The forest was eerily quiet in the early hours of the second day. The sun had not yet graced the horizon, and the world was still cloaked in darkness, save for the dim glow of dying embers from the campfires. Caelan sat cross-legged by the smoldering remains of their fire, his eyes scanning the shadowy tree line. His shift on watch was nearly over, and the others were still fast asleep in their makeshift shelters.
Dorian was curled up on the ground not far from Caelan, his breathing steady. Aldric, the ever-alert knight, had reluctantly allowed himself to rest, though his hand still clutched his sword even in sleep. Seraphine was bundled in her cloak, her back to the group, while Elena and Lysandra slept closer together, using each other's warmth against the cool, damp air of the wildlands.
Caelan's eyes darted to the faintest rustle in the trees. At first, he thought it might be one of the nocturnal animals moving through the brush, but something about the sound unsettled him. He stood slowly, hand moving to the hilt of his sword. His heart rate quickened, instinct warning him that they were not alone.
He glanced over at Lysandra's hovering drones, their soft blue lights still gently bobbing above their camp, quietly monitoring the area. A flash of movement caught his eye—something darting between the trees.
Caelan's pulse quickened as his mind raced. The Crimson Griffons? It wouldn't be a surprise if the infamous club of hunters had tracked them during the night, just as Calvin from The Arcane Consortium had warned. He knelt beside Dorian, shaking him awake gently.
"Dorian," he whispered. "Something's out there."
Dorian stirred, his eyes flickering open. "What is it?" he asked, sitting up immediately, his sharp instincts kicking in as his gaze followed Caelan's. He scanned the tree line with furrowed brows.
"Not sure yet," Caelan muttered, "but it's close."
Without hesitation, Dorian stood and moved to wake the others quietly. Aldric was the first to react, springing to his feet with sword in hand, his senses immediately alert. Seraphine woke with a start, her hand moving to her weapon just as swiftly, while Elena and Lysandra shook off the remnants of sleep.
The camp was soon alive with quiet but deliberate movements as they prepared themselves for whatever might be lurking in the darkness.
Lysandra's eyes were glued to the console on her wrist, monitoring the drone feed. Her expression tensed. "I'm picking up something," she said softly. "Several somethings. They're circling us, moving fast."
Caelan's grip tightened on his sword. "How many?"
"At least six—no, wait," Lysandra paused, her brows furrowing as she recalculated. "Eight. They're spread out, trying to avoid detection, but they're coming in closer."
Seraphine rose to her feet, unsheathing her blade in one smooth motion. "The question is," she said in a low voice, "are they another club, or something worse?"
"Crimson Griffons, most likely," Aldric muttered. "They've been picking off smaller groups. Wouldn't be surprised if they're testing us now."
"But they wouldn't wait until sunrise?" Elena asked, her voice betraying the tension in her body. "Why attack in the dark?"
"Because they want to catch us off guard," Caelan answered, stepping toward the edge of their camp. "But we won't give them the chance."
Suddenly, the silence was broken by the unmistakable sound of branches snapping in the distance. The rustling grew louder, and then, in the faint light of the early morning, they saw movement—figures emerging from the shadows of the forest.
Caelan raised his sword, the gleam of the blade catching the first light of dawn. "Everyone, stay sharp."
As the figures came into view, their suspicions were confirmed. A group of masked individuals, dressed in dark, tactical uniforms, advanced on the camp. They were skilled, moving silently through the underbrush with precision, their weapons drawn and eyes locked on Caelan and his team.
"The Crimson Griffons," Dorian whispered, his tone grim. "Looks like they found us."
The Griffons fanned out, their leader—a tall, muscular figure with a red stripe painted across his mask—signaled for the group to halt. He stared at Caelan and his team with cold, calculating eyes before speaking, his voice muffled by the mask.
"We didn't come here for a fight," the leader said. "But if you stand in our way, we won't hesitate to take you down."
Caelan took a step forward, meeting the leader's gaze with an unwavering calm. "You don't scare us," he said evenly. "If you want to fight, we're ready. But I'd rather not waste my energy on a pointless skirmish when there's a bigger prize at stake."
The leader of the Griffons let out a low chuckle. "Bold words, prince. But you're outnumbered. Are you sure you want to risk it?"
Caelan tightened his grip on his sword, his expression unchanging. "We're not backing down."
Before the leader could respond, a low growl rumbled from the trees behind the Griffons. The sound sent a shiver down Caelan's spine. It wasn't human.
"What was that?" Dorian asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The Griffon leader's head snapped toward the source of the growl, and for the first time, Caelan saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. Whatever had made that noise wasn't part of their group.
Suddenly, a massive creature burst from the shadows—a beast with jagged fur, gleaming fangs, and glowing red eyes. It moved with terrifying speed, charging straight toward the Griffons. The leader barely had time to react before the creature was upon them, its jaws snapping as it tore through their formation.
Chaos erupted as the Griffons scattered, shouting orders to one another as they tried to fend off the monstrous beast. Caelan's team stood frozen for a moment, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes.
"What the hell is that thing?" Aldric shouted, his sword raised defensively.
"It's not natural," Lysandra muttered, her eyes glued to her drone feed. "I've never seen anything like it."
The beast was unlike any creature they had encountered before. Its body was large and muscular, covered in dark, matted fur. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent red light, and its movements were unnaturally fast, almost as if it were being driven by something more than just instinct.
"Get back!" Caelan ordered, pulling his team away from the chaotic battle between the Griffons and the beast.
The leader of the Crimson Griffons barely managed to dodge a swipe from the creature's massive claws, his mask now hanging askew as he barked orders to his remaining comrades. Two Griffons had already fallen, their bodies crumpled and lifeless on the forest floor, and the others were struggling to hold their ground.
"This wasn't part of the plan!" the Griffon leader shouted, slashing at the creature with his sword. "Fall back!"
But the creature wasn't giving them a chance to retreat. It moved with deadly precision, cutting off their escape routes and tearing through their ranks with terrifying efficiency.
Caelan's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the scene unfold. He knew they couldn't afford to get caught in the crossfire, but something about the beast unnerved him. It wasn't just its size or its ferocity—there was something unnatural about it, something that didn't belong in these wildlands.
"We need to move," Dorian said urgently, tugging at Caelan's sleeve. "Now, before that thing turns its attention to us."
Caelan nodded; his gaze still fixed on the creature as it continued its rampage. "Agreed. Everyone, let's go!"
They turned and ran, weaving through the trees as quickly and quietly as possible. The sounds of the battle faded behind them, but Caelan's mind was still racing. What was that creature? Where had it come from? And why had it appeared so suddenly, just as the Crimson Griffons had made their move?
They didn't stop until they were deep in the forest, far enough away from the chaos to catch their breath. Caelan leaned against a tree, his chest heaving as he tried to process everything that had just happened.
"What the hell was that?" Seraphine asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"I don't know," Caelan admitted, wiping sweat from his brow. "But it wasn't a coincidence. That thing was waiting for them."
Lysandra nodded; her expression grim. "It's not something we've studied before. It's not in any of the academy's records."
Dorian glanced around warily. "If there's one of those creatures, there could be more. We need to stay alert."
Aldric sheathed his sword, his jaw tight. "We got lucky. That thing was more interested in the Griffons than us. But we might not be so fortunate next time."
Caelan straightened, his mind already working through their next steps. "We'll need to adjust our strategy. We can't just focus on the competition anymore—we have to figure out what's going on here. Something's not right."
The others nodded in agreement; their faces etched with the same sense of unease.
As they began to regroup and plan their next move, Caelan couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The survival event was no longer just a competition. Something far more dangerous was at play, and they were about to find themselves at the center of it.