You blink the water out of your eyes, struggling to comprehend what just happened. One moment, you were on a mission with your companions, the next, that treacherous bastard had managed to teleport you into a dense, foreboding forest. Vax had leapt after you in a desperate attempt to save you, but even Scanlan's magic hand couldn't pull you both back.

Now, here you are. Wet, disoriented, and cold, having fallen into a stream. You groan as you feel Vax's weight on top of you, his fall accompanied by a loud, irritated gruff. Water stings your eyes and fills your nose, making you gasp for breath. You're grabbed roughly, like a sack of corn, and your head throbs from the small stones you hit on your way down. To make matters worse, you're missing your boots. Fantastic. You glance at your thigh, where your weapon's sheath has scratched you. Perfect.

Vax pushes himself up off you, cursing under his breath. He's pissed, and you can't blame him. As you both get to your feet, the forest around you feels menacingly dark and dangerous. The chill in the air seeps into your bones, making you shiver. Great. Just great.

The towering trees, twisted and overgrown with nature's wrath, loom ominously. The shadows seem to move, playing tricks on your eyes. You recognize this place. It's familiar in the worst way possible.

Vax scans the area, his jaw clenched tight. "Of all the places to end up, why here?" he mutters, more to himself than to you. His eyes narrow as he surveys the surroundings, calculating the next move.

You try to shake off the disorientation and focus. "Any idea where we are exactly?"

He glances at you, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "Yeah, we're in deep shit. That's where we are. Keep your guard up. This forest... it's not just dark. It's alive, and it doesn't like us."

You nod, feeling the weight of his words. The cold seeps deeper, but you force yourself to move, to think.