The trees loomed ahead, their branches stretching toward the sky, leaves rustling gently in the breeze. Fenix and Maya stood at the edge of the forest, about to enter, when Maya’s hand shot out, stopping him in his tracks.

  "Wait a minute!" she blurted, smacking her forehead with a groan.

  Fenix blinked, confused. “What? Why?”

  Maya let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We’re total idiots. We haven’t even looked at the recipe, and here we are, rushing into the woods."

  “You’re right—you are an idiot,” Fenix teased, his grin creeping up.

  “I said We, genius,” Maya shot back, shooting him a pyful gre before sticking her tongue at him. "And before we stumble into a forest full of dangerous creatures, maybe we should check the recipe, so we actually know what we’re looking for."

  “Fair point. Look at you, being smart for once,” Fenix chuckled, his grin widening.

  Maya flipped her hair over her shoulder, smirking. "I’m always smart."

  "Uh-huh, sure," Fenix quipped, tossing her a wink. He shrugged off his knapsack and rummaged through it until he pulled out the folded parchment. The moment he unfolded it, the parchment shimmered, dissolving into a swirl of glittering light. A translucent screen appeared in front of them, glowing softly as it dispyed the list of ingredients they needed.

  The words "Smokey Bite Ashserpent Wrap" showed at the top, followed by a list of bizarre ingredients:

  Fuggyleaf Fern (for a crisp, smoky bite aka onions)Fiery Cinderpuss (melts perfectly under heat, with a slight burn aka cheese)Ashserpent MeatMistvine Pickle (a vine that tangles in the trees, used for its sharp, tangy fvor aka pickles)Ironroot Stalks (to wrap aka lettuce)Maya raised an eyebrow, eyeing the translucent screen. “Well, that’s convenient.”

  “But nice,” Fenix added, his gaze shifting to the glowing dispy. “We won’t have to hold the recipe to check which ingredients we need.”

  “That is a plus,” Maya agreed, a hint of a smile forming.

  Fenix pulled out the map and unfolded it with a flick of his wrist. His brow furrowed as he scanned the parchment. "Huh. It just shows where we are and the path to the campsite. Guess it won’t be much help until we’ve gathered all the ingredients."

  "Figures." Maya shrugged, unbothered. "At least we know what we’re hunting now."

  Fenix nodded and reached into his knapsack again, pulling out two gleaming machetes. The metal caught the sunlight as he handed one to Maya, who accepted it with a grin. Fenix then slung the bag back over his shoulder, adjusting the strap as it settled comfortably against his back.

  "Ready?" Maya asked, gripping her machete tightly.

  Fenix twirled his bde pyfully, fshing her a smirk. "After you."

  Maya didn’t need to be told twice. She stepped forward, leading them beneath the dense canopy. Instantly, the air cooled, thick with the earthy scent of moss and leaves. The trees towered above, their trunks twisting upward, draped in vines and drenched in soft hues of purple and pink. Glowing blue moss bnketed the forest floor, soft and springy underfoot, while strange fungi in wild, neon colors clung to the roots and trunks around them.

  Maya’s eyes were wide with wonder, taking in every detail. "Is this what it’s like in Haven?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "It’s even better in Haven," Fenix smiled as he took in the vibrant scene around them. "This is just a taste."

  "I can’t wait to py for real," Maya murmured, excitement bubbling up again. "I really hope I win that guessing game."

  Fenix chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I hope so too," he said, though a flicker of knowing sparkled in his eyes. He already knew she’d win.

  As they walked through the forest, their footsteps crunched softly on the leaf-strewn ground. They didn’t know how far they had wandered when they stumbled upon a cluster of massive, silver moss-covered rocks. While admiring their beauty, Maya spotted a small glowing icon ahead. It hovered above a patch of tall, dark green pnts with wiry stalks, each topped with vibrant orange flowers that emitted a faint, enchanting glow.

  "There!" Maya pointed, her voice sharp with excitement.

  The words "Fuggyleaf Fern" floated above the pnt in the icon bar. Without hesitation, they rushed forward, crouching to pluck the spiky pnts while being careful not to prick their fingers on the thorns. The sharp scent filled the air, a mix of freshly cut herbs and something smoky. They gathered the thistles into their knapsack.

  Maya wrinkled her nose. "Why don’t they just let us use an inventory? It’d be way easier."

  Fenix shrugged, slipping another pnt into the bag. “Probably to make it feel more authentic.”

  “Maybe,” Maya started, but then she froze. A distant, piercing scream echoed through the trees. Her head snapped in the direction of the sound.

  They exchanged gnces, a wave of apprehension surging between them. Then, from the shadows, a group of participants came crashing through the trees, their faces pale with fear, their eyes wide. The air was thick with panic. Before Fenix and Maya could react, something enormous barreled into view, crashing through the forest with terrifying speed.

  The creature was a twisted hybrid—part cow, part beaver, its hulking body covered in bristling fur. Beady red eyes glowed with fury, and rge, curled horns jutted from its head. As it charged, its massive beaver-like tail whipped the ground, sending sprays of dirt and leaves flying everywhere.

  “What the actual fuck is that?!” Maya shouted, her eyes wide as the beast let out a bone-rattling growl.

  The fleeing participants tore past them, screaming, their feet barely keeping pace with their frantic escape. Fenix didn’t want to get caught in the creature's aggro. He grabbed Maya’s arm and yanked her in the opposite direction. “Come on!”

  They sprinted through the forest, ducking beneath low-hanging branches and weaving between thick trunks. The sounds of crashing underbrush and pounding hooves rumbled behind them. The further they ran, the quieter the chaos became, until only the sound of crunching leaves underfoot filled the air.

  “What the heck was that?” Maya asked her face a mix of confusion and disbelief.

  Fenix leaned against a sturdy tree, shaking his head. “No clue,” he huffed. “But whatever recipe they got… it’s going to be a nightmare to deal with if that thing is part of it.”

  Maya burst into ughter, brushing dirt from her clothes. “Good thing we’re not the ones dealing with it.”

  “Yeah, thank goodness for that,” Fenix agreed with a smile.

  With a shared chuckle, they pushed on. Time was ticking, and they had ingredients to find. There was no time to worry about anyone else’s troubles.

  Author Note:

  Want to read 50 chapters ahead? You can do that here: ko-fi.com/momocatt If you’re happy reading at the current pace, that’s totally fine too—I appreciate every single reader.

  But if you feel like sending a little support my way (maybe for a coffee or some extra motivation), you can also do that here: ko-fi.com/momocatt

  No matter what, thank you for being here and enjoying the story! (????)