A few moments after the group teleported to Earth, Ciara followed with burnt-up injuries on her skin. "Does it heal?" Liana asked with a slight concern on her face. "Like I said, mortality perks", she grunted through the pain
The others were, however, immersed in something far more terrifying.
"So... this is Earth?" Zack muttered, poking a giant mushroom with a stick. It hissed.
"Don't touch anything," Liana groaned, slapping his arm.
Around them, the forest loomed—massive trees like green skyscrapers, mist swirling at their feet, and an unnatural silence that made even their breathing feel loud. Something was off—way off.
"Guys," Alex said, squinting, "this place... is breathing."
"Bro, are you high?" Kyle asked, spinning in a circle. "It's just fog and trees."
Mia elbowed him. "Fog doesn't growl, genius."
A long, low howl echoed through the woods. Everyone froze.
Zack raised his hands. "Okay, just saying, maybe we teleport back? Like right now?"
Before anyone could answer, figures dropped from the trees—silent, fast, teeth glinting. Wolves, but not fully. Half-shifted. Eyes glowing. Muscles tense.
"Uh... friendly?" Alex offered.
One of them stepped forward—a tall guy with silver scars across his chest and zero patience. "You're trespassing," he growled. "Speak fast."
Ciara sighed, stepping ahead. "They're idiots. But peaceful idiots."
He looked the group over. Mia waved awkwardly.
The man exhaled. "You're lucky she speaks for you. Welcome to Werewolf territory. Don't run. We chase."
Kyle immediately took a step back.
"Not kidding," the man added, already walking.
The forest swallowed them, leaving the teens with one thought: They were so screwed.
They walked single-file through twisting paths, branches like claws, vines like traps. Every tree looked the same. Every shadow whispered.
Kyle stepped on something squishy.
"Oh god," he gagged. "Tell me that was a mushroom."
"It moved," Zack whispered.
"Why would it move?!"
"Because this isn't a park, it's a death jungle," Liana snapped.
Up front, the werewolf didn't even turn. "Keep walking."
Ciara walked beside him, calm as ever, ignoring the teens' complaints like a tired babysitter on her last thread of patience.
"I think I just saw a squirrel with fangs," Mia muttered.
"Cool," said Zack. "If I die, tell my parents I went out like a hero."
"You tripped over a root and cried," Alex pointed out.
"Doesn't mean I wasn't brave!"
Suddenly, a giant wolf the size of a truck dropped from the trees and snarled.
The group screamed in a perfect choir of panic. Liana practically tried to climb a tree. Kyle froze mid-step, one hand halfway to his sword. Zack hid behind Mia, who was already behind Alex.
Ciara raised one finger. "Down."
The beast instantly sat.
They all stared.
"What the hell?" Mia hissed.
"She's a mom," Zack said, eyes wide. "She just mommed a death beast."
Ciara kept walking like nothing happened. "Try not to get eaten before we arrive."
They didn't respond. They were too busy inching forward, eyes wide, legs shaking.
Somewhere ahead, the forest opened into glowing lights, shadows dancing in the mist.
They were here.
They stumbled into the werewolf settlement like idiots on a school trip gone wrong.
"Uhh... guys?" Zack whispered, eyeing the massive wolf-man sharpening claws on what looked like a human femur. "Pretty sure we're not supposed to be here."
The forest had shifted. Gone were the wild, unkempt trees—here, massive trunks formed natural towers. Rope bridges swayed above them, connecting wooden huts nestled in branches. Wolves—literal wolves—were lounging on rooftops, casually watching the new arrivals like they were the lunch special.
Alex gulped. "Let's just... act normal."
"Define normal," Liana muttered, dodging a toddler with glowing eyes who crawled up a tree like it was nothing.
They passed sparring pits where werewolf teens slammed into each other with bone-snapping intensity. One beta challenged another mid-sprint, got clotheslined, and didn't get up for a minute. The winner howled like he'd just scored in a football game.
"Okay. So violence is the vibe," Mia said, nervously adjusting her jacket.
Eventually, they were herded to a large clearing, part arena, part ancient coliseum. Massive claw marks lined the stone walls. At the center stood a man who looked like he could lift a car just for fun.
Jack. The Alpha King.
He wore leather, furs, and the expression of someone who'd rather be doing anything but babysitting.
He scanned the group slowly.
Then, dead serious, he said: "You smell like burnt blood and fear."
Zack blinked. "...Thanks?"
Liana stepped forward. "We're not here to start anything."
Jack cracked a smile, but it was one of those "I'll enjoy tearing you apart" grins. "Good. Because here? You start something… You don't finish it."
Alex whispered under his breath, "...We're so screwed."