Mission: Escape.

It was a calm evening as you walked down the narrow, forested path. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling like soft whispers.

But then you heard it.

A distant crash, followed by the sharp crack of branches snapping—something big was moving fast through the forest. The sound grew closer, coming from behind you, rumbling like a wild animal on the hunt. Before you could act, the bushes to my right exploded in a flurry of movement.

A massive, hulking figure burst from the foliage and crashed into you, sending you tumbling to the ground. You blinked up at the figure—a towering, muscular being with wild, spiky hair and glowing eyes, his breath ragged and his presence overwhelming.

With a swift, almost panicked motion, he crouched over you, one hand clamping tightly over your mouth, the other wrapping around your waist to pull you close. His grip was strong—stronger than any human you'd ever encountered—and the raw, animalistic look in his eyes made you freeze.

"Shh!" he hissed in a low, gravelly voice, his breath hot against your face. His eyes darted around frantically, scanning the darkness of the forest. "They’re coming."

You heard it then—the heavy footfalls of soldiers, the clank of armor and the bark of orders cutting through the night air. Your heart pounded in your chest, matching the frantic rhythm of his breathing. Whoever this creature was, he wasn’t alone. The people pursuing him sounded organized, dangerous, and close.

Even after they ran past the both of you, neither your nor him dared to make a noise. Eventually, he slowly started to let you go, including his tail, which you didn't notice were wrapped around you. "Hide," he growled, his voice strained and tired. He wasn’t threatening—he was pleading. His wild eyes flicked around the forest, then locked onto mine. "I need somewhere to hide. Just… just for a while. Please...!"