The sun filtered through the dense canopy overhead as Theron adjusted the strap of his rifle and moved silently through the underbrush. The air was thick with tension, not just from the hunt, but from the unease no one wanted to voice. Hunting on the island had never been the plan—they only turned to it out of desperation. Supplies in town had run dry, and returning there meant walking into another ambush by those flesh-eating creatures.
Liam crouched beside a fallen log, scanning the terrain with narrowed eyes. "I don't like this," he muttered. "The birds are too quiet."
Klaus, always the skeptic, scoffed. "It's an island. Probably just weird island birds."
Aiden moved ahead silently, his steps calculated. Aaron trailed behind, his mind clouded with thoughts of Egwene, he thought if he could be close to Egwene's side even though she wasn't part of this trip. He'd lingered before they left, gaze fixed on her like he was leaving a part of himself behind.
Ethan was the last to enter the hunting party, his eyes scanning the shadows with more caution than anyone. "Let's move in a circle," he suggested. "We sweep the east side, then head back before dusk."
Theron nodded. "We stick together. No one wanders off."
They moved deeper into the jungle. The island had always felt like a sanctuary, but today, the trees seemed to whisper warnings with every gust of wind. The path was uneven and choked with foliage, and the distant crashing of the waves against the rocky shore reminded them how far they were from help.
Klaus suddenly froze, raising his hand.
"Do you see that?" he whispered.
Something large moved through the trees just ahead. It wasn't the shape of a deer or wild pig. It was bigger. Faster.
"Shit," Liam breathed. "That's not—"
The growl cut him off.
It sounded like a wolf—but distorted. Twisted. A sound that didn't belong in nature.
Out of the shadows, it leapt.
The creature was massive, covered in slick, black fur that shimmered unnaturally. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, and when it opened its mouth, its fangs were longer than any animal they'd ever seen. It was like the first monsters they'd fought in town—only this one walked like a wolf, but moved with something far more sinister inside.
"Open fire!" Aiden shouted.
Gunshots rang through the forest, deafening and chaotic. More of the creatures emerged from the trees—three… four… five. They came in fast, attacking with a speed and hunger that shattered any idea of a peaceful hunt.
Theron fired at two of them, catching one in the side and sending it crashing into a tree. But as he turned, trying to help Klaus reload, the ground gave out beneath him.
"Theron!" Liam shouted.
Theron's foot slipped on wet moss, and in seconds, he was gone—tumbling backward down a steep cliff hidden by the underbrush. His rifle clattered against rocks as he fell. The last thing they saw was his body disappearing into the trees far below.
"THERON!" Aaron screamed, bolting toward the edge, but Ethan yanked him back.
"We can't—we can't go down there now," Ethan said through gritted teeth, dragging Aaron backward. "There's too many of them!"
"But he could be alive!"
"We'll die trying!"
Another howl cut through the air.
Aiden grabbed Aaron and Klaus. "Fall back to base! Move!"
They sprinted through the woods, blood pumping in their ears, guns half-empty and hearts shattered. The jungle felt like it was closing in behind them, swallowing Theron whole.
---
Back at Base
Egwene stood at the watch tower, hands trembling as she stared at the treeline. The moment she saw the boys return without Theron, her heart sank. she hurried back down.
"Where is he?" she asked, voice already breaking.
Liam looked away. Aiden lowered his rifle.
Aaron stepped forward, voice barely above a whisper. "He fell. We—we think he didn't make it."
Egwene's face crumpled. "You think?"
"It was a cliff, Egwene. We couldn't even reach him."
"But you didn't check!" she screamed, shoving Aaron hard in the chest. "You left him there!"
Aurora rushed to her side, wrapping her arms around her. "Egwene, please. You can't go after him. Not alone."
"I have to. I have to."
"Egwene—"
"No!" Egwene turned, already strapping on a gun belt and grabbing a flashlight. "I'm going to find him. Even if I have to search the entire island."
Aurora stared at her, heartbroken. "He wouldn't want you to die for him."
"Then he shouldn't have fallen."
---
The Search
The river's path twisted through the island like a silver snake. Egwene moved quickly, heart thundering with every step. She followed the direction the boys described—the cliff, the trees, the edge where the ground gave out. Hours passed. The sun began to dip.
And then she saw it—clumps of broken branches, flattened leaves, and further down, a trail of blood leading to the rocks by the river's edge.
"Theron," she whispered, breath catching.
There he was.
He lay motionless on a bed of rocks, soaked, pale, blood drying on his temple. But his chest—his chest wasn't moving.
"Theron!" she ran, falling to her knees beside him.
Suddenly, a growl behind her.
She turned slowly.
Three of the wolf-creatures crept out of the jungle. Their eyes glowed, their claws scraping against the stone. Egwene's pulse quickened, but she didn't move away from Theron. Instead, she stood up, aimed her gun, and fired.
The first bullet struck the nearest monster in the throat. It howled in rage, leaping at her—but she ducked, rolled, and shot again.
The second one lunged, claw grazing her arm, drawing blood.
She screamed, spun, and fired twice more. It fell backward, convulsing.
The last one circled her, hesitant now.
She glared at it through the sights of her pistol. "Come on. I dare you."
It leapt.
She emptied her clip into its chest.
The creature collapsed, twitching once—then stilled.
Her body trembled, blood running down her arm, but she turned back to Theron, cradling his head.
"Come on, please—don't leave me."
She pressed her hands to his chest, applying pressure, trying to restart whatever had stopped.
"Come back to me."
He coughed suddenly, gushing out water, eyes flying open.
He gasped, choking, lungs trying to catch up. "E-Egwene?"
She sobbed, laughing through the tears. "Yes, yes—it's me. You're okay. You're okay now."
He looked around, dazed. "I fell…"
"You did. But I've got you."
They lay there a moment, breathing. Together.
---
The Forest's Heart
Once Theron was strong enough to walk, the two of them moved deeper into the jungle, following the river. Egwene kept close, helping him whenever he stumbled. The forest changed as they walked. The monsters had not corrupted this part yet.
Vines hung in graceful loops from tree branches. Bright flowers bloomed in wild bursts of color. Birds chirped sweetly in the canopy above. There were hidden pools with crystal-clear water, mossy rocks that glowed in the dusk light, and a quiet peace that felt like a different world.
Theron looked around in awe. "This place… it's beautiful."
Egwene nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. "It's like the island's trying to make up for everything else."
They came upon a wide, open space—a patch of grass surrounded by tall trees, with a perfect view of the sunset over the river.
Theron smiled, a rare softness in his expression. "If this were another life, I'd bring you here for a date. Maybe a picnic."
She laughed quietly. "You're bleeding, and you just almost died."
"I know," he said, looking at her with something more than gratitude. "But I mean it."
Egwene looked away for a moment, unsure how to respond. The air between them shifted, full of unspoken things.
Theron sat down slowly on a rock, wincing. "Aaron likes you, doesn't he?"
She paused. "Yes."
"And you…?"
"I don't know," she whispered. "But I came back for you."
He met her eyes. "That means everything."
---
To be continued…