The next morning, Mia woke up with a stiff neck, dirt in her hair, and a feather in her mouth.
"Ptuh! Blah—why does everything here taste like moss?"
"Because," said a very dry, very unimpressed voice beside her, "you fell asleep on top of a healing nest woven from enchanted ferns, moss, and what I strongly suspect was raccoon hair."
Mia sat up and gave Professor Hootsworth the kind of look reserved for annoying group project partners.
"You didn't think to, I don't know, wake me before I used nature's lint trap as a pillow?"
"I did. You snored louder."
Mia sighed. "Great. So now I'm body-jacked, magic-bonded, and publicly humiliated by an owl with better vocabulary than my college professors."
The owl—still looking ruffled and mildly offended—adjusted his cracked monocle.
"I'm healing, thanks to that luminous fruit you fed me last night. A crude solution, but effective. You may not be completely incompetent."
Mia stared at him, one eyebrow raised. "Was that… a compliment?"
"Don't get used to it."
They spent the morning walking—well, Mia walked, and the Professor floated lazily behind her like a smug balloon—as they explored the edges of the glowing grove she'd woken up in. The forest was beautiful but bizarre. Giant mushrooms blinked when you passed them. Rocks occasionally shuffled a few feet to the left if they didn't like where they were sitting. Mia even saw a rabbit with antlers doing yoga on a log.
"Is it just me," she asked, "or is everything here a little… unhinged?"
"Welcome to Beastaria," said the Professor. "Land of the mythical, the magical, and the mildly ridiculous."
By midday, Mia was hungry and tired and starting to regret running from the wolf the day before. "I'd honestly rather deal with a cranky car than another weird—"
CRASH!
The bushes ahead exploded with leaves as something launched itself through them and struck a dramatic pose in the clearing.
It was… a squirrel.
But not just any squirrel.
This one stood upright. It had electric-gold fur, tiny lightning-shaped eyebrows, and biceps. Like, actual muscle definition. Its tail flicked with power, crackling slightly with static. And yes—it had visible abs.
"Okay," Mia whispered, pointing. "What in the Pokémon Evolution Chart is that?"
The squirrel flexed.
"WHO TRESPASSES IN MY TRAINING GROVE?!" it squeaked in a high-pitched but heroic tone.
Mia blinked. "Did that squirrel just shout at me?"
"Oh dear," said Professor Hootsworth, sighing. "You've encountered a Bolt Nut Brawler. Lightning-type. Unreasonably high testosterone. Often mistaken for fuzzy thunder gremlins."
"I AM THE STORM THAT SHOCKS THE HEAVENS!" the squirrel continued, now doing one-armed pushups. "AND ALSO LEG DAY."
Mia slowly started backing away. "He's not gonna punch me, right?"
"Only if you antagonize him," said the Professor. Then added, "…or make eye contact. Or breathe too loudly."
"GREAT."
Unfortunately, it was too late. The squirrel locked eyes with Mia.
There was a zap of energy between them—a warm, humming pull in her chest. A familiar golden glow flared up.
Professor Hootsworth groaned. "Oh no. Not again."
[Evolution's Heart: Contract Resonating]
[Target: Bolt Nut Brawler – Uncontracted]
[Status: Hyperactive. Challenge Level: Questionable.]
Before Mia could even protest, the squirrel leapt into the air and struck a pose mid-somersault.
"I ACCEPT YOUR BOND, MYSTERIOUS HUMAN FEMALE!" he squeaked. "WE SHALL TRAIN TOGETHER AND BECOME LEGENDS!"
The light burst between them—brilliant and warm. When it faded, the squirrel was perched proudly on Mia's shoulder, flexing like a furry action figure.
[Contract Formed: Bolt Nut Brawler]
[Type: Lightning/Fighting]
[Personality: Overenthusiastic Gym Bro]
[Weakness: Distractions. Loud noises. Compliments.]
Mia stared at him. "You're… on my team now?"
"I SHALL CALL YOU COACH MIA!" he squeaked, giving her a thumbs-up with his tiny paw.
"No. Absolutely not."
Later, once they'd made camp again, Mia slumped against a tree and stared at her current reality.
One owl professor. One muscular squirrel. Zero clue what she was doing.
And yet… she couldn't stop smiling.
This world was weird. Ridiculous. Magical.
And maybe, just maybe, she'd figure it out.
Because she had something she never had before.
A beast team.
Even if one was sarcastic and the other did push-ups in his sleep.