The group exited the portal, finding themselves back in the town they had left just days before. But something had changed. An intangible shift in the atmosphere made the once familiar town feel alien and foreboding. The fragile bond between predator and prey, once tenuously held together, was beginning to fray.
As they walked through the streets, the weight of tension pressed down on them, thick and suffocating. The town, once vibrant and bustling, now appeared dreary, its streets casting long, ominous shadows over the group. Every step echoed with the unspoken fears of the townspeople, who eyed them with a mix of suspicion and dread.
Kelvin, usually the steadying presence among them, remained silent, his gaze focused on the path ahead. Fiona instinctively rested her hand on her stomach, glancing at Mat, who met her gaze with concern. The twins she carried were a reminder of the stakes they faced—not just in their battle against Marlin, but in the fragile alliances that held their world together.
Wallace, who often carried a defiant smirk, seemed subdued, his confidence tempered by the realization that they were now seen as the enemy. Mica walked close to Kelvin, pulling out his tablet to access the map to the neighboring town. His fingers hovered over the screen, tracing the route they would need to take. The group’s silence spoke volumes—the weight of the rumors and their recent experiences pressed down on them as they prepared to face whatever awaited them next.
As they neared the town center, the tension became nearly unbearable. Whispers of two ferrets who had killed prey in a nearby town reached their ears, the fear in the air palpable, almost tangible. The group's unease grew, sensing the shift from wary glances to outright mistrust and fear directed at them.
When the group arrived at the neighboring town, they were greeted by a horrifying sight. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, and the streets were eerily silent. As they moved further into the town, they saw them—two ferrets, a male and a female, standing amidst a gruesome scene.
Surrounding the ferrets were the bodies of dead prey, their lifeless forms strewn across the ground in a macabre display. The male ferret stood with a cold, detached expression, while the female, her eyes gleaming with savage satisfaction, held a claw dripping with fresh blood.
A deer, still alive but trembling in fear, stood frozen, clearly forced to serve these killers. His wide eyes reflected his terror, and before anyone could react, the female ferret moved with brutal efficiency. Her claw flashed through the air, and in an instant, it slashed across the deer's throat, silencing any last hope for mercy he might have had.
The group stood in stunned silence, their horror mixing with anger and helplessness. Mat, fists clenched, took a step forward, his gaze locked on the male ferret. "You've killed innocent prey. I won't stand for it, and neither will my friends."
The male ferret laughed, a cold, mocking sound that echoed through the silent town. "Predator and prey, two sides of the same coin. We’re all just animals in the end. Some of us simply have more appetites than others."
Wallace, eyes blazing with determination, stepped next to Mat. "Not all of us do," he said, his voice steady despite the fear gripping his heart. "And we’ll make sure you pay for your actions."
The female ferret tilted her head, eyes narrowing as she looked at the growing resistance. "You think you can stop us? You’re just prey. We’re the predators here."
Fiona, heart pounding in her chest, stepped forward. "We’re not just prey. We’re also predators, and we’ll make you pay for what you’ve done."
The air crackled with tension as the group prepared for battle. They knew they were risking their lives, but they also knew they couldn't turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed.
Mica looked at Kelvin, concern etched in his features. "We only have three alpha predators among us. Can we even fight?"
Kelvin placed a reassuring hand on Mica's shoulder. "You’re not a liability, Mica. None of you are. Power isn’t everything. We need your intelligence, your resourcefulness, and your heart in this fight."
Mat, sensing Mica’s concern, spoke up as well. "We’re a team, Mica. We’ve faced challenges before that seemed impossible. This is no different. We’ll find a way to protect each other, no matter what."
Fiona added, her voice gentle, "Mica, you’ve always been the one to think things through, to find solutions where others see none. That’s just as important as brute strength. We need you here, and we’ll make sure we all get through this together."
Mica took a deep breath, nodding as he tried to push down his doubts. "I just don’t want to hold anyone back. But you’re right. We’ve come too far to let fear stop us now."
The group’s confidence in each other was the glue that held them together. They knew the coming battle would test them, but they also knew that, as long as they stood united, they could face whatever awaited them.
The two ferrets, confident in their abilities, quickly realized they had underestimated their opponents. Kelvin, with swift reflexes, took the lead, drawing the attention of the male ferret. Fiona, protecting her unborn twins with fierce determination, flanked to the right, while Mat provided support, his sharp eyes anticipating the ferrets' every move.
Wallace and Mica, often underestimated because of their prey status, worked together to outmaneuver the female ferret. Wallace used his agility to dodge her attacks, creating openings for Mica to strike with precision. The female ferret, who had seemed so deadly moments before, found herself overwhelmed by the duo's coordinated assault.
Kelvin, using his strength and experience, cornered the male ferret. With a powerful blow, he disarmed him, sending his weapon clattering to the ground. Mat, seizing the opportunity, delivered a decisive strike that sent the male ferret crashing to the ground, defeated.
Meanwhile, Fiona, with a surge of protective energy, unleashed a series of attacks that left the female ferret reeling. Mica and Wallace capitalized on her disorientation, and with a final, well-timed strike, the female ferret was subdued.
The fight, which had started with tension and uncertainty, ended quickly and decisively. The group stood over the fallen ferrets, their victory hard-earned but well-deserved. Despite the easy win, they remained vigilant, knowing the real threat—the fiend—was still out there.
As they searched the bodies of the ferrets, Mat found a piece of parchment tucked into the male’s tunic. Unfolding it, he revealed a map marked with a strange symbol—a location deep within the mountains to the north, a place shrouded in darkness.
Kelvin examined the map, his expression grim. "This is it. This is where we’ll find the first fiend."
Fiona looked at the map, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach. "We need to be ready for whatever comes next. If this fiend is anything like what we’ve faced before, we’ll need all the strength we can muster."
Mica nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "We’ve come this far, and we’ve faced everything thrown at us. We’ll face this fiend too, and we’ll take it down."
Wallace looked at the map, his voice steady but laced with apprehension. "Time to get the coin of free passage, though I'm scared."
Kelvin’s brow furrowed with concern, his eyes searching Wallace’s face. "Why are you scared, Wallace? What’s so dangerous about this place?"
Wallace met Kelvin’s gaze, his expression somber. "It’s where I’m supposed to die. There’s a barrier around the fiend that only predators who have violated consent can pass through. The coin can get us through, but because you won’t violate consent, it’s our only option. It’s come to that—I’ve accepted it."
Kelvin’s expression tightened, trying to process the gravity of Wallace’s words. But then Wallace added, almost as if testing the waters of a darker thought, "If you rape Mica, I won’t have to die. We wouldn’t need the coin—the place of my death."
Kelvin’s eyes widened, shock and disbelief crossing his face. "Wallace, no. That’s not even an option. I would never do that. We’ll get the coin, and we’ll face this together. You don’t have to resort to that kind of thinking. We’ll find another way."
Wallace’s shoulders slumped, a mixture of shame and resignation in his voice. "I know. I’m just… I’m scared, Kelvin. Scared of what’s waiting for me, scared of the choices we have to make."
Kelvin stepped closer, placing a hand on Wallace’s shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "We’re going to get through this the right way, Wallace. No shortcuts, no compromises on who we are. We’ll get that coin, and we’ll face whatever’s behind that barrier together. You’re not alone in this."
Wallace nodded, the fear still present but tempered by the strength he saw in Kelvin. "I've seen it, Kelvin. I’m clairvoyant, remember? I’ve seen my death."
Kelvin’s expression softened, a mix of concern and determination in his eyes. "That doesn’t mean it has to happen, Wallace. Visions aren’t set in stone—they’re possibilities, not certainties. We can change this outcome."
Wallace looked away, his voice quiet but filled with the weight of what he had seen. "It felt so real, Kelvin. Like I was there, in that moment… I don’t know if I can escape it."
Kelvin stepped closer, his hand still resting on Wallace’s shoulder, grounding him. "Maybe you saw what could happen, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept it. We’ve changed the course of events before, and we can do it again. We’re not just following a script—we’re making our own path."
Wallace took a deep breath, the fear still there but now joined by a flicker of hope. "You’re right. Maybe… maybe I just need to believe that we can change it. That I’m not doomed to that fate."
Kelvin nodded, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "Exactly. We’re in this together, Wallace. No matter what you’ve seen, we’ll face it head-on, and we’ll do everything in our power to change it."
Wallace met Kelvin’s gaze again, the strength he found in his friend giving him the courage to face what lay ahead. "Thank you, Kelvin. I don’t know what I’d do without you."
Kelvin smiled, a rare but comforting expression. "You won’t have to find out. Now, let’s get that coin and face whatever comes next—together."
The group approached the entrance of the ancient tomb, the air thick with a sense of foreboding. The walls were adorned with faded inscriptions, warnings from a long-forgotten era, but they had no choice but to press on. They needed the coin of free passage, and it was said to lie deep within.
Wallace hesitated at the threshold, his eyes scanning the darkened interior. The vision of his death lingered in the back of his mind, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. Kelvin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder before they stepped inside together, the rest of the group following close behind.
