To protect the reputation of the Padstows and restore order to the island, our brave heroes had faced great peril—and for their efforts, they were met with gratitude. The civilians offered what little they could spare: modest meals and soft, well-made beds for the night, providing the crew with a much-needed reprieve.
Morning returned swiftly, its light breaking across the treetops and casting warm hues over the island. Though the night had been calm, the crew found themselves far from idle. News had spread among the locals of strange and dangerous creatures lurking deep within the island's untamed wilderness. The villagers, unable to deal with the threat themselves, pleaded for help—and though hesitant, the crew agreed to investigate.
With decisions made, the task of venturing out into the wild was left to Temoshí and Elliott. The others, watching them prepare, couldn't resist teasing. "Looks like you two drew the short straws today," Codey remarked with a smirk, slinging his bag lazily over one shoulder. "Do bring back something edible, will you? Preferably something that still has meat on the bone."
The two boys dressed lightly for the summer heat, slinging worn bags over their shoulders before heading off into the dense greenery. As they walked, a few parting words were shouted behind them.
"Try not to get eaten!" Ayuka called out playfully, her hand resting on her hip as she leaned against the doorway of the inn.
Niina, concerned but smiling gently, turned to her. "Do you think they'll be alright out there?"
Ayuka didn't hesitate, her confidence unwavering. "They'll manage. They always do."
But within the forest, tranquility quickly gave way to chaos. Shouts erupted through the trees as Temoshí and Elliott sprinted through the underbrush, ducking beneath branches and stumbling over roots as something enormous crashed through the foliage behind them.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Elliott shouted, breath ragged, as he threw a glance over his shoulder.
"I think it's a bear!" Temoshí responded, eyes wide with disbelief. The creature barreling after them hardly resembled any bear, though. With the head of a donkey and claws resembling those of a massive feline, it was a grotesque blend of mismatched features—like a nightmare given form.
"That's not a bear, you idiot!" Elliott barked, leaping over a fallen tree. "It has a donkey's head! You blind?!"
Temoshí panted as he ran. "Nope! It's a mole! You see the claws on that thing?"
They continued arguing even as the ground quaked beneath the creature's weight, its roar shaking loose birds from the canopy above. The monstrosity suddenly leapt into the air, claws gleaming as it attempted to slash through both boys. They dove to the earth just in time, the creature soaring overhead and crashing down behind them, sliding across the dirt with a shriek of tearing bark and soil.
"Elliott, duck!" Temoshí called out, and without waiting for clarification, vaulted over his partner's crouched form, pushing off his back to gain height and perch himself on a nearby tree branch. Elliott, meanwhile, stumbled—only to cry out as the ground gave way beneath him and he plummeted into a concealed pit.
The creature, now looming over the trap, gazed down in curiosity.
"Hey, I made it this far," Temoshí called out, scanning the area from his vantage point. "Elliott, I can see the canyon from here—"
"Don't just stand there talking!" came Elliott's indignant voice from the hole. "Help me get out!"
"You just gotta jump, dude," Temoshí replied with a shrug.
"I can't! There's no space in here to build momentum!"
"Well, guess you're stuck then…"
Before Temoshí could continue his teasing, the creature lunged once again. Its claws slashed at his perch, the force of the blow nearly tearing the tree in half. Temoshí leapt back with a startled gasp, landing on another branch as the shredded trunk collapsed beneath him.
"Damn, those claws could slice steel…"
Still grinning despite the danger, he began to taunt the beast, leaping from branch to branch, weaving between the trees with agile precision. "Hey ugly, ever consider becoming dinner? I bet you'd taste like pork!"
In the middle of his taunt, a branch snapped beneath him. He flailed, arms reaching out—only to crash to the ground and tumble straight into another trap hole, much like Elliott. From somewhere nearby, Elliott's voice rang out in laughter.
"Hah! You mocked me, and now look at you! Trapped like a rabbit!"
Temoshí groaned in frustration. "Of all the rotten luck..."
The creature peeked into the pit once more, then tossed a net over the opening before slowly walking away, satisfied that its prey was secured.
Temoshí, scowling, shouted after it. "Get us out of here, you deformed mole!"
His complaints were met with silence. "They're not deaf, they're blind, idiot!" Elliott snapped, leaning against the side of the pit. "Yelling won't help."
Time passed slowly. Trapped and defeated, Temoshí slumped into the corner, arms folded across his chest. "I'm hungry…"
Elliott's patience wore thin. "You've said that ten times in the last minute."
"Just saying... if someone had brought snacks... maybe I wouldn't be dying here…"
Elliott groaned. "We're not dying, we're trapped! There's a difference!"
But then something changed. A faint aroma drifted into the pit—rich, savory, unmistakably meat. Temoshí's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking into primal slits as his nostrils flared.
"…Food."
Flames suddenly flickered around his body, heat pulsing through the confined space. Elliott's eyes shot open in panic. "Stop, stop! You'll cook us both alive!"
But it was too late. The blaze surged upward as Temoshí exploded through the net, landing in a crouch outside the trap with smoke still rising from his clothes. His gaze locked onto the monster—who was now roasting a haunch of meat over an open flame.
"Meat!"
He lunged forward like a wild beast, teeth sinking into the cooked flesh before tearing away a massive bite. Elliott, seizing the opportunity, scrambled free of the hole.
"That's just ridiculous…" he muttered, brushing dirt off himself. "He's back to full strength the second he eats."
Temoshí stood up, chewing happily, then paused as he noticed the creature waving at him mockingly.
"You little freak," he growled. "I'll turn you into fried scraps!"
Yet, as he charged forward, another trap triggered beneath him and he plummeted for the third time, the sound of the creature's laughter echoing through the forest.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Elliott sighed.
Determined to end things quickly, Elliott reached into his pocket and retrieved a small silver pen, spinning it between his fingers. "Alright. Let's finish this."
With a flash of light, the pen extended into a gleaming blade enveloped in arcs of silver energy. Lightning sparked beneath his feet as he vanished in a blink.
Moments later, he sat casually on the forest floor, the beheaded body of the creature beside him.
"Dinner's ready," he called out lazily. "Come on, Tim."
Steam burst from the pit as Temoshí emerged yet again, his eyes wild and his nostrils flaring. "Meat!"
But just as peace seemed restored, the earth began to tremble violently beneath their feet. A deep rumble echoed from the mountains and surged through the trees, shaking the forest to its roots.
Temoshí turned toward the horizon, eyes narrowing.
"That came from the canyon…"
Though exhausted and slightly scorched, the two boys knew their day was far from over. Something far more troubling had just awakened—and they were the closest ones to face it.
To be continued...