The sun hung low over the twisted canopy of Everdusk Forest, casting long, eerie shadows across the moss-covered ground. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and faint whispers that seemed to emanate from the trees themselves. The Queen of Heart's General led the group., with the White Knight riding beside behind them were the Lion, the Walrus, the Carpenter, the Mock Turtle and the Flamingo.
"Keep your eyes open!," the General suddenly commanded. "This forest doesn't take kindly to intruders."
The Lion, padding alongside them, let out a low growl. "I didn't really like this place. Too many menacing shadows around."
"Exactly why we were sent here to investigate. Perhaps there's a clue in here about the darkness that the Sheep foretold," the White Knight responded in a light tone.
The Carpenter, walking alongside the Walrus, slung his hammer over his shoulder before adding into the conversation. "Ha! We've been through a lot together. Still, it's a shame our forces had to be divided. Things feel a little… off without the whole gang."
The Walrus adjusted his monocle, his whiskers twitching as he replied, "You can't really blame the others .They're eager to save Alice from the Well of Wonders. I, too, wish she could be here now, especially during a crisis like this."
The Mock Turtle, trailing behind, let out a wistful sigh. "Alice… such an unfortunate lass. Too much burden for such a young one."
The Flamingo, hopping over a gnarled root, piped up nervously. "Sure, sure, Alice, I do pity her, but isn't she also why we're in this mess? We're scattered because of her."
In response, the Lion growled low in his throat. "Watch your tongue, Flamingo. Without Alice, Wonderland would've fallen long ago. We're all alive today because of her."
The Flamingo fluffed its feathers in agitation. "I'm just saying what we're all thinking!"
The White Knight interjected calmly, his voice steady and measured. "Enough. Blame and doubt won't guide us through this forest. Alice has done more for us than we can ever repay. Our task now is to ensure she has a Wonderland worth returning to."
Before anyone else could respond, a faint rustling sound suddenly swept through the forest, causing the group to halt. The Lion's ears twitched, and he sniffed the air. "Something's moving... not far from here."
The White Knight dismounted, his hand resting on the hilt of his ornate sword. "Stay sharp. If something is watching, we'll know soon enough."
The Flamingo fluttered down to the ground, its head swiveling nervously. "I really don't like this. Feels like the trees themselves are glaring at us."
"Perhaps they are," the Mock Turtle muttered, his tone tinged with foreboding.
Another rustle came, closer this time. The Lion crouched low, his claws unsheathing. "We're not alone. Whatever it is, it's getting closer."
The General raised his sword, its blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Form up. We don't move another step until we see what we're dealing with."
The Walrus adjusted his monocle, his large hands gripping his cane like a weapon. "Could be anything," he mused, more of an attempt to calm himself.
The Carpenter shifted his hammer from his shoulder to his hands, tapping it against his palm. "Whatever it is, it's about to have a bad day."
The Flamingo fluffed its feathers nervously, hopping closer to the Mock Turtle. "I'd feel a lot better if it just stayed in the shadows…"
A sudden snap echoed from the thicket ahead, and the group braced themselves. The Lion let out a low growl, muscles taut and ready to pounce.
The White Knight stepped forward, his sword drawn and steady. "Show yourself!" he called, his voice ringing with authority.
The rustling ceased, leaving the forest eerily silent. Then, from the shadows, a figure began to emerge—its form obscured by the dim light. As it stepped closer, the glint of metal and the faint sound of a chain dragging across the ground became unmistakable.
The Mock Turtle gasped, clutching his staff. "By the Wonderland... it can't be."
The figure finally came into view: a hulking, shadowy beast with glowing crimson eyes and a chained collar that seemed to radiate malevolent energy. It let out a guttural snarl, its claws digging into the earth.
The General tightened his grip on his sword, his jaw clenched. "Hold your ground," he commanded. "We face this together."
The beast roared before charging toward the group.
The Lion was first to respond by leaping forward to intercept the shadowy beast. The creature dodged with surprising speed, lashing out with its massive, shadow-wreathed paw. The impact sent the Lion skidding back, but he quickly regained his footing, snarling fiercely.
The White Knight moved swiftly, stepping in front of the group with his blade raised. "Stay together!" he shouted. "Don't let it separate us!"
The General barked orders as he advanced, his own sword clashing against the creature's claws with a shower of sparks. "Carpenter, Mock Turtle—flank it! Flamingo, keep to the air and distract it!"
The Carpenter charged to the side, his hammer raised high. "We don't need strategies mate! We just need to hit it hard!" he shouted, bringing the hammer down onto the beast's hind leg. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, momentarily stunning the creature.
The Mock Turtle followed close behind, pulling his head and limbs halfway into his shell, which began to emit a fiant, protective glow. "You won't breach this defense," he muttered, bracing himself as the beast's shadows lashed out at him. Each strike glanced off the sturdy shell, and the glow seemed to repel the tendrils, forcing them to retreat.
The Flamingo flapped its wings nervously but obeyed, taking to the air and circling the beast's head. "Over here, you oversized nightmare!" it squawked, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the creature's claws.
The Walrus stood back, observing the battle with a critical eye. "That collar," he muttered, adjusting his monocle. "It lights up whenever he attacks. We need to destroy the collar!"
The General heard the Walrus's observation and called out to the group. "You heard him! Focus on the collar!"
The White Knight nodded, sidestepping a swipe from the beast and lunging for its neck. His blade struck the collar, but the impact sent a jolt of dark energy coursing through him, forcing him to retreat with a grimace. "It's protected! We'll need to weaken it first!"
The Lion roared, lunging back into the fray. "Then we take it down, piece by piece!" He clawed at the beast's flank, tearing through the shadowy tendrils that made up its body.
From his position, the Mock Turtle let out a low growl, his voice muffled slightly from inside his shell. "Don't let it push us back! I'll hold this position no matter what!" Shadows lashed out at him, but they failed to penetrate the sturdy defense of his enchanted shell. The protective glow seemed to grow brighter, shielding the others from stray attacks.
The Flamingo, still circling above, squawked, "I hope you all have a better plan than this! I'm not built for prolonged heroics!"
The Carpenter grinned, swinging his hammer again. "Didn't I tell you mate? My hammer's all we need!" His hammer struck one of the chains connected to the collar, cracking it slightly.
The beast howled in rage, lashing out with a wave of dark energy. The Mock Turtle braced himself, his shell absorbing much of the impact and keeping the group anchored. "Stay steady!" he bellowed. "It's weakening!"
The White Knight gritted his teeth, his blade glowing faintly as he channeled his strength into a strike. "One more push, together!"
The group rallied, each focusing their attacks on the collar. The General and the White Knight struck simultaneously, their blades carving through the darkness. The Lion tore at the beast's shadows, while the Carpenter's hammer shattered another chain.
With a final, resounding crack, the collar shattered, and the beast let out an agonized roar. Its form began to dissolve, the shadowy tendrils unraveling into the air until nothing remained but a faint wisp of darkness.
The group stood in the sudden silence, their breaths heavy.
The Flamingo landed shakily, ruffling its feathers. "Well, that was… awful."
The General sheathed his sword, scanning the clearing. "Doesn't feel like it though. This one seemed too easy."
The Walrus stepped forward, his monocle catching the faint glimmer of the fading shadows. "Indeed, someone must be testing us. And whoever it is, it's not an easy foe."
The Lion growled low in his throat, pacing near the clearing's edge. "And we're not easy targets either. Let them come—I'm ready."
The Mock Turtle adjusted his staff and sighed deeply. "Bravery is one thing, Lion. Charging headfirst into the unknown is quite another. We don't even know how many of these beasts are lurking."
The Carpenter swung his hammer onto his shoulder with a smirk. "Doesn't matter how many. We just took down one, didn't we?"
The White Knight remained silent for a while, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. After a few thoughts, he finally spoke. "Well, our mission is to scout and gather information. If things go south, there's no shame in retreating."
The General nodded in agreement, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "He's right. We stay sharp and conserve our strength. Let's all prioritize living for another day, above all."
As the group began to regroup, the Flamingo, still perched near the Mock Turtle, let out a soft squawk of relief. The tension in the air, however, remained palpable.
Unbeknownst to the group, a figure that concealed itself nearby leaned against a twisted tree. Its form was cloaked in darkness, blending seamlessly with the surrounding shadows. The only discernible detail was the faint glimmer of a fan-shaped object held delicately in one hand, its edges shimmering faintly like starlight.
The figure tilted its head, observing the group with a predator's patience. A wicked grin spread across its obscured face, sharp and malicious. A low, almost imperceptible chuckle escaped its lips—a sound that barely disturbed the stillness of the forest.
Then, with a flick of the fan, the figure stepped back, merging entirely with the shadows. The darkness seemed to ripple and fold around it as it retreated, vanishing deeper into the forest. A faint rustling of leaves was the only trace left of its presence.
The Lion, ever vigilant, suddenly froze mid-step, his ears perking up. "Did anyone hear that?" he asked, his voice a low growl. He sniffed the air, his golden eyes scanning the trees.
The General frowned, his hand instinctively moving to his sword. "What is it, Lion?"
"Something was watching us," the Lion replied, his tone wary. "I can feel it."
The Flamingo flapped its wings nervously, hopping closer to the Mock Turtle. "Don't say that! We just got rid of one nightmare; I don't need another lurking around."
The White Knight's gaze turned toward the dense foliage. He squinted, as if trying to pierce the veil of shadows that surrounded them. "The Flamingo's right. If there's something else here, it's better we move quickly. Standing still makes us easy targets."
The Walrus adjusted his monocle and murmured, "Well, then we all better move out."
The General nodded, motioning for the group to press on. "Stay close. Whoever or whatever is out there, we'll face it together."