The bog lay under a veil of mist, the cool air filled with the faint hum of buzzing insects and the rustle of nocturnal creatures. Wicklow Mountains National Park was alive with wildlife, a harmonious blend of feral goats grazing on the sparse grass, mountain hares darting between bushes, and badgers waddling through the underbrush. Stoats slinked along the edges of the water, their sleek bodies disappearing into the reeds while otters frolicked silently in a nearby stream. High in the trees, squirrels skittered between branches, and bats slept within the caverns.
The pack crouched low in the dense bog, their bodies concealed by the thick clusters of bushes and cotton. Athen's sharp gaze swept the landscape as he whispered, "Stay low and quiet. Kenjiro will send more tracker wolves. The helicopters can't follow us here, but they will."
Sakura shivered, her fingers brushing the soft fur of Athen's side for reassurance. "This place is so... alive," she whispered, her eyes darting to a pair of glowing orbs in the shadows, only to realize it was a curious hare peeking at them.
Michael crouched beside her, his blue eyes scanning the terrain. "The bog's wildlife might work in our favor. Too much activity can mask our scent trails."
Jack nodded, though his gaze lingered on the nearby stream where otters swam with playful ease. "If we stick to the shadows and stay near the water, it'll be harder for them to track us." He muttered.
The twins, Alex and Alec, lay side by side, their wolf forms perfectly still, ears swiveling at every sound. Alex growled softly. "We should be moving, not sitting ducks. What if they're already here?"
Athen silenced him with a sharp look. "We wait. If they come, this bog gives us cover. They can't match our speed or stealth here."
The feral goats bleated softly in the distance, and the faint splash of otters playing in the stream provided an odd sense of calm. Sakura exhaled, her voice barely audible. "I've never seen so many animals living together like this since high school. It's so peaceful."
Athen's expression softened for a brief moment. "This is their sanctuary. A place untouched by the chaos we bring. Let's make sure it stays that way."
Suddenly, a distant howl pierced the quiet afternoon. The pack tensed, their ears perking and eyes narrowing toward the sound. Alec growled, his voice low. "They're coming."
Athen rose to his full height, his presence commanding as he whispered, "Stay sharp. They'll regret stepping into this place."
The mist hung thick over the bog, shrouding the pack as they circled around Sakura in a tight, protective formation. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the faint scent of oil. Athen's sharp gaze darted through the shadows, and his ears perked for any sound beyond the usual rustle of wildlife.
Michael stood a little off to the side, his breathing uneven. His fur was matted from the last fight, his posture stiff, and when Sakura turned to Michael. "Aye, are ya alright? You're limping."
He gave her a tight nod, wincing slightly. "I'm fine. Just... might've broken my collarbone earlier. Nothing I can't handle."
Sakura's heart sank, and she stepped closer, her voice trembling. "You're hurt. You should rest—"
"No time," Michael interrupted, his eyes hard but kind. "Protecting you comes first."
Sakura whispered to herself. "Why is my life so valuable to them?"
Before Sakura could argue, a low, mechanical growl echoed through the bog, followed by the heavy pounding of metal paws sloshing through the wet ground. The sound grew closer, and the pack tensed, their hackles rising as they prepared for the fight.
Athen growled low. "They're sniffing us out. The bog is throwing them off, but it won't fool them for long. Everyone, hold your ground."
The pounding grew louder, accompanied by the hiss and whir of robotic joints. Shadows loomed through the mist as the first tracker wolves emerged—a towering, menacing figure of steel and synthetic muscle, its glowing red eyes scanning the area. Behind it, more robotic wolves followed.
"They're here," Jack muttered.
The lead motorized wolf paused, sniffing the air, its sensors glowing faintly. It hesitated momentarily, the bog's mix of scents confusing its systems. But then its head snapped toward the pack, letting out a bone-chilling howl, alerting the others.
"Shit!" Athen barked. "Here they come!"
The first wolf lunged, its metallic body cutting through the mist like a missile. Athen met it head-on, his powerful jaws clamping down on its throat as they tumbled into the muck. Sparks flew as he tore at its exposed wiring.
Despite his injury, Michael launched at another wolf, slamming into its side with enough force to send it skidding into a patch of reeds. He let out a pained growl but held his ground, his claws raking across its metal flank.
The twins worked in perfect unison, flanking one of the wolves and attacking from both sides. Alex distracted it with rapid feints while Alec aimed for its joints, their coordinated strikes proving too much for the machine to counter.
Jack stayed close to Sakura, his eyes darting between her and the chaos around them. "Stay behind me," he growled.
Sakura crouched low, her heart pounding as she watched the fight unfold. She felt helpless, her hands gripping the soft moss beneath her as the pack fought tooth and claw to keep her safe.
Another robotic wolf lunged at them, but Jack intercepted it, his massive body colliding with the machine. He bit down on its leg and yanked hard, ripping it free with a shower of sparks.
"Athen!" Sakura shouted, trembling as another wolf closed on him from behind.
Without missing a beat, Athen twisted around, his claws slashing across its face, tearing through the sensors in its glowing red eyes. The wolf staggered, momentarily blinded, and Athen finished it with a decisive bite to its neck.
The battle raged on, turning the bog into a mud, sparks, and blood battlefield. But the pack held their ground.
Finally, as the last robotic wolf fell with a metallic groan, the pack regrouped, their bodies battered but victorious. Athen stood tall, his fur matted with mud and oil, his breathing heavy. He looked at Sakura, his expression softening for a moment. "You alright?"
Sakura nodded as she held back her tears. "I'm fine."
Michael collapsed onto his side with a pained grunt, and Sakura rushed to his side. "Michael!"
"I'm fine," he said again, though his voice was weaker. "We did it, didn't we?"
Athen nodded, his gaze hardening as he looked toward the horizon. "This isn't over. We have to keep moving."
The twins, Alex and Alec, were battered, their breaths shallow and labored. Jack lay sprawled on his side, licking a wound on his flank, his usual wit absent.
Sakura looked around, her heart sinking as she took in their condition. They were at their limit, and Athen's plan to push forward seemed like a death sentence. She stood, the rain dripping from the sky, and walked into Athen's path with her arms out.
"Athen, stop!" she snapped, her voice firm.
Athen's head whipped toward her. "What did you say?"
"No!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the rain. "Look at them! Look at Michael, Jack, the twins! They're falling apart. They can't keep this up!"
Athen barked. "We don't have the luxury of waiting around. Every second we sit here, we're closer to being surrounded. I won't let us be picked off like prey."
"They won't heal if they die!" Sakura countered, stepping closer. "You're so focused on fighting your way out that you can't see what's right in front of you. They're not machines, Athen. They're flesh and blood, and they need time to recover!"
Athen snarled, his frustration boiling over. "You don't understand what's at stake! If we don't keep moving, they'll find us, and none of us will survive. Is that what you want? For all of us to die?"
Sakura's voice trembled. "What I want is for you to take a breath!"
He glared at her, his breathing heavy, the rain tracing down his muzzle. For a long moment, the forest was silent except for the pounding rain and distant howls. Finally, he huffed, his shoulders sagging slightly.
"And where do you suggest we go, Sakura? Hm? Tell me, what shelter do you see in this endless swamp of mud and rain? And how do you expect us to defend ourselves as we're cornered in a cave with only one way out? Somehow, we have to get you out of here no matter how many losses we take."
Sakura stood her ground, her fists clenching. "Listen, I know it's not all about me. I know it's not about any of us, but why is my life more important than everyone else's? I won't let you lead wounded warriors to certain death just to protect me!"
Athen's jaw tightened, his eyes locking with hers. His voice was colder now, each word cutting like a blade. "Without you, the Kami on our island will be unprotected. Without the Kami, the balance of nature will collapse, and the world will wither under human greed. Is that what you want? Do you want these forests, this wildlife, to die because of your stubbornness?"
"No!" Sakura snapped.
"Then shut up, and stand down!" Athen roared, stepping closer, his fur bristling with frustration. "You are a vulnerable rabbit without training, and we need to somehow find a way out of this even if it means pushing through head first."
Sakura's hands trembled, but her voice rose in defiance. "What did you just say to me?"
"Oh, no," Jack whispered from the sidelines, glancing at the others. "Mommy and daddy are fighting. Let's give them some space to work it out."
Alex snorted, muffling a laugh, while Alec nudged him to be quiet.
The storm pressed on, rain mingling with the charged energy between Sakura and Athen as they stared each other down, neither willing to back away. The pack watched, uncertain whether this clash would tear or strengthen them apart, and huddled in the bog, their breaths visible in the chill air.
"We don't have time for this, Sakura!" Athen snapped. "We can't stay here. The trackers are closing in, and we need to move."
"And go where?" Sakura shot back, her hands clenched into fists. "The pack is too hurt to fight, and you're so blinded by your need to push forward that you're not thinking straight! We need a plan, not blind running!"
"They'll track us wherever we go," Athen growled. "Every second we waste here, we lose any chance of getting ahead of them."
Sakura slapped her palm on her chest. "Then let me lead, Athen. You've been carrying this pack for too long, and it's clouding your judgment. Let me think this through. Trust me."
Athen froze, the rain tracing down his furrowed brow. He studied her, his jaw tight as he wrestled with himself. Finally, he smiled. "Well, it's about damn time."
Sakura blinked in surprise but quickly nodded, her mind racing. She glanced back at the pack, their weary faces watching her with a mix of hope and fear. Her voice steadied as she said, "Alright. Here's what we're going to do."
We've fought them in the bog and know what they can do. They're faster and stronger, and they don't stop. But they're machines, and machines have weaknesses. We just need to be smart."
Still clutching his injured side, Michael grimaced and asked, "How? Because I don't think we can take another fight like the last one."
"We won't fight head-on," Sakura said, shaking her head. "That's suicide. Instead, we're going to outthink them. We know this forest better than they do, and we're going to use that to our advantage."
She crouched and used a stick to draw a rough map of the terrain on the damp earth. "We're here," she said, marking their location with an X. "The trackers are coming from the north," she added, drawing arrows to show the approaching wolves. "But we're going to lead them somewhere else—here." She pointed to a steep ridge further into the forest.
Jack frowned. "A ridge? What good is that going to do us?"
"It's not just any ridge," Sakura explained. "It's unstable. The recent rains have turned it into a mudslide waiting to happen. If we can lure the trackers there, we can bring the whole thing down on them."
Alex's ears perked up. "A trap? I like the sound of that."
Athen shifted back into his human form, his arms crossed as he studied the map. "How do you plan to lure them? They'll need to be focused on us to follow."
Sakura looked at him directly. "That's where you and I come in. We'll act as bait and lead them to the ridge. The others will position themselves along the way to slow the trackers down and make sure they don't scatter."
Michael shook his head. "You're putting yourself in danger."
"I'm the fastest on Athen's back," Sakura countered. "And this plan only works if they follow us. Once we've got them on the ridge, the rest of you will be ready to collapse it."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "And how do we bring it down?"
"There's a hollowed-out tree trunk halfway up the slope," Sakura said. "If we can wedge it loose, it'll trigger the mudslide. Alex and Alec, you two are the strongest right now. That'll be your job."
The twins nodded in unison.
"And after the ridge comes down?" Michael asked.
"We run. Those tracker wolves will begin from where the accident occurred, and will begin hunting us down from there, so we have to create as much distance from there as possible under the cover of the rain," Sakura said. "We'll have bought ourselves enough time to get to safety."
Athen stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "This plan is risky."
"Every plan is risky," Sakura replied, meeting his gaze. "Win or loose, the fight is never over until we create enough distance for them to give up on the hunt. But it's better than running until we drop or fighting until we die."
Athen's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Fine."
With the plan set, the pack moved swiftly to their positions. Sakura climbed onto Athen's back and whispered, "Let's make this count."
Athen growled softly in agreement before taking off into the forest, their pounding paws echoing through the trees. Behind them, the mechanical howls grew louder, the trackers closing in on what they believed to be their prey.
The pack was ready. This time, they wouldn't just survive—they'd win.