Chapter 18: The End of the Hunt

We run and run.

I can feel it.

Mama Wolf’s movements—becoming sluggish, slower with every step.

Her grip on my scruff—not as firm as before.

She’s exhausted.

She’s hurt.

She lost them.

I want to say something, but my throat feels tight.

The echoes of Bigger Sister Wolf’s howl still ring in my ears.

The Green Stalker—is it chasing us?

I don’t know. I don’t dare look back.

Brother Wolf is right beside us, but he’s quiet.

Too quiet.

I don’t like it.

I don’t like this silence.

I want to hear him complain. I want to hear him snarl and growl, saying something dumb like, ‘I could’ve beaten that thing!’

But he doesn’t.

He just keeps running.

And so do we.

An entrance to the 3rd Zone.

I almost sob in relief.

We made it. We finally—

No.

No, no, of course not.

Because why would things ever go our way?

Trouble. More trouble.

Right at the entrance.

A bunch of floating, egg-shaped thingies covered in spikes are wriggling and twitching, bristling their spines like angry porcupines.

And big black cats—no, panthers?—but scarier, with long, curved claws and glowing, predatory eyes.

And they’re fighting.

Slashing. Hissing. Tearing.

The floating eggs roll and spin, launching themselves like deadly projectiles.

The black cats leap and twist, dodging with terrifying speed, their claws raking against anything in their path.

And we?

We’re running straight into it.

Mama Wolf finally slows, setting me down gently before taking a shaky breath.

"Spiky Cocoons… and Dusk Stalkers," she murmurs, her voice sluggish, weak. "This is bad. They're blocking the entrance… We need to find a way around them."

I swallow hard, my whole body trembling.

Around them? How?!

The entrance is right there—so close! But those things are tearing each other apart, and if we get caught in the middle…

I shake my head, frantic. "B-But Mama, you're tired!" My voice cracks. "A-And Brother too! How do we—"

CRASH!

One of the Spiky Cocoons slams into the ground near us, spikes embedding deep into the stone. The thing twitches violently before slowly curling back into itself.

I yelp, jumping back.

The Dusk Stalkers haven't even noticed us yet. But if we stay here too long…

We’ll be next.

Mama Wolf lifts her head, panting, and points with her nose.

"Up there," she says.

I follow her gaze and—oh.

Ridges.

Jagged, uneven, and winding along the cavern walls, leading above the chaos. If we climb them, we can avoid the fight entirely… but it will take way longer to reach the entrance.

Mama Wolf turns to Brother Wolf. "Can you still climb?"

Brother Wolf grits his teeth, his body still tense from running. "I can," he says, but his legs shake slightly.

I stare at the ridges, then back at the battlefield below. The Dusk Stalkers are fast, their sharp claws tearing into the Spiky Cocoons, but those things aren’t going down easily. Each time a Dusk Stalker pounces, the Spiky Cocoons curl up and launch their spikes outward, forcing them back.

It’s a mess.

And if we run through, we’ll be caught in it.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

"Okay, okay, climbing sounds good! Let’s go—fast!"

Mama Wolf nods, then nudges me forward. "Go first. I'll follow behind you."

Brother Wolf takes the lead, leaping onto the first ridge. His movements are strong but not as fluid as before. He’s tired. We all are.

I gulp and follow after him, my paws scraping against the rough stone. The climb is steeper than I thought, and my heart pounds as I pull myself up. Mama Wolf is right behind me, her breathing heavy.

Below us, the battle between the Dusk Stalkers and Spiky Cocoons rages on. Dusk Stalkers dart between the rolling masses of spiked shells, snarling and clawing, while the Cocoons counter with their brutal, needle-like projectiles. Neither side notices us—yet.

But we can’t afford to be slow.

I focus on climbing, using my claws to dig into the rock, one step at a time. Don't look down. Don't look down.

Then—

CRACK.

The sound of something snapping below.

A wave of panic shoots through me as I glance down—

Mama Wolf!

A chunk of the ridge beneath her has given way, and she’s dangling off the edge, her claws barely holding on. Her body trembles with effort, her wounds from before making it even harder for her to pull herself up.

"No, no, no!" I scramble toward her, but she snaps at me.

"Keep moving!" she growls through gritted teeth. "Don't stop!"

"But—!"

"Go!"

I hesitate, my whole body shaking. I can't just leave her! But Brother Wolf's voice snaps me back to reality.

"If you stop, we all die!"

I bite my lip, my heart aching, but I force myself to keep climbing.

Mama Wolf grunts and hauls herself up, her body shaking from the effort. She’s breathing even harder now.

Despite that, Mama Wolf successfully climbs back up. Of course, she would. She’s strong, right? She has to be.

But she’s pushing herself too much.

And we still have so much farther to go.

She takes a deep breath, then shakes the dust from her fur and nudges me forward again. "Keep moving. Carefully."

We continue, step by step, slow and careful. The ridge is narrow, the stone uneven, and below us, the battle between the Dusk Stalkers and Spiky Cocoons is only getting worse. The air is filled with snarls, hissing, and the sharp whistles of spines being launched.

Then—

THUNK!

A spine comes flying out of nowhere, piercing into the rock right above me.

"EEEEEK!"

I yelp and instinctively jump back—but my paws slip, and suddenly, the ground isn't beneath me anymore.

For a terrifying second, I feel myself falling.

But—chomp!

Something grabs my scruff and yanks me back up.

I gasp as I land back on the ridge, my legs shaking. Mama Wolf has caught me just in time.

She lets out a low growl, her ears pinned back. "Watch your step," she warns.

I nod frantically, my heart still pounding.

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Brother Wolf assesses the situation below, his eyes darting between the fighting monsters.

"They... still haven’t noticed us," he murmurs. "That was just a stray spine."

I swallow hard, staring at the spine still embedded in the wall.

That could've been me.

I shake my head. No time to think about that.

We have to keep moving.

We’re so close. The entrance is right there! Just a little more, just past the battle happening beneath us, and we’ll be safe!

But then—

It’s there.

Again.

You know who.

The Green Stalker.

I feel my whole body freeze up. How!? Bigger Sister Wolf had just been holding it back not that long ago!

It has caught up.

It senses us.

And the moment it does—it moves.

I don’t even have time to scream. It’s rushing toward us, fast, too fast!

Mama Wolf’s ears flatten, and she lets out a ferocious snarl.

"GO! NOW!" she commands, her voice sharp and desperate. "JUMP—STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ENTRANCE!"

Brother Wolf doesn’t hesitate. He grabs me by the scruff and leaps forward.

I barely catch a glimpse of what’s happening below—

Some of the Spiky Cocoons and Dusk Stalkers suddenly turn their attention to the Green Stalker. Maybe they think it’s another enemy.

They attack.

But—it doesn’t matter.

The Green Stalker barely even slows down.

It tears through them like they’re nothing.

A Dusk Stalker pounces—but the Green Stalker impales it mid-air.

A Spiky Cocoon launches spines—but the Green Stalker shoves through them like they’re twigs.

It’s coming.

It’s coming right for us.

Brother Wolf, still gripping me by the scruff, runs as fast as he can toward the entrance. I can feel his muscles tensing, his breath quick and sharp. Almost there, almost there!

But then—

Two Dusk Stalkers leap into our path!

They land right in front of us, their sharp claws glinting, their terrifying eyes locking onto us.

Brother Wolf skids to a stop, growling fiercely.

I squeak in panic, my tiny paws flailing helplessly. "N-No! Move! MOVE!"

But the Dusk Stalkers don’t care.

They crouch low, ready to pounce.

Behind us—

The Green Stalker is still coming.

I feel my heart pounding. I can barely think, barely breathe.

We’re trapped.

Brother Wolf suddenly bites down on my scruff tighter and—THROWS me.

I yelp, flailing through the air before I land hard on my back at the entrance. Owww! That HURT!

I scramble to my feet, ears ringing, heart racing. Brother Wolf—he stayed behind!

He stands there, growling, his fur bristling, his fangs bared as the two Dusk Stalkers circle him.

"No, no, no—Brother, COME ON!" I scream, stepping forward, but my legs feel so weak.

Then I see Mama Wolf.

She isn’t running.

She isn’t escaping.

She’s facing the Green Stalker.

Her head is lowered, her tired eyes fierce. Her wounds still bleed.

"Mama—what are you doing!?" My voice cracks.

She glances at me.

For just a moment.

And then she turns back to face the monster.

Brother Wolf and Mama Wolf stand back to back, their fur bristling, their bodies battered and bleeding.

The Dusk Stalkers creep low, ready to pounce on Brother Wolf. The Green Stalker towers over Mama Wolf, its vine-limbs writhing, eager to ensnare.

I try to move, to do something, but my body is frozen. I just stare at them, my chest tightening.

Then they turn to me.

Mama Wolf’s ears lower slightly. Even from here, I can see the exhaustion in her golden eyes. But still, she smiles. Not the strong, confident smile she always has—but something softer. Almost… peaceful.

Brother Wolf, still growling, gives me a small glance, his tail flicking.

"Go."

"Run."

The words stab into me. My breath hitches, and before I know it, my voice cracks—

“No! You—You promised! You said you’d teach me how to do that cool move! You can’t—!”

My voice breaks.

Brother Wolf just chuckles under his breath, crouching lower. “Guess you’ll have to figure it out on your own.”

Then they charge.

Mama Wolf lunges first, meeting the Green Stalker head-on. Brother Wolf follows, colliding with the Dusk Stalkers before they can reach her.

I stumble back—my legs won’t listen. I don’t want to leave. But—I have to.

Mama Wolf lifts her head once more, her golden eyes locking onto mine through the chaos.

That same, gentle smile.

"Live, my dear pup."

I turn and run.

Tears blur my vision, my chest aches, and my paws stumble over loose stones, but I keep running. I don’t look back.

Because if I do—

…I won’t be able to keep going.

I stagger forward, barely able to see through the tears blurring my vision.

Everything here is glowing. The ground shimmers with faintly pulsing lights, bioluminescent mushrooms sprout from the cavern walls, and massive glowing crystals jutted from the earth, casting eerie shadows. It’s nothing like the darkness of the 4th Zone. Nothing like the fake sky of the 5th.

It’s… beautiful.

But I can’t stop.

I clench my teeth, shaking my head violently. No. Don’t get distracted. It’s not over yet.

Mama Wolf’s voice echoes in my head. Live, my dear pup.

I swallow hard, forcing my trembling legs to move.

“I need to find a Myconid,” I whisper to myself. “Get their spores. If I do that, then… then Mama Wolf’s… Brother Wolf’s… Everyone’s…”

My voice cracks. I bite my lip.

I wipe my face, smearing the tears away with my forearm.

“…It won’t be in vain.”

I take a deep breath.

Then, I run deeper into the glowing cave.

There—I spot it.

A Myconid.

A small one, roughly my size, waddles between the glowing mushrooms.

No time to hesitate.

I pounce. My body moves on its own, instinct guiding me as I clamp my jaws around it. The moment I feel its spongy body in my mouth, I thrash it wildly, shaking it back and forth.

Come on, come on! I have to be careful—I can’t bite down too hard, or I’ll crush it before I get what I need.

It struggles, weak little limbs flailing. But I don’t stop. I keep running, paws pounding against the glowing earth, desperate.

Then—a burst of spores.

A faint puff of glowing dust fills the air, slipping between my teeth and clinging to my fur.

I got it!

I don’t dare slow down.

With the Myconid still twitching in my grip, I keep running.

"I'm sorry, little Myconid," I murmur in my mind, guilt twisting in my chest. You're really cute, but I need your spores right now.

The spores puff out more, a glowing mist filling the air around me. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying not to let them sting or blur my vision.

I jump, paws leaving the ground for a split second before I land, skidding to a stop.

Okay, okay—this should be enough!

I take a shaky breath. My heart is still racing.

I have what I need.

Now—I have to keep moving.

As I open my eyes, I freeze.

Something is in front of me.

No—somethings.

Caterpillars.

Gross, huge caterpillars.

Their slimy, wriggling bodies pulse with each movement, and their beady little eyes stare right at me. They’re bigger—waaay bigger than the little bugs I used to see before. Their weird, squishy legs twitch, and I swear one of them is drooling.

Eeeeeek!

I let out a low growl, trying to make myself look bigger—even though I’m shaking inside. My fur bristles, my tail stiffens.

I don’t know if they’re gonna attack me or crawl all over me—both are equally horrifying!

I have to get out of here.

But wait—one of them looks… no, feels familiar.

Something about her makes my fur stand on end, but not in a scary way. It’s… nostalgic.

I don’t know why, but the moment our eyes meet, my panic wavers. The fear, the disgust—it doesn’t fully go away, but there’s something else now.

A feeling deep in my chest.

Like I’m supposed to know her. Like we’ve met before.

But that’s impossible, right? I’ve never met a giant caterpillar in my life!

The caterpillar moves closer.

I should run. I should move.

But… I can’t.

There’s no hostility. No danger. Just… warmth.

The closer she gets, the stronger it becomes. That feeling. That pull.

Until—

It clicks.

My breath hitches. My paws tremble. My vision blurs.

Nur…?

Nur Azriana.

My best friend.

I’m about to say something—

Until the ground shakes.

Something is approaching. Fast.

No. No. No.

I turn my head, heart pounding in my chest. It can’t be. It shouldn’t be.

The Green Stalker.

Looming. Twisted. Writhing with new, fresh vines.

No, no, no, no, NO!

The spores—they were supposed to work!

I squeeze my eyes shut. This isn’t happening.

But when I open them again—

The Green Stalker is right there.

But wait—

It’s not moving.

It looms over me, its viny, branchy limbs twitching, but it doesn’t strike.

I blink. What?

I’m right here. Why isn’t it attacking?

Then it shifts slightly, almost like it's... confused?

The spores.

They must be working!

I take a shaky breath, my legs trembling beneath me.

It worked.

But—how long will it last?

Wait—

Uh—uh—what do I do!?

Run? Yes, run while I can! The Green Stalker isn’t attacking, I should move—but wait!

Nur is here!

I have to tell her—about everything, about Mama Wolf, about Brother Wolf, about Bigger Sister and Big Sister and—oh no, oh no, oh no!

But—but why is she here? HOW is she here!?

I just—I just saw her die.

No, no, no, NO—

Wait, did she die?

My brain is not braining right now.

Too much. Too much. TOO MUCH.

Green Stalker. Spores. Mama. Nur. Bigger Sister. Big Sister. Brother Wolf. Running.

I should move. I should speak. I should—

Oh no.

Oh no.

I think I broke my brain.

Bzztt bzzt—brain not working—bzztt—

Then—BOOM.

A Myconid, a little one, runs right past me and rams into the Green Stalker.

I blink. What.

Of course, the Green Stalker barely even budges, and with a lazy swing of its viney arm, it swats the little guy away like a fly.

Oh no.

Oh no no no—wait.

Another Myconid comes.

Then another.

And then a bigger one.

And then another.

And another.

Oh—OHHH.

Mama Wolf was right!

The Myconids hate the Green Stalker. They really, REALLY hate it.

They’re not just attacking it—they’re SWARMING it.

Stomping. Slamming. Throwing spores. Grabbing its vines and yanking it apart.

For the first time, the Green Stalker recoils—it actually looks overwhelmed.

I—I don’t know what to feel right now.

Relief? Terror? Amazement?

All I know is, I should not be here anymore.

Wait.

Where’s the Myconid I had in my mouth?!

It was just here! I was shaking it not too long ago!

I frantically look around—left, right, up, down—gone.

I didn’t even notice when it slipped away.

Oh no.

Did I drop it when my brain went bzztt bzzt?

Did it wiggle free while I was too busy having a crisis?

Did it just scamper off on its own?!

AAAHHHH, COME BACK, YOU’RE MY SPORE SOURCE!!!

Welp—whatever! That doesn’t matter now!

Because—

The Green Stalker—oh my god, it’s getting absolutely wrecked!

"DIE, YOU MOTHERFUCKER, DIE!!!" I scream.

The Myconids are all over it, swarming like ants, climbing up its viney body, tearing into it with their weird little fungus hands.

It’s flailing, thrashing—no use.

The spores are everywhere. Thick, heavy clouds of them—covering it, sinking into it.

The Green Stalker stumbles, its movements jerky, uncoordinated. Its vines lash out at the Myconids, but they just keep coming, more and more of them.

It’s suffocating, rotting, falling apart.

I want to laugh and cry at the same time.

This is for Mama Wolf.

For Papa Wolf.

For Uncle Wolf.

For Big Sister Wolf.

For Bigger Sister Wolf.

For Brother Wolf.

For everything you took from me, you horrible, viney, spiky, piece of shit!

DIE!

Slowly—but surely—the Green Stalker is getting ripped apart.

Its vines wither, twisting and curling in on themselves like dying worms.

The Myconids don’t stop—they tear, they claw, they pull.

Thick, wet sounds fill the air as pieces of the Green Stalker’s body are ripped away, falling to the glowing ground in shriveled clumps.

It lets out a horrible, gurgling noise.

A death cry.

I should feel relieved, right? I should be cheering, laughing, crying—something.

But all I can do is stand there, watching as the monster that took everything from me is consumed, broken down into nothing but rotting plant matter.

It tries to move—tries to run.

Too late.

Its legs give out, crashing into the earth.

The Myconids swarm over it, their spores sinking in deep.

The Green Stalker shudders.

And then, finally—

It stops.

There’s nothing left but mulch.

The once-terrifying Green Stalker—the thing that took Uncle Wolf, Papa Wolf, Big Sister Wolf, Sister Wolf, Mama Wolf, Brother Wolf—is now just a pile of shredded, rotting plant matter.

Its body has been devoured, torn apart, absorbed by the Myconids.

It’s over.

I feel like I should be happy. I should feel avenged.

But as I stare at the pile of decay, my legs shake.

My heart aches.

Because no matter how much I scream in my head, no matter how much I wish for it—

They’re not coming back.

My voice cracks, the words barely able to escape, a strangled sob breaking free as I stare at the remains.

They’re gone.

They’re all gone.

But—but… it’s over.

I’ve done it.

The Green Stalker is dead.

But what does that even mean now?

Does it really matter?

Will it bring them back?

Will it bring back Mama’s warmth?

Brother’s smile?

Big Sister’s reassuring strength?

No.

I drop to my knees, tears streaming down my face, no more fight left in me.

I’ve always been the cheerful one, the airhead, the one who laughed even when it hurt.

But now, in this moment, I realize how much of it was a facade—a mask I wore just to keep going.

I wipe my eyes, taking a shaky breath.

They’re gone.

But I’ll carry them with me.

I’ll carry all of them—Papa, Uncle, all the wolves, the family I had.

And I’ll make sure their sacrifices weren’t in vain.

I will.

I will fight, and I will survive.

For them.

Because that’s what Mama Wolf would want.

That’s what they all would want.

The world around me starts to blur, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me like a mountain.

My legs feel weak, my body refusing to stay upright any longer.

N-Nur…

Nur is here.

I want to see her, to make sure she’s okay, to talk to her, but—

Everything feels so heavy.

I can’t stay awake.

Not yet.

I’m on the verge of slipping, of losing it all, but then—

Through the fog of my mind, I hear a faint voice.

It’s soft at first, barely there, but it calls my name.

Tessa…

Tessa…

And just like that—

The last shred of consciousness shatters.

My body finally gives in, and everything goes black.

I don’t feel the ground beneath me, don’t feel the cold of the air.

There’s nothing but the echo of my name in my mind, and then…

Nothing.

End of Chapter 18