Chronicles of Rohan: The Birth of the True Alpha

"Hey," Dan said, flashing his signature stupid grin. "Woods. Tonight. Are you in?"

Lucas raised a brow, skeptical already. "Why?"

Dan spread his arms like it was obvious. "We haven’t been out there in weeks. I’ve got snacks, a flashlight, zero homework, and a need for chaos. Come on. It could be fun."

Dan always had new ideas. Ninety-nine percent of them were ridiculous. But they made the boring days go faster

Lucas gave a short laugh. "Life’s already boring enough. Might as well add getting bitten by mosquitoes to the list."

That night at 7:56 PM, Lucas sent a single text: I’m in.

Dan’s reply came back in all caps: HELL YES.

At 8 PM sharp, Lucas walked up to Dan's front door. Dan was already outside waiting, a worn-out backpack slung over his shoulder. It looked heavy.

"You bring the entire kitchen or just half of it?" Lucas asked.

Dan smirked and opened the bag. Inside were chips, two water bottles, an energy drink, a broken compass, and a stick?

Lucas pointed. "What’s with the stick?"

"Protection," Dan said, puffing out his chest like a knight. "You never know what’s in the woods. It could be bears, wolves, even serial killers."

"Yeah, squirrels are dangerous too," Lucas deadpanned.

Then, Dylan Blake walked up from the side street. His hood was up, hands in his pockets. He looked like he hadn’t slept in two days.

Dylan always had that quiet ‘don’t talk to me’ vibe. Lucas didn’t like him much, but for some reason, Dan thought Dylan was cool. Probably because he once jumped off the gym roof and didn’t break anything.

"You sure this is a good idea?" Dylan asked, eyeing the tree line.

Dan bumped his shoulder playfully. "It’s trees and owls, bro. What’s the worst that could happen?"

Lucas mumbled under his breath, "Famous last words."

They walked, the glow of the streetlights fading behind them. The woods grew darker, the silence more intense.

Dan looked over his shoulder. "You guys feel that?"

Lucas frowned. "Feel what?"

"I don’t know. Just, something."

"Nope, just your overactive imagination kicking in," Dylan said, brushing past a branch.

The deeper they went into Thalindor Woods, the more it felt like something was off.

Lucas slowed down as they crossed the threshold of the trees. He stopped briefly.

Dan glanced over. "You good?"

Lucas nodded. "Yeah. Just that this place brings back stuff."

"Like ghosts?"

"Like memories, dumbass."

"Same thing."

Lucas rolled his eyes as they kept going.

Dan filled the silence with chatter. "So anyway, there’s a rumor Ms. Kessler is dating Coach Greg. Swear I saw them in the parking lot arguing like an old married couple."

Lucas smirked. "Maybe she just hates him."

"Doesn’t explain why they left together in her car."

"That poor car," Dylan muttered.

After a while, they found a clearing. A circle of rocks surrounded dry twigs. Dan tried lighting the fire, failing twice. On the third attempt, Dylan stepped in, crouched down, and got it going in seconds.

Dan threw his arms up like a caveman. "I am the Fire Lord now!"

"Sit down before you burn your eyebrows off," Dylan replied, deadpan.

They sat with chips opened and Dan with his usual self won't keep his mouth shut.

"Okay," Dan said, grinning. "Would you rather fight a bear-sized squirrel or a hundred squirrel-sized bears?"

Lucas squinted at him. "Why is that even a question?"

"Answer it. It's life or death."

"I'd take the squirrel-sized bears. At least I could kick them."

"You’d get tired after ten and then boom, bear swarm."

Dylan shook his head. "You two have way too much time on your hands."

Dan pointed dramatically. "Says the guy who once tried to climb the library wall just to avoid a hall pass."

"It worked, didn’t it?" Dylan shot back.

Lucas chuckled. "Until you fell into the trash bin and pretended you meant to do it."

"It broke my fall," Dylan replied, deadpan. "And my pride."

Dan held up a chip like it was a prize. "To broken pride and good snacks."

They clinked chips like glasses and crunched in unison.

Everything felt peaceful as something resembling peace settled around them

Lucas leaned back, half-listening, half-scanning.

Then he heard a low growl and snapped forward. "Did you hear that?"

Dan froze, chip halfway to his mouth. "Hear what?"

"A growl," Lucas said. "It was deep. Right there."

Dylan stood. "Yeah… I heard it too."

"Probably a raccoon," Dan said weakly.

"No," Lucas said. "That wasn’t small."

The wind shifted and The fire sputtered, dancing violently. The growl came again, followed by a long, deep howl.

Dan looked pale. "Dogs don’t sound like that."

"No," Dylan said quietly. "They don’t."

They were still contemplating the strange atmosphere when a loud snap echoed through the woods.

Lucas turned toward the sound. "That was behind us."

"Time to go," Dylan said. "Now."

They jumped up, grabbed their things, stomped out the fire. But something felt off.

"Wait…" Lucas paused. "Where’s the trail?"

Dan spun in a circle. "No way, this isn’t right."

"We came straight through here," Dylan muttered, frowning. "It should be back there."

Lucas walked a few steps ahead and stopped.

He saw A shape, it was fast, huge and dashed between the trees.

He whipped around. "Something’s out there. I think it's Hunting us."

Dan’s breath picked up. "Cool, I knew this would happen"

"Shut up," Dylan snapped. "Stick ready."

Dan raised it like a sword. "I dub thee demon-smasher."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Try not to poke your eye out."

Another deep growl echoed, closer this time.

"Move!" Dylan barked. "Go!"

They took off, the trees looming like warped skeletons. Everything felt wrong.

Lucas tripped once and Caught himself. His heart thudded loudly. Behind them, something was coming fast.

"You know what sucks?" Dan huffed. "This was supposed to be chill!"

"No one told you to bring a cursed stick!" Lucas yelled.

"I think it’s cursed now, okay?!"

Dylan pointed. "That gap. There. Go!"

They zigzagged through the trees, everything was twisted twisted and the Air thickened.

Suddenly The growls stopped and everything fell into unnatural Silence.

They slowed their pace, hearts racing, and breathing hard

"Where is it?" Dan whispered.

Lucas turned slowly. His voice dropped. "It’s watching us."