Shinji was already on the bridge when it happened.
Sato's fingers fumbled, his grip failing him.
The rope ripped from his hands.
The bridge jerked violently in an instant, the sudden shift sending a deep, splintering groan through the air. Wood creaked, ropes strained, and the entire structure swayed, teetering on the edge of disaster.
Shinji's body tensed as the planks beneath him shuddered. Dust and debris scattered into the wind, vanishing into the abyss below. The others stood frozen, wide-eyed, breaths held as if a single sound could send it all crashing down.
Then—another snap.
The rope slipped even further.
Meanwhile, Team Kaboto pressed onward, veering to the right of the crash site. Their steps grew heavier as they ventured deeper into the dense forest. The trees seemed to close in around them, the air thick with the scent of earth and untold mysteries, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.
Due to the sheer awkwardness of the moment while they are walking trying to find a river, Jin tried to spark a conversation by creating some 'small talk'; his only mistake was that he was trying to talk with Kaboto.
Jin:
(awkward)
"Umm...so...Kaboto, you were a bodybuilder?"
Kaboto:
"I still am!"
Jin:
"Yeah, well, it's only true once you get off this island and back to land!"
Kaboto:
"So what? It's not like we'll never get off this island!"
Jin:
(gets interrupted by Kaboto)
"Well, you know, it's a possi-"
Kaboto:
"And it doesn't change the fact that I am stronger than you!"
Jin:
"What is wrong with you! Why are you always trying to pick fights with someone!"
Kaboto:
(mocks)
"Oh...so now you are afraid?"
Zohan:
(tries to stop their fight)
"Hey, I think I hear running water nearby!"
Jin:
"Finally, something good, better than this dumb idiot trying to pick a fight with me!"
Kaboto:
(to Jin)
"I can hear you, brat!"
Jin:
(Frustrated, walks towards Kaboto)
"And what you gonna do about it?"
Zohan:
(realizing that they are both just a lost cause and walks towards the sound of water, leaving them)
"You know what? I don't care about all this. If you wanna kill each other, then do it! It's going to be better since we'll need to find food and water for 10 people instead of 11!"
Kaboto:
(doesn't hear Zohan's voice)
"Oh boy, you have pointed your hand in the wrong direction!"
Jin:
(throws a punch at Kaboto)
"I'll show you wrong!"
Jin swung with everything he had left, his fist a blur of desperation. But Kaboto caught it with ease; his grip was unbreakable. A vicious twist of his wrist shot the pain up Jin's arm, and before he could react, Kaboto's fist slammed into his stomach with a sickening crunch. Jin's vision blurred, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, his body screaming in agony.
Kaboto yanked him up by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. At 7'1, Kaboto towered over him, and Jin felt like a ragdoll, completely powerless. Kaboto's fist crashed into Jin's face, the brutal impact splitting his lip. Blood filled his mouth, the taste thick and metallic as his head whipped back. His knees buckled, but Kaboto's grip didn't loosen.
Jin's vision was spinning, but he knew he had one shot to get out of this. With every ounce of his remaining strength, he snapped a karate chop to Kaboto's neck. There was a sickening crack, and Kaboto's grip loosened just long enough for Jin to hit the ground hard. He scrambled to his feet, throwing a wild punch at Kaboto's gut. It barely even fazed him.
Kaboto's face remained unreadable as he coiled back, winding up for another punch that would break Jin's skull. Jin barely managed to dodge, his body screaming in protest as he darted behind the behemoth. With all his remaining force, he slammed his foot into the back of Kaboto's knee. The sound of bone grinding echoed through the forest as Kaboto staggered, losing his footing.
In that instant, Jin grabbed Kaboto's head with both his hands, with a tight grip, and drove his knee into the giant's nose with everything he had left. There was a sickening crunch as Kaboto started to bleed out of his nose.
The air grew thick with tension, and before Jin could react, Kaboto's fist shot forward like a battering ram. But then—the howls. The same bloodcurdling cries they'd heard last night, echoing from the depths of the forest.
Both men froze, their battle momentarily forgotten as they scanned the surroundings. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath. Zohan was gone. Not a trace. Now, the real threat was closing in. Where had he gone was the question on their minds!
Kaboto:
(his thoughts quickly changed in concern of the child)
"WHERE IS ZOHAN?!"
Jin:
(punches Kaboto's face)
Kaboto:
(unhinged by the punch but concerned for the child, he pushes Jin back and yells)
"DON'T YOU GET IT? ZOHAN IS MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, HE IS A CHILD!"
Jin:
(confused)
"Why are you so concerned about him? He is bigger than I am; he can defend himself!"
Kaboto:
(tries to explain while still bleeding)
"He came with us two adults, we are in charge of him, and we heard wolves. What if something happens to him?"
Jin:
(realizes, also bleeding)
"You are right! We should have kept an eye on him not fight each other! Umm...If I remember correctly, I think he went towards the sound of the water!"
Kaboto:
"We don't have much time. Let's hurry!"
Even though the two of them were bleeding from the intense fight just moments earlier, they started running towards the sound of running water with a bigger concern in their minds: Where was Zohan? The daylight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor, but they barely noticed the warmth of the morning sun. Their eyes darted across the landscape, every rustle of the wind, every crack of a branch, making their hearts race. They had to find him... before whatever was out there found them first.
They ran fast, pushing through the dense forest, branches whipping at their faces and legs, the blood in their veins pounding as they moved. But soon, they reached a dead end. There was nothing in front of them except for a sheer drop, about 150 feet down. The sound of rushing water came from below, where the elevated island's shore met the heavy tides of the sea. The realization struck them hard; they were standing at least 150 meters above sea level. They were trapped, their path cut off by the steep fall and the dangerous waters below. A deadlock.
A wave of helplessness washed over them, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed like they might die on this island—stranded, dehydrated, with no way out. But before they could sink further into despair, a rustle from behind them snapped them to attention.
Their heads whipped around, hearts hammering. The bushes shifted, something moving in the underbrush. Fear gripped them both, but there was no choice now. They had to fight. They tensed, fists clenched, ready for whatever was coming.
And then, from the thick brush, something emerged. The figure that stepped out was...
Kaboto:
(with enthusiasm)
"ZOHAN!"
Zohan:
(face palms)
"You idiots are all blood and stains! I thought you 2 got eaten by those wolves, but I came here 'cause I heard you two talk!"
Jin:
"Well, a certain 'someone' wanted a fight!"
Kaboto:
(ignoring Jin)
"Zohan, there is no water here we ar-"
Zohan:
(interrupts)
"Yes, I am well aware of that. This island is making it impossible to survive!"
Kaboto:
"We will find a way around all this!"
Jin:
"We should head back to the building, Our blood will attract animals!"
As they discussed their concerns, a sudden rustling from the bushes ahead made them freeze.
Their bodies tensed, instincts screaming at them to stay alert. Fear crept in, settling in their chests like a cold weight. Even Kaboto, usually confident in his strength, felt his heart pounding faster than he'd like to admit.
Then, the bushes parted.
One by one, fifteen wolves emerged, their glowing green eyes locking onto the group like hunters watching prey. The realization hit immediately—they were screwed. There was no way around it. No running, no hiding. Their only option was to fight.
Fists clenched. Stances shifted. Muscles tightened. Survival was the only goal.
But before they could strike—
The bushes rustled again.
Something bigger was coming.
Then it stepped out.
A wolf the size of a bear. But it was nothing like the others. While the smaller wolves had deep green fur, this one was blood red. Its eyes—hauntingly human—bored into them as if it could see straight through their souls.
Now, they felt true fear.
Their minds raced, frantically searching for a way to survive. To fight. To run. To die on their terms.
But before they could even move—
The red wolf devoured the fifteen green wolves in a single bite.
Just like that, the threat they were prepared to fight was gone.
And a much greater one had taken its place.
Jin:
(scared out of his life)
"WHAT IS THIS MONSTER?!"
The Wolf:
(growls)
Kaboto:
(also pretty scared)
"What are you doing screaming like that, you moron? Do you want us to become his lunch?"
Zohan:
(tries to shush them up)
"Shuuushh! He will kill us if we scare him!"
The Wolf:
"I just saved your guys' lives. Can't you even thank me?"
Jin, Zohan and Kaboto:
(in utter disbelief and shock)
"WHATT!!!"
The Wolf:
(jumps out of fear)
"What is wrong with you guys?? Are you trying to kill me?"
Jin:
(in disbelief)
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN??!! YOU ARE A TALKING BEAR-SIZED WOLF. HOW ELSE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO REACT?!!"
Zohan:
"How weird is this place going to get?"
It took them a few seconds to fully register what they were seeing.
A talking wolf.
Not just any wolf—this one was the size of a bear. Its deep, intelligent eyes locked onto them as if studying their every reaction.
Despite the sheer absurdity of the situation, they forced themselves to speak, to ask how something like this was even possible.
The wolf—a she—introduced herself as Pharus.
Her voice was calm, unnervingly composed, as she explained. She belonged to a species of highly intelligent wolves—beasts that could absorb the knowledge of whatever they consumed. Unlike ordinary animals, she didn't simply act on instinct. She learned.
Pharus revealed that she only fed on green wolves, and her ability to speak came from an unusual event—she had consumed a green wolf that had recently swallowed a human head. The body hadn't fully digested it yet, and somehow, that lingering presence had transferred knowledge to her.
That revelation alone sent chills down their spines.
But the shocks didn't stop there.
She told them that she had been born on this side of the island. But there was another side.
The weight of her words settled over them like a dense fog. They had thought they understood their surroundings, that they were stranded on a single, isolated piece of land. But now, they realized there was more.
And as far as she knew… she might be the last of her kind.
Zohan:
(concerned)
"Are there any rivers on this side of the island?"
Pharus:
"No! The only rivers must be on the otherside; as far as I have been told, there are rivers and mountains on the otherside!"
Jin:
(still shocked)
"I still can not believe my eyes, You can talk!"
Zohan:
"If there are no rivers on this side of the island and you have never been to the otherside, then how do you survive?"
Pharus:
"The rain!"
Kaboto:
(confused)
"Doesn't it rain acid here?"
Pharus:
"That is exactly what I drink. I can survive on acid because the creatures on this island have adapted to this nature!"
Jin:
"THERE ARE MORE CREATURES ON THIS ISLAND?!"
Pharus:
"I don't know! There are none on this side of the island except for me and the green wolves! But for some reason, the green wolves only appear when there are humans on this island!"
After revealing everything, Pharus exhaled deeply and turned away. There was no reason for her to stay any longer. She had shared what she knew, and now, she had more pressing matters—hunting. She needed to find more green wolves to feed and ration before these humans met the same inevitable fate as so many others before them.
But just as she was about to disappear into the dense foliage, Zohan stepped forward with an idea. The green wolves were drawn to them. If Pharus stayed, she wouldn't have to search for prey—it would come straight to her. In return, they would gain protection from the very thing that threatened them the most. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
The idea didn't sit well with Jin. The thought of relying on a beast, no matter how intelligent, felt like inviting disaster. But before he could voice his doubts, Kaboto placed his trust in Zohan's judgment. That was enough to silence any objections—for now.
Pharus remained still for a long moment, considering. The offer was logical. Her food source would be steady with these humans around, and she wouldn't have to waste time hunting. Though reluctant at first, she ultimately agreed.
Without another word, she lowered herself slightly, acknowledging Kaboto and Jin's injuries. Traveling back to the building in their condition would only slow them down, and she had no patience for unnecessary delays.
With hesitation, but little choice, they climbed onto her back.
Pharus had been nothing more than a passing presence—a creature of the island with her own path. But now, whether by chance or necessity, she had become a part of their survival.
Jin:
(yells outside of the building)
"We are back!"
When they arrived back at the building, the atmosphere shifted in an instant. Shock, fear, and utter confusion spread across everyone's faces as they took in the massive, red-furred wolf standing beside Jin and Kaboto. Tension filled the air, a mixture of instinctual terror and disbelief settling over the group like a thick fog.
But before panic could take over, Jin and Kaboto stepped forward, their wounds still fresh but their minds set on explaining. They recounted everything—the green wolves, the monstrous beast that devoured them in a single bite, and its intelligence beyond anything they had imagined. They spoke of Pharus, her ability to speak, and the deal they had made with her for their survival.
As the explanation settled in, the initial fear in everyone's eyes faded—not gone, but dulled, replaced with reluctant understanding. It wasn't something they could ignore, nor something they could immediately accept, but they had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Just as the tension began to shift, Omi and Sato returned.
Their footsteps were slow, their faces drained of their usual sharpness. There was no smugness in Omi's expression, no careless words spilling from her lips. Instead, her eyes carried something dull, sad, and lined with fear.
Sato wasn't any better. His shoulders were heavy, weighed down by something unspoken.
Whatever had happened to them out there, it was enough to shake even them.
Zohan:
(curious and having a weird gut feeling)
"Everyone is here, but... where's Shinji?"
The question echoed in the empty building as Sato and Omi stood in silence.
To
Be
Continued