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Celeste stepped through the portal, and the world around her twisted into shapes she barely recognized. Towering trees loomed over her, their trunks thick and knotted, branches weaving together so densely that sunlight barely pierced through. She blinked, trying to clear the sudden disorientation. The portal had dropped her here, in the heart of a forest she had never seen, and there was no time to waste.
"What … hell? " she murmured, her voice barely audible above the whisper of the wind. Her boots crunched on a carpet of fallen leaves as she scanned the area. The forest was alive in a way that made her skin prickle—shadows danced unnaturally, and a faint hum of energy lingered in the air.
"Relax," a voice called out, breaking her focus. She turned to see Nathan floating on his anti-gravity board, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I've got a path mapped. Just… follow me."
Celeste took a cautious step forward. "Follow you?" she echoed. "How do I know we won't run straight into trouble?"
Nathan smirked, though his eyes betrayed worry. "I've got a sixth sense for trouble, remember? That's why I'm letting you lead sometimes."
She rolled her eyes but started moving, her fingers brushing against the bark of the nearest tree, feeling the faint pulse of energy within. Every step made the forest feel denser, almost alive, as if it were watching. She was trusting a stranger to lead the way. " What's your name?" Nathan asked curiously. " Celeste, and you." Celeste stopped at a tree. "Nathan." He came down from the board.
Minutes turned to hours. The sun dipped lower, and the light filtering through the canopy began to fade, turning the forest into a tapestry of shadows. The two wandered cautiously, Nathan weaving skillfully on his board to avoid roots and branches, Celeste walking beside him, alert and silent.
That's when the first crash came.
A figure shot past them, slamming into a thick tree trunk. Celeste barely had time to react before a young man tumbled to the forest floor. He groaned, hair disheveled, robes torn slightly at the sleeves.
"Are you—okay?" Celeste called out, rushing forward.
The boy scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt from his uniform, his chest heaving. "I'm fine," he muttered, glaring at Nathan. "You nearly sent me into a tree!"
Nathan raised his hands defensively. "Hey! Didn't see you there!"
Nathan 's eyes narrowed. "And what are you doing here? "
The boy straightened, a flash of arrogance in his expression, despite his messy hair and dirt-smudged face. " Nice to meet you again. Celeste, Looks like you're… lost."
"Lost? You could say that," Celeste replied cautiously. "Where are we?".
Nathan floated down beside her, eyeing Leroy warily. "You're lucky we didn't collide worse. This forest isn't safe. I'd suggest moving before nightfall."
Leroy's smirk widened. "Nightfall? I've faced worse. I can handle a few trees. Isn't it right ,Celeste."
Celeste ignored him, her attention drawn to movement in the shadows. A low growl reverberated through the trees. Something large, wild, and terrifying stirred nearby
Nathan stiffened. "Did you hear that?"
Celeste nodded, her hand instinctively reaching for the small energy blade she had learned to summon. The air around her seemed to pulse as she concentrated, channeling her power into a shimmering, double-edged sword of light.
A jaguar emerged from the underbrush, sleek black fur rippling over rippling muscles, eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. It crouched, ready to pounce, ears pinned back, growling deep and menacing.
Leroy drew his own sword with a flourish, stepping in front of Celeste. "Stand back, Celeste. Let me handle this."
Celeste narrowed her eyes. "I don't need you to handle anything. Stand back, Leroy. I can—"
Before she could finish, the jaguar leapt. Celeste swung her glowing sword, slicing through the air, and her blade struck the jaguar, cutting a streak of light across its flank. It yowled and swerved, claws digging into the ground.
In the same moment, Leroy lunged, his sword colliding with hers, meeting the jaguar's momentum and deflecting it just enough so it didn't reach Celeste. The impact of their combined actions sent sparks of energy into the air, and for a fleeting moment, Celeste felt a strange mixture of anger and gratitude toward him.
"You're… annoying," she muttered under her breath, though the jaguar's eyes were still locked on them. " No , Leroy is a jerk." Nathan corrected.
"I could say the same," Leroy replied, his usual arrogance flickering as the jaguar circled them warily.
Nathan hovered above, scanning the forest. "We need to move. This isn't just any wild animal—it's reacting to energy. I think it knows we're strong, Celeste."
The jaguar growled again, and Celeste's grip tightened on her sword. "Then it's time it learned respect." She focused, preparing to channel another strike.
Hours passed as they navigated the forest, moving cautiously through dense trees and over uneven ground. The jaguar followed, circling them, testing their resolve. With each encounter, Celeste grew more attuned to her powers, Leroy continued his protective, if irritating, interference, and Nathan provided tactical guidance from above.
As night began to fall, the forest darkened, shadows stretching and twisting around them. The faint glow of Celeste's sword illuminated their path, reflecting in her eyes and highlighting the tension in her jaw.
Finally, in a small clearing, they stumbled upon a wounded white tiger cub, its leg caught in a tangle of vines, eyes wide with fear. Celeste knelt beside it, instinctively reaching to heal, but Leroy grabbed her arm.
"Wait!" he hissed, his eyes flicking around the forest. "If we stop, we're sitting targets. We can't risk it."
Celeste's hands clenched, frustration boiling. "We can't just leave it! It's hurt!"
Nathan hovered close, his board hovering just above the leaves. "Both of you, calm down. There's a balance here. If we fight, we fight together. If we heal, we do it quickly."
" Says the family baby." Leroy shouted in anger. " Wait Nathan, you are a royal too." Celeste was surprised. " Not exactly! " Nathan wrinkled. "You are denying it." Celeste turned her in disbelief.
" He isn't a royal." Leroy had blown off some steam. "Then how are you related? " Celeste was curious about who was who.
" He is just a scavenger my cousin brought." Leroy was not minding Nathan is feelings.
" I am just kid from Brooklyn. " Nathan continued. His tone was lonely. " Forced to be here. So you have problem but that , Leroy. Ask your Dad ? "
Celeste listened quietly. Leroy smiled after Nathan was done.
The three stared at the cub, the tension palpable, nightfall wrapping the forest in a cloak of uncertainty. Somewhere beyond the trees, glowing eyes watched, faint hints of a presence that belonged neither to them nor to the wild.
Celeste swallowed hard, realizing that the forest—and whatever was lurking in it—was just the beginning.
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