The first rays of dawn painted the snow-capped mountains in soft hues of pink and gold, casting long shadows across the resort's empty parking lot. The pristine snow glittered like scattered diamonds, untouched since the previous night's supernatural battle. Jessica's muscles ached with each movement, a symphony of pain that served as a visceral reminder of the impossible events that had just unfolded. Her enhanced werewolf healing was already at work, but even supernatural recovery took time after facing something as formidable as the Abominable Snowman—a creature that had transformed from tourist legend to terrifying reality in a single night. Now it was sealed away, trapped in a deep pit reinforced with Dong's ancient wards, destined to become nothing more than another local myth whispered around winter bonfires.

  Inside the resort's medical wing, the antiseptic smell mixed with the lingering scent of fear and exhaustion. The small room, with its stark white walls and utilitarian furniture, felt somehow both clinical and comforting. Mia stirred on the narrow bed, her dark hair splayed across the white pillow like spilled ink. Jessica stood near the window, her reflection ghosting against the glass as she watched her friend slowly regain consciousness. The events of the night before seemed surreal—a blur of ice, fangs, and desperate survival. Every time she closed her eyes, she could still see the creature's massive form, its fur as white as the driving snow, blue eyes gleaming with intelligence that made it all the more terrifying.

  "Wha—" Mia's voice cracked, dry and uncertain, her eyes struggling to focus in the morning light. "What happened?"

  Frankie stepped forward from where she'd been standing in the shadows, her vampire nature carefully concealed beneath a layer of concern. The morning light caught her light tanned skin, making it shimmer ever so slightly—something only Jessica's enhanced senses could detect. "You were attacked in the lounge. We found you and brought you back." Her voice was steady.

  Dee Dee, standing just behind Frankie, nodded. "Yeah… Total miracle you're okay." Her fingers twisted nervously in the hem of her sweater, betraying the casual tone she was trying to maintain.

  Tiffany hovered near the doorway, her sweat coat and baggy pants seeming to glamour in the light streaming through the windows. "How is she?" Tiffany's question carried an undercurrent of something more—perhaps suspicion, perhaps concern.

  Jessica smiled at her, trying to project reassurance while hiding her own exhaustion. "She's fine. The doctor said she should remain in bed until he gets back." Her enhanced hearing picked up the steady rhythm of Mia's heartbeat, stronger now than it had been hours ago.

  "Good, how did you find her?" Tiffany's question hung in the air, loaded with unspoken implications.

  "We were following the trail up the mountain," Salina interjected, her dark-lined eyes meeting Jessica's for a split second. The witch's presence was both commanding and comforting, her aura of power carefully contained but palpable to those who knew what to look for. "And we found the cave where the tracks lead us to. When we found Mia, she was—"

  "Unconscious," Jessica finished, her werewolf healing already erasing the signs of their brutal fight, though the memory of every blow and close call remained vivid. "Just unconscious. When we carried her, the monster chased us until the cave collapsed on him. We were totally lucky to get out of there." The half-truth tasted bitter on her tongue, but it was better than exposing her werewolf identity to those who weren't ready for it.

  Tiffany narrowed her eyes as if she smelled something off, her hunter's instincts—though she didn't know she had them—clearly picking up on the carefully crafted deception. But she shrugged her shoulders, choosing to accept the explanation for now.

  Dong entered the room, his footsteps nearly silent on the polished floor. His usually jovial face was serious, lines of worry etched around his eyes like ancient runes. The resort owner carried himself with the bearing of someone who had seen more than he let on. "The local authorities have been informed about the incident in the caves. They'll investigate the strange tracks and the... unusual circumstances." She chose her words carefully, dancing around the truth while acknowledging enough to satisfy any official inquiry.

  Ted, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, leaned against the wall near the door. His athletic frame cast a long shadow across the floor. "Yeah dude, first time in the mountains and weird shit blows," he said with a forced lightness that fooled no one. His eyes kept darting to the windows, as if expecting to see a massive white shape lumbering through the snow.

  Mia slowly sat up, wincing as her body protested the movement. The blanket fell away, revealing more bruises and scratches that told only part of the story. "I remember flashes. Something huge. White. Furry." Her voice trembled slightly as the memories tried to surface through the fog of trauma. She looked around the room, confusion clear in her eyes. "What happened to the monster?"

  Jessica exchanged a quick glance with Frankie, understanding their secret identities must hung between them like an invisible thread—a bond forged in battle and shared mystery. The weight of their other world pressed against the mundane reality of the medical room.

  "He's gone," Jessica said firmly, putting every ounce of conviction she could muster into those two words. "Hopefully... The cave collapsed on him when we escaped." She could still feel the reverberation of the cave-in, hear the creature's otherworldly roar as tons of rock and magical wards sealed it away from the world of humans.

  "Did you place the wards I gave you?" Dong asked with urgency.

  "We did," said Salina, her fingers absently touching her silver pendant beneath her sweater. The powerful magical barriers would ensure the creature remained trapped, regardless of its supernatural strength.

  Dong cleared his throat, a smile breaking through his previous tension like sun through storm clouds. "Good. Your group—the Mighty Wolf cheerleaders—showed remarkable courage. As a token of appreciation, you're invited to a free week-long vacation at my resort next year." The offer was generous, but Jessica suspected it was also strategic—keeping potential witnesses close, managing the narrative.

  Tiffany's face lit up, momentarily transforming back into the carefree cheerleader she appeared to be. "Seriously? A free ski trip?"

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Absolutely," Dong confirmed, his businessman's smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Consider it a reward for your bravery and for helping protect the resort." The word 'protect' carried extra weight, acknowledged by subtle nods from those who knew the full truth.

  The room filled with excited chatter, the promise of future adventure temporarily overwhelming the lingering fear and uncertainty. Mia's near-death experience momentarily forgotten in the rush of planning next year's trip. Jessica felt Salina's eyes on her—a knowing look that suggested their friendship had survived far more than just a monster hunt. They had faced the impossible together and emerged stronger.

  As the morning light grew stronger, casting away the shadows of the night, Jessica realized something fundamental had changed. They had faced something impossible together, something that would forever mark them as different from their peers. And they had survived, carrying with them a secret that would bind them together more surely than any ordinary friendship. The morning sun continued its journey across the sky, warming the snow outside and promising a new day—one where the supernatural and the ordinary would continue their delicate dance, hidden from most eyes but ever-present for those who knew where to look.

  *****

  The morning air was crisp and biting as the group gathered in the resort's parking lot, their breath forming delicate clouds in the frigid mountain atmosphere. The sun was just beginning to peek over Ice Rock Mountain's jagged peaks, painting the snow-covered landscape in shades of pink and gold. Their luggage was already stowed beneath the tour bus, a sleek vehicle with "Mountain View Tours" emblazoned on its side in flowing script. It would carry them back to their normal lives—if anything could be normal after the past week’s event. The memory of ancient rituals and midnight battles still lingered in their minds, as fresh as the morning frost.

  "I still can't believe we're leaving," Jessica said, adjusting her backpack strap for the third time in as many minutes. Her fingers brushed against the shark tooth necklace Dee Dee had just given her, the smooth surface catching the morning light as it dangled against her chest. The tooth wasn't from any ordinary shark—Jessica could feel the residual energy pulsing through it, a reminder of the mysteries they'd encountered beneath the resort's frozen lake. “It felt like we only stayed here for a day.”

  Frankie stepped forward, her skin almost luminescent in the early sun, her red clothing the opposite against the snow-covered ground. "Totally dude, hasn't it?" A knowing smile played at the corners of her mouth, revealing the slightest hint of her pointed canines. Her black hair whipped around her face in the mountain breeze, and Jessica noticed how she carefully positioned herself to avoid the direct morning sunlight.

  "That's putting it mildly," Salina muttered, discreetly tucking Ted's 'gift' deeper into her bag. A small plastic bag of weed. Ted said some witches get high because it helps them enhance their powers. Obviously he heard dumb myths from whatever the heck he came from. Of course, Salina has no intention of using it, but refusing it outright seemed impolite after everything they'd been through together. Her grandmother would ground her for life if she found weed under her granddaughter’s bed. Maybe she could sell it to another weed addict for decent cash.

  Through the bus windows, they could see Tiffany, Mia, Amber, and Camella already settled in their seats, their cheerleading jackets creating bright spots of school colors in the otherwise neutral interior. Mia waved, looking much better after her ordeal, though still pale. Her snow beanie hid her bandage that the doctor wrapped around her head to shield her bump. Her minor head injury would fade away with the memory of the creature capturing her.

  "You know," Dee Dee said, fixing her glasses, "when Frankie said she was hanging out with cheerleaders, I thought she'd lost her mind."

  "And now?" Jessica raised an eyebrow, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it, anyway. The past week had shattered so many preconceptions on both sides.

  "Now I think she just has superb taste in friends." Dee Dee pulled Jessica into a tight hug, her soft mittens pressed against Jessica's back. The scent of chestnut and cinnamon clung to her clothing. "Keep that necklace safe. Who knows? Maybe it'll bring you luck during the full moon." The words were whispered so softly that only Jessica's enhanced hearing could catch them.

  Ted grinned lazily from where he leaned against his battered Volkswagen van, his eyes slightly red from what he claimed was a lack of sleep but Jessica suspected had more to do with the herbs he'd been burning for "ritual purposes." His tie-dyed shirt was a riot of colors against the monochromatic winter landscape. "And you," he pointed at Salina, his silver rings catching the light, "don't be afraid to experiment a little. Magic isn't all about following the rules." A knowing look passed between them, acknowledging the raw power Salina had displayed during their last confrontation.

  "I'll keep that in mind," Salina replied diplomatically, though Jessica could sense her friend's internal eye-roll. The spell book in her bag might have been calling to her, but Salina was cautious. She'd seen firsthand what happened when magic users got overconfident.

  The bus driver honked, the sound echoing off the surrounding mountains, signaling it was time to leave. Jessica felt a lump form in her throat, surprising her with its intensity. Despite the danger, despite nearly dying multiple times, she had found something rare here—acceptance from people who understood what it meant to be different. In Frankie, she'd found someone who understood the weight of carrying a supernatural secret. In Dee Dee, she'd discovered an ally who embraced the unusual without judgment. And in Ted, well, they'd found someone whose laid-back attitude somehow made even the most terrifying situations manageable.

  "Frankie," Jessica started, then stopped, unsure how to put into words everything she wanted to say. How do you thank someone for having your back during a fight with an ancient evil? How do you say goodbye to someone who's seen you at your most vulnerable—fur, fangs, and all?

  "I know," Frankie said softly, her usual sardonic tone replaced with genuine warmth. "Me too." The vampire's cool hand squeezed Jessica's warm one, a physical reminder of their unlikely friendship.

  They hugged, vampire and werewolf, an alliance united to face a common foe. When they pulled apart, Jessica could have sworn she saw a hint of red in Frankie's eyes, quickly blinked away. Whether it was from emotion or hunger, Jessica chose not to ask. Some mysteries were better left unexplored.

  "You better text us," Dee Dee called out as Jessica and Salina climbed the bus steps, their shoes leaving wet prints on the rubber matting. "And none of that 'too busy' nonsense!" She pointed accusingly at her skull bracelet, a reminder of their shared promise to stay in touch.

  "Promise," Jessica called back, settling into her seat next to Salina. The familiar scent of her best friend—paper, ink, and the lingering trace of magical herbs—helped calm her racing heart.

  As the bus engine rumbled to life, Jessica pressed her hand against the cold window. Outside, Frankie, Dee Dee, and Ted stood waving. The morning sun cast long shadows behind them, three unlikely allies who had helped save not just the resort, but perhaps the entire town from an awakening evil that had slumbered for centuries beneath the ice.

  The bus pulled away, and Jessica kept waving until they turned the corner and her new friends disappeared from view. Beside her, Salina pulled out her notebook, its pages significantly more filled than when they'd arrived, and began making notes about their adventure. Her neat handwriting documented everything from the ancient symbols they'd discovered in the ice caves to the exact pronunciation of the banishing spell they'd used in the final battle.

  "You okay?" Salina asked, not looking up from her writing. Her pen moved across the page with practiced efficiency, adding another entry to their growing chronicle of supernatural encounters.

  Jessica touched the shark tooth necklace, feeling its subtle warmth against her skin. She thought about everything that had happened. About how she'd found friendship in the most unexpected places, how she'd faced down a legendary monster that had been feeding on visitors to Ice Rock Mountain for centuries, and how, somehow, she'd kept her secret intact with the rest of the squad. They might have witnessed her fighting alongside Frankie, but in the chaos and darkness, they'd seen only a large wolf, not their teammate's transformation.

  "Yeah," she said finally, watching the snow-covered peaks of Ice Rock Mountain recede in the distance. The morning sun made the snow glitter like thousands of diamonds, beautiful and dangerous, much like the secrets the mountain kept. "I'm better than okay."

  From somewhere near the back of the bus, Tiffany started a cheer, her voice carrying over the engine's hum. Soon the entire squad joined in, their voices filling the bus with familiar rhythm and energy. The routine was the same one they'd practiced all week, but now it held new meaning—a celebration of survival, of friendship, and of mysteries solved.

  Jessica smiled, knowing that while they might head home, their adventure had changed them all in ways they were only beginning to understand. The cheerleaders might not know the full truth of what had happened at Ice Rock Mountain, but they'd gained a new appreciation for the strange. And Jessica had finally found people who accepted her completely, supernatural nature and all.

  As Ice Rock Mountain disappeared completely from view, Jessica leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and let the gentle motion of the bus lull her into a peaceful doze. The shark tooth necklace pulsed warmly against her skin, a reminder that magic and mystery weren't confined to the mountain resort. In her dreams, she ran through snowy forests with a vampire at her side, and for once, the monster they were chasing wasn't nearly as scary as the ones they'd already defeated.