I narrowed my eyes, trying to adjust to the dim light filtering through the thick jungle canopy. Shadows danced with every rustle of a leaf, and the humid air hung heavy with tension. Then—
SWOOSH!
Something darted out from the dense underbrush with surprising speed. A blur, no bigger than a large dog, zipped past the twisted roots and vanished into the foliage.
I paused.
Then came the scent—sharp, coppery.
Blood.
Crimson droplets stained the leaves where the creature had passed, forming a thin, winding trail that led deeper into the jungle.
Without wasting a second, I moved. Not recklessly—I wasn't some amateur charging after a rabbit.
I stayed low, weaving between the trees, my boots making minimal sound against the damp earth.
The trail wasn't long, but it twisted, like the creature was staggering… or luring me.
After several minutes of tense pursuit, I arrived at a peculiar clearing. The jungle opened slightly—only to reveal something far more suspicious.
