The wind howled above the canopy of ancient trees, their twisted branches groaning under the weight of centuries. The air was thick—humid, unfamiliar, laced with the scent of damp earth and wild magic. Two figures lay motionless in the underbrush, hidden beneath the shadow of moss-covered stones.
Lucas stirred first. His eyes fluttered open, vision blurry, head pounding like a distant drum. He sat up slowly, wincing as a sharp pain sliced through his spine. The world around him looked like something from a forgotten myth—trees taller than buildings, glowing vines wrapped around their trunks, and the distant sound of howls echoing through the forest.
His heart thudded wildly. Then, his eyes fell on something that made him freeze.
"Philip?" he whispered, crawling forward.
Philip was lying a few feet away, unconscious, and dirt smudged across his cheek. Lucas's eyes widened in shock.
"No... no, no, no. He followed me?!"
Just then, Philip groaned.
Lucas backed up a little as his friend's eyes flickered open.
"Lucas?" Philip mumbled, disoriented. "Why is everything spinning? And... why does it smell like wet dog and thunder out here?"
Lucas blinked, unable to speak at first.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked.
Philip sat up slowly, rubbing his neck. "You didn't exactly give me time to ask questions when you jumped through a freaking glowing portal! I ran after you!"
"You weren't supposed to!" Lucas stood, brushing leaves off his pants. "This place...this isn't like school or some fantasy game. It's real. It's dangerous."
Philip gave him a weak smirk. "And yet here I am. Alive and breathing. You're welcome."
Before Lucas could respond, a rustling sound came from the trees behind them. Both boys froze.
The forest suddenly felt... alert. Lucas and Philip then hid behind a huge tree with their hearts pounding. Just then, an old man, broad shouldered despite the curve in his back walked towards where they hid with sharp eyes hidden beneath and weather. His boot sank into the moss with each heavy step. A rough scarf covered the other half of his face leaving his eyes visible. Then, he stopped. He looked around the place and sniffed as he cocked his gun.
"Don't move!" Lucas whispered to Philip.
Just then, the old man turned around quickly and dragged Lucas out of his hiding place. Philip's heart skipped a beat.
Lucas knelt before the old man breathing like he was about to say his final words. The old man then raised his head and scoffed when he saw Lucas.
"Come with me". The man said as he turned to go. Lucas arched a brow as he stood up.
"And me?" Philip asked as he rushed out of his hiding spot immediately. The man then turned to them.
"Two?" The man asked. They were quiet. "Why wasn't I able to perceive your presence then?" The man asked Philip. He mouthed;
"Don't know". The man sighed. Then he turned around.
"You must come with me. It isn't safe for you boys to be out here". He said.
"Why should we believe you?" Lucas asked.
"Dude, do you wanna kneel before death again? Let's go!" Philip said as he rushed up to catch up with the man. Lucas then sighed and followed them as they walked....
******************
The woods grew thicker as they followed the man, winding through shadowed trails and narrow gaps between massive trees. The air was colder here, and the silence was unsettling. Every now and then, Lucas could hear the distant howl of something—not quite a wolf, not quite human.
After what felt like forever, the thick foliage broke, revealing a clearing dotted with low-built wooden houses, stone paths, and watchtowers perched in trees like silent sentinels. This wasn't the pack Lucas had seen in visions or dreams—it felt rougher, older… almost like a hidden branch of the werewolf world.
The man led them to a small cottage on the outskirts of the village. The door creaked as he pushed it open. "Inside. Now."
Lucas and Philip stepped cautiously into the dimly lit room. It was warm inside, lined with bookshelves, jars of herbs, weapons, and old scrolls. A fire crackled faintly in the hearth.
Only then did the man shut the door behind them, remove his scarf and hood, and finally turn to face them properly.
"You're not from around here," he said, eyeing them both. "But I know what you are."
He looked directly at Lucas. Lucas looked at him cautiously. He knew he had seen him from somewhere but couldn't figure out where he had seen him from.
"You're not just any boy. You're from Obsidian Hollow, Lycanthros pack, aren't you?"
Lucas blinked, his throat suddenly dry. "How do you know that?"
The man leaned in, voice low.
"Because I once served under King Rhaegor himself. And now… the scent of the Hollow flows through your blood!" The man said. Philip looked at the both of them.
"It's you. I remember now, I saw you at a mall some days ago!" Lucas said. The man smirked. Then he sat on one of the chairs in the small sitting room.
"That's me!" The man replied.
"Wait, what were you doing in the human world?" Philip asked.
"Searching for someone". The man replied. Philip nodded.
"Alright". Philip said.
"We have to leave Philip, we can't stay here, remember that I'm here for something!" Lucas said as he walked towards the door.
"Whoa Whoa, chillax bro!" Philip said still standing on the spot he was ever since he got into the house.
"You can't leave for Lycanthros pack now! It's not safe out there!" The man said.
"Why?" Lucas asked as he turned to face the man wearing a dead stare.
"If the members of this pack see you, they'll think of you as a spy, someone sent from one of our rival packs and then, they'll capture you and kill you! Also, Lycanthros pack is a hell of a mess! Lots of terrible things have been happening there ever since Ares ascended the throne!" The man said. Lucas rubbed his forehead.
"How many years has Ares been ruling that pack?" Philip asked.
"King Rhaegor died 2001, Ares ascended the throne 2015 and we're in the year 2036, so he's been ruling that pack since 2015!" The man said.
"Hold up, you guys are in the year 2036?! Holy crap! We aren't even in the year 2030 in the world we come from!" Philip said as he scoffed.
"If Rhaegor died in the year 2001, that means I was born that same year. And I'm 17?" Lucas said.
"Yes idiot! That's because we're in the year 2016!" Philip said. Lucas shook his head.
"That means I'm supposed to be 35 years in this world?" He asked the man. Philip fixed his gaze on the man with his eyes wide open. The man shook his head.
"Damn". Philip said.
"Thank goodness I'm 17 now, I don't want to be 35 years anytime soon!" Lucas murmured.
"So we just have to stay hidden til the kingdom comes?" Philip asked. Lucas sucked his teeth.
"When it's safe to leave here, I'll let you guys know!" The man said as he stood up.
"What's the name of this pack?" Lucas asked.
"Ebonhowl pack". The man said. Philip and Lucas were quiet. Just then, the door swung open. Then, the girl who had opened the door rushed in and shut it immediately. Philip and Lucas were marvelled by the figure they saw.
She couldn't have been more than sixteen, but there was a quiet strength in the way she stood, shoulders poised, head held high. Her deep auburn curls tumbled past her shoulders in soft waves, catching the warm glow of the hearthlight behind her. Her eyes, a piercing shade of storm-gray, locked onto the strangers with cautious curiosity, framed by thick lashes that flickered with something almost otherworldly. A faint scar curved beneath one eye, barely visible, hinting at a story she wasn't ready to tell. She wore a simple dark cloak over a pale tunic, but even in her simplicity, there was a kind of wild elegance — as though the forest had raised her and left its beauty behind.
Philip walked up to her majestically as he bit his lower lips.
"Hello my lady, guessing you're this saviour's daughter. Do you mind telling me your name?" Philip said with a smirk on his face.
"Pater, qui sunt hi?" She asked her dad.
"Visitors!" He replied, she shook her head. Philip and Lucas arched a brow.
"She doesn't speak English?" They asked in unison.
"I do speak English". She replied.
"Take them to the room and give them some of your brother's clothes to wear". Her father said. Then she nodded in affirmation.
"Come with me". She said as she walked into the room. Philip and Lucas looked at each other before walking into the room.
"Rhaegor..." The old man murmured as he laughed softly....