Marcus didn't move.
He stood over the wolf's body, staring down at it like it might still get up.
The creature lay twisted across the asphalt, its limbs stretched at unnatural angles from the impact. Blood spread slowly beneath it, dark against the cracked gray surface.
Steam rose faintly from its body in the cooling air.
Even now—
It didn't look dead.
"…Yeah," Marcus said under his breath.
"That thing would've eaten us."
No one laughed.
No one answered.
The survivors stood scattered behind him, keeping their distance without needing to be told. No one stepped closer than a few meters.
A young man near the back shifted his weight, gripping a metal pipe tighter than necessary.
"That… came out of the forest?" he asked.
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Ryan rested the spear across his shoulder.
"Yes."
Nothing more.
Marcus dragged a hand across the back of his neck, eyes drifting toward Blackwood Forest.
The trees hadn't moved.
Not really.
But something about them felt different now.
Closer.
"…And there are more?" he asked.
Ryan didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The answer settled over the clearing.
Not like a shock.
Like confirmation.
The kind people already knew—
But didn't want said out loud.
Marcus exhaled slowly.
"…Great."
Ryan stepped forward.
Each step measured.
He crouched beside the wolf.
Up close—
The size was more apparent.
The thickness of its limbs.
The density of its muscle.
This wasn't something that grew naturally.
This was something that had changed.
Adapted.
His fingers pressed briefly against the creature's fur.
Still warm.
Alice approached slowly from behind him.
Careful not to step in the blood.
"You're studying it again."
Ryan didn't look up.
"Understanding it."
Marcus folded his arms.
"Looks like you're about to take it apart."
Ryan pulled the hatchet free.
The sound of metal sliding against leather cut through the quiet.
A few people flinched.
CRACK.
The blade struck bone.
The sound echoed.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
Marcus tilted his head.
"…Seriously?"
Ryan adjusted the angle.
CRACK.
Bone splintered slightly.
"Materials," he said.
Another strike—
CRACK.
The fang came loose.
Ryan pulled it free slowly.
Held it for a moment.
Weighed it.
Marcus leaned in slightly despite himself.
"…Okay, yeah. That's kind of impressive."
Ryan stood.
Turned.
Tossed the fang into the back of the SUV.
It landed with a dull, hollow sound.
Alice watched it.
"You're going to use those."
"Eventually."
Ryan wiped the hatchet clean.
"Beast materials are stronger."
Elena stepped closer.
Her eyes moved between the wolf and the fang in the vehicle.
"…So they're not just threats."
Ryan met her gaze.
"No."
A pause.
"They're resources."
That lingered.
Marcus crouched down again.
This time slower.
He ran his hand along the wolf's fur—hesitant at first.
Then firmer.
"…That's insane," he muttered.
He shook his head.
"A few hours ago, I was worried about traffic."
Ryan allowed the faintest shift in expression.
"That problem solved itself."
Marcus let out a quiet breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"…Yeah."
But it didn't reach his eyes.
His gaze drifted back toward the forest.
Ryan followed it.
Blackwood stood silent.
But the air—
It hadn't settled.
The mana still lingered.
Heavy.
Dense.
The kind that didn't disperse quickly.
The fight had been loud.
Violent.
Messy.
And things in the forest—
Would have noticed.
Ryan straightened.
"We leave."
The words cut clean through the quiet.
Marcus blinked.
"…Now?"
Ryan didn't look at him.
"The longer we stay, the worse this becomes."
Elena's voice came from the side.
"You think something's already coming."
Ryan turned his head slightly.
"I know it is."
That was enough.
No one questioned it.
Marcus rubbed his face.
"You really don't let moments breathe, do you?"
"No."
Ryan walked to the SUV.
Each step deliberate.
He reached the back.
Pulled the hatch down.
CLANG.
The sound rang out.
Too loud.
Too sharp.
Several people flinched again.
No one said anything.
Marcus's father shifted his grip on the crowbar.
"So what's the plan?"
Ryan rested his hand on the driver's door.
"Where were you heading?"
Marcus answered without hesitation.
"Away."
A few quiet nods followed.
"We tried north," Marcus added. "Road's a mess. Got stuck here."
Ryan considered that.
Brief.
Then—
"I'm heading to Havenbrook."
Marcus frowned.
"…That a place or something you made up?"
"Small town," Ryan said. "About an hour out."
Elena's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You have people there."
Ryan nodded once.
"Yes."
Marcus shifted.
Looked back at his group.
Really looked this time.
His parents.
Elena's brother.
The others.
They weren't just tired.
They were waiting.
For something.
Or someone.
He turned back to Ryan.
"And it's safer?"
Ryan looked at the road ahead.
Long.
Empty.
Cutting through forest and open land.
Fewer people.
Fewer variables.
"Safer than staying here."
That was enough.
Marcus exhaled.
"…Yeah. That tracks."
He ran a hand through his hair.
Then shrugged.
"Guess we're going with you."
Ryan tilted his head slightly.
"Oh?"
Marcus grinned faintly.
"You knew that thing was there."
He pointed at the wolf.
"You didn't panic."
A pause.
"And you didn't miss."
Ryan said nothing.
Marcus shrugged again.
"Seems like a decent bet."
Alice smiled faintly.
Elena shook her head.
"You decide things too fast."
Marcus glanced at her.
"Better than deciding too late."
Ryan watched them.
All of them.
In his last life—
Groups like this didn't last.
Not because they couldn't fight.
Because they didn't unify.
Didn't follow.
Didn't trust.
His gaze lingered on Marcus.
Then Elena.
Then the others.
Finally—
He nodded.
"Then stay close."
That was all.
But it was enough.
Marcus clapped his hands once.
"Alright—move!"
This time—
People listened immediately.
No hesitation.
No delay.
They moved.
Not chaotically.
Not perfectly.
But together.
Bags lifted.
Doors opened.
Engines turned—
One.
Then another.
A pickup coughed to life.
Marcus's father climbed in.
Maria helped Linda into the back.
Elena guided her brother carefully, one hand on his shoulder.
Ryan opened the driver's door.
Paused.
Just for a second.
His eyes shifted.
Toward the forest.
Still watching.
Then he got in.
Alice followed.
The door shut.
Muted the outside world.
Marcus leaned in through the window.
Grinning again.
But quieter this time.
"So, leader."
Ryan didn't react to the word.
"What happens when we get there?"
Ryan started the engine.
The SUV rumbled to life.
Low.
Steady.
"We survive."
Marcus let out a short laugh.
"Yeah."
He stepped back.
"That works."
Ryan shifted into gear.
The vehicle rolled forward.
Slow at first.
Then steady.
One by one—
The others followed.
The convoy formed.
Not planned.
Not structured.
But real.
They moved out onto the road.
Leaving the gas station behind.
The clearing fell silent again.
Empty.
Still.
But deep inside Blackwood—
Something had felt the shift.
A predator had fallen.
Territory had opened.
And something else—
Was already moving.