Ivan turned back to the leader. He didn't say anything. He just held up his sharpened spear.
The leader's smile widened. "I guess you want to do this the hard way," he smirked. "Fine by me."
Leonardo kept glancing at Diana. He was clearly worried about her. She was in no shape to fight.
Ivan mind was racing with a thought , he didn't like it but it was the only logically thing to do.
Ivan sighed. He didn't take his eyes off the three bullies in front of him. "Eliminate her, Leonardo," he said, his voice low and firm.
Diana looked up, shocked. "No," she said in a weak voice. "I-I can continue. I can fight."
"Leonardo," Ivan said again, his voice harder this time. "If you care about her safety, eliminate her now."
Leonardo hesitated. He looked at Diana, then at the three boys waiting for them.
"Leonardo," Ivan pressed, his voice urgent. "If you don't do it, she'll get hurt. And we will get hurt. What she wants doesn't matter right now. All that matters is what she needs."
Jared, the leader of the bullies, finally spoke up, his voice full of boredom. "Are you guys done with your little drama?"
Ivan turned his head slightly, a sarcastic smile on his face. "Can't you give us one more minute?" he asked. "I mean, you already waited for so long to act like a big shot when Marcus isn't around, right?"
Jared's jaw tightened. "Why are you bringing Marcus's name into this?"
"Because, well... don't get offended," Ivan said, his voice dripping with fake concern. "But that's what you're known for among the students. You're Marcus's clone."
"You motherfucker," Jared growled.
"Why so mad?" Ivan asked, tilting his head. "I really chose my words carefully. What I truly meant is that you're a cheap copy of Marcus. Like you're a failed experiment from a lab that was trying to recreate him. Or when you try to cook Marcus at home but fail"
"Look at you now," Jared shot back, his face turning red. "All pathetic, almost worshipping that motherfucker."
"Well, what can I say?" Ivan shrugged. "If you guys are cool, then he's way cooler than you. He also has two beautiful girls with him. And what do you have? No girls."
Leonardo looked nervous. "Ivan..." he whispered. "I don't think pissing them off is the right thing to do."
"Right, Ivan," Jared said with a sneer. "Listen to your friend there."
'He's right,' Ivan thought. 'I'm still tired from the last fight. Now I have three opponents. Provoking them isn't wise.' But then another thought followed. 'But showing fear is like committing suicide in this forest. No one is coming to save us anyway. So let's risk it.'
"Listen, your name is Jared, right?" Ivan said, his voice loud and clear. "If you think this forest is yours, why don't you go ambush Marcus's camp? Bullying a little girl when she's alone isn't a very big shot thing to do."
That was the last straw.
"You know what, fucker," Jared yelled. "We've talked enough!"
He charged toward Ivan. Ready to start a fight.
"Leonardo, now!" Ivan shouted.
Leonardo didn't hesitate this time. He pulled Diana's emergency firework from her backpack and pulled the string.
"I'm sorry, Diana," he muttered.
FWOOSH!
A stream of red light shot into the sky with a high-pitched whistle.
Almost immediately, a loud cry echoed from above. The giant eagle beast appeared, diving down from the sky. It landed with a heavy thud right between the two groups, kicking up dirt and leaves. It spread its massive wings and let out another piercing shriek.
Jared and his friends, Victor and Seth, stopped in their tracks. They stared at the huge beast, their faces pale.
"Leo, now!" Ivan yelled.
He grabbed Leonardo's arm. They didn't even bother with their backpacks. They just ran.
Jared, Victor, and Seth couldn't go after them. The giant eagle was in their way, blocking the path. They would have to go all the way around it.
That gave Ivan and Leonardo the head start they needed.
They ran. They didn't look back. They just ran, pushing through bushes and jumping over fallen logs. Leonardo was surprisingly fast, his fear giving him energy.
They kept running until their lungs burned and their legs felt like jelly.
'Fuck,' Ivan thought as he ran. 'Why is everyone attacking each other? At this rate, when they grow up, are they also going to attack each other instead of protecting my kingdom?' The thought made him feel mad.
They finally slowed down, gasping for air. They were in a part of the forest they didn't recognize.
""Fuck Ivan panted, trying to catch his breath. "I think... have no idea where my tent is."
"Are you serious?" Leonardo said, looking around frantically. "I also left my tent back at diana's camp!"
They were lost. They had no camp, no supplies, and no idea where they were. And the worst part no fireworks
"We need a solution," Ivan said, trying to slow down his breathing.
They started looking around, their eyes searching for any sign of safe place. For a shelter.
"Hey, Ivan!" Leonardo called out after a few minutes of searching. "We can go there!"
He was pointing to a small opening in a rock face, hidden behind some overgrown vines. It was a cave.
Ivan nodded, relieved. "Good job."
They walked toward the cave. It was dark and cold inside. It seemed perfect.
Ivan took the lead, pushing aside the vines to get a better look inside.
His blood turned to ice in his veins.
Sleeping in the back of the cave was a beast. It was a bear, but it was bigger than any bear he had ever seen. It was bigger than four grizzly bears combined. Its fur was thick and black, and its chest rose and fell with deep, powerful breaths.
Ivan couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't even think.
"S-shit," he whispered.