Kael Orion's dreams were never gentle. They were roaring waves of light and fire, echoes of distant places, and whispers from stars too ancient to name. Yet, none of those dreams prepared him for the nightmare of the crash.
The Astra's Wing, humanity's most advanced exploration vessel, was falling apart around him. The sleek titanium hull, designed to withstand the wrath of the cosmos, had been pierced by something beyond comprehension—a predator from the void.
Kael gritted his teeth as the gravity stabilizers failed, hurling him against a bulkhead. Sparks rained from the shattered lights above, illuminating the chaos around him. A low growl echoed through the ship, sending a chill down his spine.
"Orion, MOVE!"
The voice of Captain Vega cut through the blaring alarms. Kael scrambled to his feet, clutching the wall for balance. Vega stood at the helm, her cybernetic arm sparking as she wrestled with the failing controls.
"The beast… it's inside!" one of the crew screamed before a shadow engulfed him.
Kael's blood turned cold as he glimpsed it—a massive, serpentine creature with translucent scales that refracted the dim light into a kaleidoscope of colors. Its maw, lined with jagged, shimmering teeth, snapped shut around the unfortunate crew member before retreating into the darkness.
"We're not getting out of this," Vega muttered, her voice tinged with despair. She turned to Kael, her fiery eyes locking onto his. "Orion, you're taking the last escape pod."
"No! I can't leave—"
"That's an order!"
Kael hesitated. Then, with a reluctant nod, he bolted down the corridor as the ship groaned and buckled. Behind him, the beast roared again, and the walls trembled.
---
Kael's breath was ragged as he tumbled into the escape pod. The doors slammed shut behind him, muffling the sounds of carnage outside.
The pod launched, and Kael was thrown against his seat as it accelerated away from the dying ship. He watched through the small viewport as the Astra's Wing was torn apart, its glowing core imploding in a silent burst of light.
But the beast wasn't done.
The shadowy figure emerged from the debris, its glowing eyes fixed on Kael's pod. With an unnatural speed, it lunged.
Kael barely had time to scream before the creature struck, its talons slicing through the pod's exterior. Sparks flew, and the pod spiraled out of control, plummeting toward the nearby planet.
---
Kael woke with a start, his body aching from the impact. The remains of the escape pod were scattered around him, smoldering against the vibrant green jungle floor.
He groaned, pushing himself up on shaky arms. The air was thick with the scent of charred metal and unfamiliar flora. Towering trees with bioluminescent leaves stretched into the sky, their glow casting an ethereal light across the crash site.
As he stood, Kael realized he wasn't alone.
A low growl rumbled through the air, and Kael froze. Slowly, he turned, his heart pounding.
Perched on a rocky outcrop was a creature unlike anything he'd ever seen. It was massive, easily three times his size, with sleek, silver fur that shimmered like liquid moonlight. Its eyes, glowing a fiery gold, bore into him with an intensity that made his knees weak.
It was an Astra Wolf, a legend among explorers. Supposedly extinct, these creatures were said to possess power rivaling the stars themselves.
And it was hungry.
Kael stumbled back, his hand searching for anything he could use as a weapon. His fingers closed around a jagged piece of the pod's wreckage just as the wolf leapt.
Time seemed to slow as the beast lunged, its claws outstretched. Kael swung wildly, the makeshift blade grazing its side. The wolf snarled, landing with a thud that shook the ground.
Kael knew he wouldn't survive another attack.
But then, something unexpected happened.
The wolf stopped, its growl fading. It sniffed the air, its fiery eyes narrowing. Kael felt a strange warmth in his chest, a pulsing rhythm that matched his racing heartbeat.
The wolf tilted its head, almost… curious.
Before Kael could react, the creature lunged again—but this time, it didn't attack. Instead, it pressed its massive paw against his chest. The warmth grew stronger, and Kael gasped as a torrent of light erupted from the beast, enveloping him.
Visions flooded his mind: a vast cosmos filled with creatures like the wolf, battles fought across star-lit skies, and an ancient pact forged between man and beast. He saw a human figure with a glowing mark identical to the one now etched into his chest, commanding beasts and wielding their power against a shadowy force that threatened all life.
When the light faded, Kael was left trembling. The wolf stepped back, its gaze softer now.
Far above, a faint streak of light zipped across the sky—unnatural, fast, and purposeful. The wolf growled, bristling as though sensing an approaching danger.
Kael noticed the bioluminescent leaves dim around him, leaning toward the wolf like subjects to a king. A chill ran down his spine.
He didn't know what had just happened, but one thing was clear: his life was no longer his own.
Somewhere in the jungle, the roar of another beast echoed, and the wolf growled protectively.
Kael placed a tentative hand on its fur and whispered, "Looks like we're in this together."
The wolf snorted, then nudged him forward. Kael turned to where the jungle gave way to crystalline mountains that shimmered in the distance. Somehow, he knew that was where their answers lay.
Together, they walked into the unknown.