick limbs, claws scratching against the roots and dirt. It was cautious, but hungry. The boy stayed still, his eyes following its every step.
He didn't want it running back in. So, he waited, letting it move a little farther from the swirling green.
His hand stayed raised, fingers still, prepared. But not yet.
He waited, hoping the rat would wander farther from the portal.
But it didn't. It lingered near the edge, sniffing the air and twitching its ears. Just as he began thinking through a new plan, a bird landed on the ground in front of him, chirping loudly. The sudden sound made the rat flinch.
Chirp!! Chirp!!
He held his stance for a second, watching the rat react. It started sniffing more aggressively, alert. Patience was gone now.
Without hesitation, he dashed forward.
His steps pounded the ground, startling the bird into flight. More birds took off from the trees above, scattering in all directions. The rat twitched, reacting to the noise.
Though blind, it didn't need eyes. Its sense of smell and hearing were beyond normal humans or rats, more than enough to detect movement.
As it realized something was coming, it panicked and turned, sprinting straight toward the portal.
The boy's face tightened in frustration. He was close, but not close enough. He pushed harder, diving toward its thick tail just before it reached the swirling green.
His hand caught it. The rat squealed in pain as he yanked hard, but it kept moving, dragging him across the dirt. He grunted, gripping tighter, feeling the strain in his shoulder as the creature pulled him forward.
One of its clawed legs kicked back, catching him across the cheek. Blood streaked down, but he held on, until the pull was too strong.
He lost his grip.
The rat vanished into the portal, tail and all. The green swirl pulsed once, then returned to its slow, steady ripple.
The boy stayed on the ground, breathing hard, cheek bleeding. His jaw clenched, eyes locked on the portal with quiet disappointment.
The boy finally stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes. His knees ached under the fabric, and the scratch on his cheek stung with each movement. He sighed.
His face had never taken such a hit before.
Without looking back, he walked away, leaving the forest behind.
As he moved, the trees thinned out, giving way to old machines and scrap metal welded into fences. It wasn't much, just a barrier built from whatever people could find.
But out here, on the outskirts of the city, there weren't many choices. The fence was meant to keep out the monsters from the portals and anything else that wandered through the woods.
He stepped through a gap in the metal.
Inside, the world changed. A small community sat just beyond the fence, simple homes, narrow paths, and the sound of life. Kids ran barefoot across the dusty ground, laughing and shouting.
"Look! It's Rhian!"
"Rhian!"
"Rhian!"
"Did you get the monster?"
"Rhian is the best!"
He scratched the back of his hand, clearly embarrassed. Their voices were loud, full of excitement. He didn't know how to respond, so he just kept walking, nodding here and there.
As he moved deeper into the community, he greeted a few elders and neighbors with quiet respect.
They gave him tired smiles, a few nods, some with pats on the shoulder. It was normal to them now, coming back from the woods, scratched and bruised.
The boy was weird, so it was just another day.