A massive beast emerged from the shadows of the trees, its eyes glowing with primal hunger, its roar tearing through the silence of the forest. The children froze, hearts pounding, their small bodies trembling before the sheer force of its presence.“We must run!” Ghavi cried, panic overtaking his young face.“No,” Avenya countered firmly, her father’s blood burning in her veins, steadying her voice despite the fear that rattled her bones. “If we run, it will only chase us. Do you have a weapon?”Ghavi fumbled with his satchel, hands shaking until he pulled free a strange device—flat, sharp-edged, with a faint orange glow pulsing at its core. “I brought this… it releases fire. A prototype I’ve been working on.”Without hesitation, Avenya seized it. “Climb that tree, now!” she commanded. Once they scrambled into the branches, she hurled the weapon down with all the strength she could muster.The air split apart with a blinding flash. A resounding explosion followed, flames consuming th