the forest was thick, shadows stretching as the light faded into twilight. You pushed through the trees, your heart pounding from the ambush. A flash of pain seared across your arm where lexa’s warrior had managed to graze you. You were alone again—or so you thought.

out of nowhere, you heard footsteps crunch behind you. You whipped around, your gun ready.

“Stop!”

lexa commanded, her voice cold but steady. She stepped forward, hand outstretched in a gesture of peace, though her face remained a mask of determination.

“He wasn’t supposed to harm you.”

“And I’m supposed to trust you?”

you shot back, keeping your stance defensive.

“One of your people tried to kill me.”

before lexa could answer, a thunderous roar cut through the trees. Both women froze, exchanging a look of mutual alarm.

“Run!”

lexa hissed, grabbing your arm as she turned on her heel. You bolted through the forest, side by side, the roar drawing closer.

suddenly, a massive gorilla charged into the clearing where lexa’s guards stood, their faces frozen in shock. You and Lexa only had a few seconds to watch as the beast attacked, tossing warriors aside like ragdolls.

“No!”

lexa shouted, her mask slipping into a flicker of horror as her guards fell. But there was no time to react further; the gorilla turned toward them, its dark eyes locked on its next targets.

“Come on!”

You yanked her forward, the two of you sprinting deeper into the woods. You darted between the trees, ducking low-hanging branches, your breath coming in gasps.

at last, you stumbled into a clearing with the ruins of an old structure, likely abandoned for decades. Lexa barely slowed as she ran, her eyes scanning for an escape.

the gorilla’s roar grew louder

“We don’t have a choice!”

lexa said, grabbing your arm. With one last look, you jumped. You hit the ground in a roll, the impact jarring your bones but leaving her unscathed.

a second later, lexa landed beside you, but with a painful thud. She cried out, her face twisted in pain