The green pastures of the forest leaves lomes around, Fionna, Cynthia and David as the walked deeper into the woods. The sunlight shines through canopy in a dappled patterns. Fionna wipe off her sweat from her forehead, her backpack slung over one shoulder. Cynthia huffs as she swattes at a bug. David still in leading in the front, his pace steady and purposeful.
"Oh, sure, let's just hike into the middle of nowhere. Because nothing says "fun adventure" like blisters and mosquito bites. Fi, remind me why I didn't stay home with my comfortable and soft bed?"
Cynthia asked as she panters, her voice laced with sarcasm as she spoke.
"Because you're my ride-or-die, Cynthia. Besides, if we get eaten by bears, at least it'll be a better story than that time Rose dumped mashed potatoes on me. "Local Girl Devoured: Film at Eleven."
Fionna responded, her voice also laced with sarcasm.
"Touche. But seriously, David, how much farther? My legs are about to stage a rebellion."
Cynthia asked as she walked in a sluggish way.
"Not far. Trust me, you'll know when we're there."
David responded, his gazed still fixed in the front as he walked.
They push through a thicket of vines, emerging into a small clearing. Nestled against a rocky outcrop is a hidden green hut,camouflaged with moss and branches, smoke curling lazily from a stone chimney. It's quaint and almost cozy but with an air of ancient mystery.
"Welcome to the safe house. The old werewolf outpost. Warded against intruders."
David spoke, as he stood and gazed at it.
"Warded"? Great, now we're in a fantasy novel. Next he'll say there's a dragon in the basement."
Cynthia spoke, her voice laced with sarcasm as she whispered to Fionna.
"Shh, don't jinx it. I could use a pet dragon right about now."
Fionna spoke, her voice laced with Sarcasm as she whispered back.
David then lead them into the red hut. Inside the hut: simple wooden furniture, a fireplace crackling with blue-tinged flames, and a single large window overlooking a misty valley.
The three of them settles in. David rummages through a chest, pulling out blankets and supplies. Cynthia flops onto a worn couch and Fionna perches on a stool.
"We'll rest here tonight. Training starts at dawn. You two need to be up early and no excuses. Fionna, we'll focus on unlocking your wolf powers. Starlight is extremely strong, but you need to learn how to control her power. Push-ups, scent tracking, shifting drills. It'll be brutal, but necessary. Cynthia, you'll observe and learn basics, self-defense against our kind."
David spoke as he lay down and gazed at them.
"Push-ups? In the woods? Sounds like boot camp with fangs."
Cynthia asked as she raised one of her brows. David lips curved into a small smile.
" Yeah,something like that. Now, look out the window. See that?"
Fionna and Cynthia turned and gazed at the window. Through the mist, a shimmering barrier appears, a wall of ice that glows with inner fire, flames frozen in crystalline form, stretching across the valley like a natural fortress.
"Wow… this is amazing, it is like a fire, but it is trapped in an ice."
Cynthia spoke, her eyes widened in surprise.
"The Frozen Blaze? It's... insane. How does it even exist? Fire and ice together? That's gotta be some serious magic."
Fionna asked, her voice laced with amazement as she pressed her face to the glass.
"It's a realm guardian. It burns anything hostile that tries to cross, but freezes the path for those with pure intent. We've passed through it already,on the way in. It lets allies through but slows enemies."
David explained as he lay and gazed at the ceiling.
"Okay, that's officially the coolest thing I've ever seen. Beats any camera filter."
Cynthia spoke, her voice laced with softeness as she still gazed at the window.
"Yeah... makes all this feel real. Like, really real."
Fionna spoke as she nodded in agreement.
"Alright then let's get some sleep then, we have a big day tomorrow."
The fire dims to embers. David sleeps on a mat by the door, alert even in rest. Fionna and Cynthia share a makeshift bed of blankets on the floor, whispering in the dark.
"Fi, you okay? I mean, werewolf princess? Training at dawn? This is nuts."
Cynthia asked, her voice barely above whispers.
"I'm scared, Cynthia. What if I can't do this? What if Starlight takes over again like with that guy... and I lose control?"
Fionna whispered back as she gazed at the ceiling.
"Hey, you saved us back there. And David's got your back. We'll figure it out. Remember that time we snuck out for that concert? And we handled the security guards,how bad can evil werewolves be?"
Cynthia asked, her voice still barely above whispers.
"Worse. Way worse. But... thanks for being here. You're the best human sidekick ever."
Fionna responded with a slight chuckle.
"Sidekick? Please, I'm the comic relief. Now shut up and sleep. Dawn's gonna suck."
Cynthia spoke as she turned and shut her eyes to sleep.
Their whispers fade into soft breathing as they drift off, the Frozen Blaze glowing faintly outside.
The morning have reached, David walked over to where they were laying and gently shake them both to wake up.
"Rise and shine. Training time."
David spoke as he walked over the windows and opened the curtains.
"Five more minutes, Mom…"
Cynthia spoke with a gronning tone as she rubs her eyes.
"I'm up. Let's do this."
Fionna spoke as she spawn upwards.
David stands opposite Fionna in a cleared patch of dirt. Cynthia watches from a log, sipping water.
"First,breathing. Connect with Starlight. Inhale deep, feel her in your chest. Now, shift your claws and focus the energy."
David spoke as he watched as fionna closes her eyes and took a deep breathe.Her nails extend into claws, retracting shakily.
"Good. Now speed. Run to that tree and back,let Starlight guide your legs.'
She sprints, blurring slightly and faster than humanly possible, but stumbles on return. David's closed one of his eyes.
"Again. Control the surge."
Hours pass,montaged shots of Fionna practicing,scent tracking (sniffing a hidden object), strength tests (lifting logs), dodging David's mock attacks. She improves, soaked in sweat but fierce.
"Last one: full unleash. Channel everything,anger, fear and power. Let it all out."
Fionna nods, she closed up her eyes. A growl builds. Her body shimmers; fur ripples across her arms, her eyes glow amber. She roars, slashing a tree trunk clean in half with one swipe. The air crackles with energy.
"Holy... Fi, that was epic!"
Cynthia spoke, her voice laced with amazed as she gazed at the tree.
"There she is. The true Alpha. You're ready."
David spoke, his voice also laced with amazement.
He handed Cynthia a sleek pistol from his bag.
"For you. Loaded with wolf's bane bullets. Aim true,it's our edge against them."
"Thanks. Feels heavy... but good."
She said as she gazed and weighed the gun.
Suddenly, Fionna and David freeze, a chill racing up their spines. Leaves rustle unnaturally and howls echo in the distance
"They're here."
David spoke as he sniffed the air.
A swirling portal rips open in a shadowed glen. GROOK GOBLIN steps out first, massive and scarred, followed by his tw
o snarling HENCHMEN. They sniff the air, their eye gleaming.
"Boys, let's go hunt down an Alpha princess."
The three throw back their heads and howl,a bone-chilling chorus that echoes through the trees, closing in on the hut.