The I.P.P choked and spluttered as Justin, Juliet and Mason were sent into the abyss. Shrouded in darkness, the wind rushed past their ears as they fell downwards and hurtled closer to the ground. Justin tensed his body, clenching his jaw as he prepared for the drop. As he bounced through the thick cluster of leaves dangling through the intertwining branches trapped within the hoards of trees. His stomach flipped as he was catapulted off of another branch before collapsing to the ground with a thud, along with the others.

Falling onto a softened bed of leaves was the greatest of relief for Justin, though he was unsure if the crunch beneath him were shed branches or his spine…

He breathed in the aroma of the humid air, the faint scent of sea salt lingered along with the damp leaves hanging from the surrounding emerald bushes.

Justin grunted as he hoisted himself into a sitting position, "we all ok?" He asked caressing his aching muscles. Juliet and Mason could only mutter in response as they also yanked themselves from the ground. "I don't remember it ever being that rough," he joked chuckling to himself.

The atmosphere went cold as Mason and Juliet stared silently at Justin, their faces emotionless. As Juliet climbed to her feet she winced and clutched the back of her head, "I think I've hit my head…"

Mason followed suit, and standing up he announced through gritted teeth, "I think I've pulled my shoulder," as he flexed his arm outwards.

"I think I've broke my coccyx…" Juliet and Mason returned their glares to Justin as he stood rubbing his behind uncomfortably, their mouths remained an uncharacteristic grim line. Justin cringed at himself, "pretend I never said that."

The heat slapped them in the face as they examined their new surroundings. The bold moonlight and air weaved together as if they were threads, and a thunder rattled through the starry sky above them. Suddenly, the forest became the music of life, with its base-note greenery and the newfound drumbeat of rain. The flowers trumpeted in vibrant highs, and everyone quickly felt an overwhelming sense of dread when a growl erupted in the distance.

"What now?" Mason asked sheepishly, "where should we start to look?"

"I think I should start tracking her scent," Juliet proclaimed, "and we can go from there?"

Justin nodded, "okay, go ahead. Do you need something to remind you of her scent?"

"No, I'm good thanks." Juliet paused and slowly she inhaled, her eyes closed as she concentrated on the scent. Amongst the smell of dew lingered a faint sourly odour, "I can smell pickles!" Juliet beamed, "but it's quite faint. I can fly over the area to look for her, but it'd just be impossible to see anything through these trees."

Mason lurched forward and inhaled sharply to sniff, "do you think if we walk on the scent might get stronger?"

"You tell me," Juliet snarled, "I thought you had the better sense of smell?"

"Two noses are better than one Juliet, and I don't want to take any chances. If we want to find Alex, then we'll have to work together."

Justin smirked to himself and leant closer to Mason, "on a scale of one to ten, how painful was that to admit?"

"You have no idea…"

They began to walk along the dirt path, treading on the overgrown plants as they forced their way through the thick bushes. "You know," Justin began, I feel like I'm missing something. Like there's something I've forgotten?"

"Like what?" Gasped Juliet, "your wand?"

Mason snorted to himself, "your sister?"

"No and no," Justin rolled his eyes at Mason, "something my Dad told me about this place when we came here on vacation. There's something in this area that's well known, and it's not the stone of dreams. Something else?"

Mason's face crumpled, "stone of dreams?"

"It's a long story, I'll fill you in later. But first I need to try and remember what my Dad told me…"

"Maybe it's the dragon," Juliet suggested in between smelling the air in front of her, "I mean that's why Crumbs has travelled here."

"No, definitely not that…"

The trees loomed too tall, their shadows too deep. The air, thick and heavy with the heat, made it hard to breathe. Juliet led the way, her boots crunching over the leaf-strewn path. "This way," she called back to Justin and Mason, her voice a little too loud in the quiet woods. Her hand brushed against the bark of an ancient Pochote as she walked on, but soon enough she slowed down. "I don't know, Justin. I've got a bad feeling about this…"

Mason, who was walking a few paces behind, shot her a glance and snorted. "Losing your touch, are you?"

Juliet narrowed her eyes at the path ahead, but said nothing. She wasn't worried about being alone—she was worried about the stillness, the way the forest seemed to close in on them. There were no birds, no animals, not even the soft whispers of the wind through the branches. But an unfamiliar scent lingered in the air…

Justin paused, "everything alright?"

"I'm picking up a scent, and it's not Alex's."

Mason smirked. "Rubbish." He quickened his step to walk ahead, pushing a branch aside that seemed to tug at his sleeve.

Juliet hesitated, her eyes scanning the woods. The feeling of being watched hadn't faded. She felt it again—like the forest itself was alive, watching, waiting. But she shrugged it off, unwilling to let her unease hold them back. "Fine. But if the scent gets stronger, we're out."

They walked deeper into the forest, the path narrowing, the trees growing closer together, their dark trunks blocking out some of the moonlight and casting long, crooked shadows.

Justin's eyes flicked from one side of the trail to the other, his brow furrowed. "Anyone else feel like we're being... watched?" He asked quietly, glancing toward Juliet.

Juliet nodded, her pulse quickening. "I don't know what it is, but it's like the trees are closing in around us."

Mason turned, throwing them an exaggerated look of annoyance. "You two are ridiculous. It's just the woods. You're letting your imaginations get the best of you. Have you even considered the scent we're following may have changed because Alex has changed?" He shrugged and took another step forward.

But then the ground beneath his foot shifted. A twig snapped—loud, sharp. And then another. Justin froze. His foot hovered above the ground, his face going pale. He glanced at Mason and Juliet, who had stopped as well, their eyes wide, their faces drawn tight in concern.

"Did you hear that?" Juliet whispered, her voice tense.

Mason didn't answer right away, his eyes darting toward the dense undergrowth on either side of them. Then, a soft rustling from the bushes behind them made him stiffen. "Okay, maybe there could be something else out there..."

A sudden low growl pierced the air, coming from the direction they had just walked. It was deep, almost vibrating, as though the sound had come from the earth itself. The hairs on the back of Justin's neck stood up, and he whirled around, trying to pinpoint the source.

"Let's go," Juliet said urgently, pulling at his arm. "Now."

Before they could move, the growl came again, louder, closer. A shadow moved just outside the edge of their vision—a figure, tall and misshapen, skirting the trees. For a heartbeat, it seemed like the shadow itself was alive, stretching unnaturally long, reaching toward them with a hunger that made their blood run cold.

Mason took a step back, his voice tight. "What the bloody hell is that?"

The shadows between the trees shifted again, and in the fading light, they saw it: two glowing eyes, fixed on them from within the midst of the bushes. Justin's breath caught in his throat. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words didn't come.

The eyes blinked—slowly, almost lazily. The woods around them seemed to close in, the trees moving in unnatural ways, bending and swaying as if they were alive, aware, listening. The growl rumbled again, close enough now that they could feel the ground tremble beneath their feet.

Mason's jaw lowered, "Alex?"

Alex's stomach lurched as she was launched from within the I.P.P. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch, the machine spluttered as it spat her to the ground and she closed her eyes as she landed flat on to her back. Grimacing at the burning pain travelling along her spine, she fingered the ground around her. Eventually gripping on to the dry grass tightly as she established her surroundings.

Alex opened her eyes again, she lay there still for a moment before saying in a tired monotone, "ow."

Slowly she pulled herself up to her feet and looked around admiring the scenery around her.

The forest was dark, the only available light came from the full moon. Towering trees with broad, waxy leaves stretch high into the humid air, their canopies tangled together in an emerald sea. The air is thick with moisture, the humidity clinging to your skin and making each breath feel rich and heavy. The air smells of earth, decay, and the sharp, citrus-like tang of leaves. Every inch of the forest seems alive—alive with the hum of insects, the rustle of animals, unseen in the dense underbrush, and the calls of exotic birds overhead, their brilliant plumage flashing through the green.

Alex, barricaded in the wooded area, smiled proudly to herself. "See kid, we did it," she proclaimed resting her hand upon her bump. "Ow," Alex gasped, gripping onto a nearby branch as a sharp pain suddenly sliced through her abdomen. Her breath hitched, and she doubled over, trying to steady herself. The tightening in her belly only intensified,

"Okay, okay," she muttered, wincing as the pain surged again, stronger this time. Her hand instinctively pressed against her lower stomach, as if that might somehow soothe the pressure building there. It didn't. She straightened up slowly, trying to maintain some semblance of control.

"Not now …" Alex bit her lip, her mind racing. Another contraction came, its intensity like a vice tightening around her, pulling everything inward. She let out a shaky breath, clenching her fists as she fought to keep herself upright. Then the contraction passed, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to return to normal. But Alex knew it wouldn't last long.

"Okay, are we done?" She asked aloud, "good. Mommy has work to do, I need to find Professor Crumbs."

Taking a step on to the winding path, Alex began to trudge deeper into the forest. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light spilling through the canopy of trees and casting long shadows on the forest floor. Alex could feel it, something about the night felt different, more alive than usual, and it made her pulse quicken.

She walked deeper into the woods, the weight of her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of dry grass. Her breath was shallow, her senses heightened—too heightened. The air smelled sharper, and the rustling of the trees louder. Alex stopped by a large oak tree, her hand bracing against its rough bark. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, the warm night air filling her lungs. She continued to walk but soon froze mid-step, breath hitching in her chest. What started as gentle flutters in her stomach had now turned into solid, unmistakable movements—sharp little nudges or pushes that made her pause and hold her breath for a moment.

"Are you kicking me again?" Alex forced out a strained smile, clutching her stomach, her body tense.

A sharp, unmistakable jolt pulsed against her hand, a quick, strong kick that startled her. Her breath caught, and her heart skipped a beat. Alex pressed both palms flat against her stomach now, eager to feel it again. But instead, a firey sensation built within her. Alex took a shallow breath, slowly easing herself upright as the aching began to increase. She mustered just enough strength to let her put one foot in front of the other again. But even as she walked on, the pain lingered, an unsettling echo in her every step.

Alex then came to another sudden halt, as a burning ignited behind her eyes. She had tried to fight it, to suppress it, but she could feel it growing stronger. Her heart thudded in her chest, fast, erratic. A tightness spread from her core outward, like the first tendrils of fire creeping under her skin. She gasped, doubling over as a sharp pain lanced through her head.

A guttural growl ripped from her throat before she could stop it, and Alex's hands curled into fists, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms. Her body was rebelling, her muscles spasming, stretching, growing. Alex had to bend forward slightly, her breath coming in rapid bursts as she leaned into the wave of pain.

"Help," she choked dropping to her knees. The first snap came with an audible crack. Her bones twisted, reshaped, as her fingers elongated, the nails darkening and sharpening into claws. She screamed, the sound primal, desperate. The pain was quickly becoming overwhelming.

Alex howled, her face began to change, her features stretching, the bones in her jaw distorting. Her teeth elongated, razor-sharp, and her eyes—her eyes—flashed an unnatural, glowing amber, reflecting the light of the moon like twin lanterns in the darkness.

Her back arched, her spine extending with an inhuman crack as her posture deteriorated, and in that moment, she could feel the world around her shifting. The scent of the forest, the wind in her fur, the sensation of raw power coursing through her veins, it all consumed her. Every nerve, every sense, was heightened beyond recognition. She could hear the rustle of animals hiding in the brush, the distant whisper of a breeze stirring the treetops.

The pain was beginning to subside, replaced by something… different. Something dangerous.

Her muscles rippled beneath her skin as the change completed, and she took a deep, shuddering breath. Standing now on to her hind legs, she was no longer just Alex. Her fur thick and dark, she stood tall on powerful legs, her snout long and sharp, her ears twitching as they caught every movement around her. A low, rumbling growl escaped her throat, the sound vibrating through her chest. From somewhere behind her, there was a crack in the underbrush. Her head snapped around, ears alert, eyes narrowing. Alex took a step forward, the ground shifting beneath her paws.

With a low snarl, she shifted her weight and launched herself into the trees, her powerful legs carrying her through the underbrush with ease.

Mason paused, squinting into the dense thicket of bushes, the rustling sound coming from deep within. "Alex?" He called out, his voice filled with both relief and confusion. There was no response, but the figure shifted again. His heart fluttered, thinking it was her, "Alex love, it's me," Mason announced as he approached her.

She stood hidden behind the brambles and bushes and Mason edged closer to her. "Alex it's ok," he reassured her, "come on love, come out of there and we can get you back to the hospital."

Mason took another step forward, still certain it was Alex. But Justin, standing just behind him, suddenly stiffened. "Do you think it's Alex, has she turned?"

"Definitely, it'd be nearly impossible for her to not phase in this moonlight. Even I'm struggling…"

Juliet leant on to Justin, "I hate to say this," she began in hushed tone, "but I'm not getting Alex's scent from over there."

"I can still hear you Juliet," Mason growled, "and I am getting her scent. It has to be Alex."

"Mason I can smell her scent too, but it's just not coming from over there. She's definitely in this area, but she's not over there!"

A howl erupted through the air, it began softly at first. A low, mournful note carried by the breeze, like a sigh from the earth itself. It swelled, rising in pitch, and then another joins in—a second voice, harmonizing with the first. A third follows, and maybe more, the voices growing in number, creating a chorus that echoed through the darkness, reverberating off trees and cliffs.

"Do you hear that?" Justin dithered.

Juliet concentrated on the sound, "wolves?"

"They weren't wolf calls," Mason informed them solemnly.

"There's a difference?" Juliet shook her head, "a howl is a howl, they all sound the same. You can't tell the difference."

Mason grunted, "that's like if I compared a vampire to a mosquito."

"Why would you? We're nothing alike!"

"Exactly, you both drink blood but are two completely different species. Trust me, that wasn't a wolf's howl."

"What then, a chihuahua or a beagle?" She teased.

Mason exhaled, trying to shake off the residual frustration. "Guys," Justin snapped-his tone sharpened, "we need to keep listening. We have to remember Alex isn't biologically a werewolf, so her howl could sound different."

"But Mason said that wasn't a wolf howl? If it's not Alex, who is it!"

Mason's heart raced, but he didn't turn around, he continued to stare ahead at the bush.

But Justin's breath caught abruptly in his throat, as his heart began to pound. The hairs on the base of his neck erected, and his throat tightened. Justin blinked hard, trying to clear the fog in his mind. But a growing, creeping dread began to coil in his chest. His hand shot out, grabbing Mason's arm, pulling him back behind him. "Mason," Justin's voice dropped to a low, tense whisper, his eyes locked onto the figure still lurking in the bushes. "I think I remembered what my dad said about this place, and that's... not Alex."

"Well who is it then?"

"That thing—it's not human," Justin whispered urgently.

Mason tried to shake off Justin's grip, but the subtle panic in his friend's voice finally hit him. The bushes parted slightly, and Mason took a step backwards as the shape emerged into the light, his blood turned cold. It most definitely wasn't Alex.

A low, guttural growl rumbled from the creature's throat. Its eyes—glowing red in the dark—locked onto his, feral and predatory. The body was hunched and muscular, with scaly, mottled grey skin. Its claws, long and curved, scraped against the dry ground, and a spiny ridge ran down its back, leading to a tail that flicked menacingly behind it.

For a moment, Mason stood frozen, his mind struggling to comprehend the shift from relief to terror. He had thought it was his girlfriend, but now he was staring into the unblinking eyes of a creature straight out of his worst nightmares.

"What is that?"

Justin blinked mindlessly, "it's a Chupacabra…"