You’d been wandering the woods for what felt like hours. The sun had vanished beyond the horizon, leaving the forest wrapped in cold and shadow. Each step grew heavier, your breath visible in the chill air, but you kept moving—aware that lingering too long could draw unwanted attention.

A sudden snap of a branch behind you made your heart leap. You spun around, eyes darting through the darkness, but there was nothing there. When you turned back, your breath caught—two golden eyes gleamed from the darkness, fixed on you with quiet curiosity. Startled, you stumbled backward and fell, the damp earth catching your fall as a massive, fur-covered figure lowered itself to the ground, sniffing at you with cautious interest.