[Chr24] Season of Fangs and Spikes

The crisp wind carried sharp gusts that stung the exposed skin of the four bucks, forcing them to pull their coats tighter against the chill. Each step across the snowy expanse felt heavier under the relentless bite of the cold air. The sky was a brilliant blue, with the sun hanging high and casting bright light over the frozen landscape. Aviary crouched near the base of a tree, his breath visible in the chilly air as he inspected the jagged claw marks etched into the bark. "Look at this," he said with an almost giddy excitement, brushing his fingers over the oozing sap. "Fresh. I mean, really fresh." He turned to the others with a wide grin.

"Yeah, we got that, bird boy," Lyric sneered, his camera already clicking as he snapped a photo of the marks. "Try not to fall over yourself with excitement. These things could be on top of us before you even notice."

Aviary frowned but didn’t argue, hopping up to catch up with the group as they trudged forward. Aurora, Aviary's glacial twiwa, flew in front of the group, occassionally circling back to check on her owner. Lyric glanced at him with a smirk, muttering just loud enough to be heard, “Don’t wander off. I’d hate to have to come rescue you.”

“Enough, both of you.” Anubis’s voice cut through the rising tension like a knife. The leader walked ahead, his broad shoulders hunched against the wind, his keen eyes scanning for any more signs. "Keep your focus. If we don’t find them by nightfall, it’s going to get dangerous.”

Darkk walked at the rear of the group, silent as always, his head slightly tilted as though he were listening to something the rest of them couldn’t hear. He didn’t flinch when the wind picked up again or when the forest around them groaned and creaked. He simply kept walking, his feet crunching in the snow.

“They’ve got to be close, the tracks, the claw marks... they don’t just disappear.” Aviary spoke up.

"Or they’re leading us straight to their dinner table," Lyric said with a smirk, petting Snaps, his gingerbread shoon.

Anubis shot him a sharp look. “Don’t joke about that.”

Lyric rolled his eyes and yawned, "Can't we just go back now, we've not found anything, soon it will be dark, and its freezing. We can carry on tomorrow... you know, when we've had a good sleep, in our own warm beds"

"No" Anubus shook his head, "if we don't carry on trailing now then we will never find our way back again"

No one protested and they continued their journey in silence.

Suddenly, Darkk froze mid-step. He raised a hand, motioning for everyone to stop. His head tilted further, his sharp features locked in concentration. The group halted, exchanging nervous glances. Even Lyric’s usual bravado seemed to falter.

“What is it?” Aviary whispered.

Darkk didn’t answer immediately. He closed his eyes, his breath slow and deliberate. “Something... is moving,” he murmured at last. “Not just one. Several.”

The crunching of snow and the faint snap of twigs echoed from all around them, growing louder and more deliberate.

Before they could take a step, a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees, freezing them in place.

“What the hell was that?” Lyric hissed, Snaps layed low beside him.

“I don’t think it’s happy we’re here,” Aviary whispered.

The growling grew louder, joined by the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against tree bark. Shadows flickered at the edge of their vision, swift and silent, too fast to track. The creatures were circling them.
“Anubis?” Aviary’s voice was barely audible.

Anubis barked. “Everyone, fall back! Now!”

No one argued.

Darkk led the retreat, his uncanny ability to navigate through the shadows guiding the group away from the Prehistorics. Aurora swooped low, circling Aviary protectively as he stumbled over the uneven snow. Lyric grabbed Snaps and bolted, dragging the reluctant shoon with him.

The group burst into a clearing, the open space giving them a moment to glance back. The Prehistoric bucks hesitated at the edge of the trees, their glowing eyes flickering as they watched the fleeing group.

“What are they doing?” Lyric asked, his voice trembling

“They’re stopping,” Anubis said, slowing his pace.
The creatures stood at the forest’s edge, their massive forms blending into the shadows. After a long, tense moment, they turned and slunk back into the darkness, their growls fading with each step.

“They’re gone,” Aviary whispered in disbelief

The group stood in silence, catching their breath as the forest around them fell eerily quiet. Aurora landed on Aviary’s shoulder, her soft cooing a small comfort in the aftermath of the chase.

“So,” Lyric said, trying to mask his fear with sarcasm. “Who’s ready to call it a night?”

Anubis gave a faint, tired smile. “Let’s find some shelter and regroup. We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow.”