The Yeowool Forest was dense. The massive trees stood like pillars beneath the night sky, their intertwined branches forming a dark canopy.
Yoona walked at the front, her boots crunching fallen leaves in a steady rhythm. She glanced regularly at her watch and the crumpled map she held, trying to ignore the shivers running down her spine.
Behind her, Jisoo, with a headlamp strapped to her forehead, was doing everything but being discreet. Every step she took seemed to echo in the night, accompanied by her constant commentary.
— "This place is seriously creepy, isn't it? I keep expecting a zombie to jump out of a bush," she said, adjusting her camera.
— "Jisoo, we're here to investigate, not to shoot a B-movie," Yoona replied with a sigh.
— "But seriously, look at these trees!" Jisoo pointed her lamp at a moss-covered trunk. "Don't they look alive? Like… like one of them could move and grab us!"
Yoona stopped abruptly and turned to her friend.
— "You know you're not helping, right?"
— "Sorry, sorry," Jisoo answered, clearly amused. "But admit it, you thought the same thing."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere seemed to change. The air grew heavier. Yoona narrowed her eyes, trying to pinpoint the cause of this unsettling sensation.
— "Jisoo, stop making noise," she murmured, raising a hand to signal a halt.
— "Huh? Why? Did you see something?" Jisoo whispered, still filming.
— "No… but listen."
An unusual silence stretched around them. No bird songs, no insect sounds. Just the occasional crack of a branch, as if something—or someone—was following them.
— "I don't like this," Yoona muttered, clenching her fists. "Stay close to me."
— "Don't worry," Jisoo replied, though her voice carried a hint of nervousness. "I've got my taser and… my camera. Maybe a mutant will want to pose for a photo."
Yoona rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips despite the tension.
After about thirty minutes of walking, they stumbled upon a clearing. In its center stood a massive stone, covered in strange carvings that faintly glowed in the darkness.
— "What is that?" Jisoo asked, stepping closer, her camera pointed at the inscriptions.
— "Step back," Yoona ordered firmly. "We don't know what this is. It could be connected to the phenomena."
But Jisoo, being herself, ignored the warning. She examined the carvings with fascination.
— "Looks like… runes? Or maybe ancient writings. Imagine if it's some kind of magic portal or a—AAAH!"
A sudden scream escaped her lips as a noise echoed behind them. Yoona immediately turned, instinctively placing herself in front of her friend.
— "What was that?!" Jisoo shrieked, her pale face illuminated by her headlamp.
— "Stay calm," Yoona murmured, eyes scanning the shifting shadows between the trees. "It was probably just an animal."
But her instincts told her otherwise.
Danger was approaching.
Suddenly, a loud snap echoed, followed by a deep, guttural growl that made the hairs on Yoona's neck stand on end. A massive silhouette emerged from the darkness—a mutated wolf, its glowing red eyes locked onto them.
— "Oh no, no, no, no," Jisoo murmured, stepping backward. "What the hell is that?!"
— "A mutant. Stay behind me," Yoona commanded, her brows furrowing.
The wolf snarled, its fangs glistening under the lamp's light. It lunged forward, but Yoona raised a hand, unleashing a powerful telekinetic force. The beast was thrown backward, crashing into a tree.
— "Wow, now that's a show!" Jisoo exclaimed, her camera focused on Yoona.
But they had no time to celebrate. More growls echoed through the night, and soon, several other mutated wolves emerged from the shadows, encircling them.
— "Great, they brought friends," Yoona grumbled, clenching her teeth.
Yoona used her powers to push the wolves back, sending them crashing into trees. But the creatures seemed almost tireless, returning to the fight despite their injuries.
— "Jisoo, do something useful!" Yoona shouted, dodging an incoming lunge.
— "I'm filming, I'm filming! Does that count?" Jisoo replied, running for cover behind a tree.
Realizing Yoona was overwhelmed, Jisoo finally pulled out her taser and aimed at one of the wolves. She pressed the trigger, sending electric arcs toward the creature. The wolf growled and staggered back, but this only drew the attention of another one.
— "Oh no, bad plan!" Jisoo yelled, immediately sprinting away.
Despite the chaos, Yoona couldn't help but laugh internally.
— "Stop playing the heroine and stay behind me!"
After a fierce battle, the wolves eventually retreated, leaving Yoona and Jisoo alone in the clearing. Panting, Yoona leaned against a tree, her hands slightly trembling from the mental strain.
— "Well, that was intense," Jisoo said, checking if her camera was still working.
— "You're absolutely insane," Yoona replied, a tired smile on her lips. "But thanks for the taser."
— "No problem. We make a good team, don't we?"
Yoona shook her head, amused.
— "If we get out of this alive, I'm buying you a coffee."
The two young women burst into laughter, adrenaline still coursing through their veins, before continuing their way through the forest.