The tunnels were quieter after the storm of emotion in the collapsed chamber, but the silence was heavy, not peaceful.
Ethan leaned against the wall, sweat damp on his brow, the threads of his essence still frayed from holding Ellie in place. He had nearly drained himself to nothing. Each breath hurt, each heartbeat reminding him how close he'd come to blacking out.
The others huddled near Marcus's lantern. Tina cradled Jamie as if she'd never let him go again. Marcus kept one arm around them both, the other gripping his hammer until his knuckles whitened. Lena held Ellie close, whispering into her daughter's tangled hair as though her words alone could keep her whole.
Ravi crouched nearby, scribbling in his battered notebook. "Child-specific options… inheritance balance… Hearthbound, Beast Master… variables introduced earlier than expected…" His echoes overlapped until he snapped the book shut in frustration.
Kira stood against the far wall, arms folded. "We can't stay here. This place stinks of rot. Hunters will circle back."
Ethan pushed upright, forcing strength into his voice. "She's right. We move soon." His gaze softened toward Lena. "How long have you been down here?"
Lena's lips trembled. "Days. Weeks? I stopped counting. I only stayed because of her." She looked at Ellie. "I thought I'd lose them both."
"You didn't," Ethan said. "You held on—and you found me."
She squeezed his hand. "You saved my little girl, Ethan. I can never—"
A low, rolling growl cut through the chamber.
Everyone froze.
Jamie buried his face in Tina's shoulder. Ellie whimpered. Marcus swung his hammer up; Ravi reached for his knife; Kira vanished into shadow and reappeared beside Ethan, blades drawn.
Another growl answered from the opposite tunnel—deeper, heavier. Footsteps followed, soft but deliberate.
Out of the dark padded a lion, mane ragged and eyes faintly glowing gold. On the far side, a tiger slid forward, silent as smoke.
"Back!" Marcus barked.
Before they moved, a man stepped into the light between them.
He was lean, grey-streaked, his clothes little more than patched rags, but his presence was calm. One sleeve still carried the torn patch of a zoo uniform.
"Easy," he said. His voice was gravel and patience. The lion halted. The tiger's tail flicked but it sat, watchful. "They're mine."
Ravi whispered, awed, "Another Beast Master."
The man gave a weary smile. "Name's Keith. Used to keep animals in cages. Now I keep them alive." He nodded to his companions. "These two chose me when the world broke."
Ellie peeked out, eyes wide. "You… bond them? Like me?"
Keith's gaze sharpened. "Fresh awakening. I can see it."
"Yes," she said quickly. "Beast Master. Two slots. I want dogs—one husky, one Alsatian."
Keith's brows lifted. "Dogs? With predators like these around, you'd choose dogs? Wolves or big cats would make you stronger."
"I don't care," Ellie said fiercely. "Dogs protect people. They'll protect us."
The lion gave a low rumble, almost amused. The tiger yawned.
Keith studied her, then nodded slowly. "Good. Loyalty over teeth. That choice will save you more times than claws ever could."
He turned serious again. "Two bonds mean double strength—and double risk. When they bleed, you bleed. When they rage, you rage. If one dies…" His eyes darkened. "Part of you dies too. I've seen Beast Masters break in an instant."
Ellie's hand found Ethan's sleeve. He covered it with his own, steady.
Marcus spoke gruffly. "You're alive, so you know something we don't. How'd you make it this far?"
Keith's mouth twitched. "Because I didn't run. When the world fell, I was in the zoo. Walked into the enclosures while everyone else fled. Offered them my hand." He lifted a scarred wrist. "They could've torn me apart. Instead, they chose me. That's how it works—bond or die."
Jamie whispered, "Aren't you scared?"
Keith crouched to his height. "Always. That's why I respect them. Fear keeps you alive."
Ethan broke the silence. "We're not going back to the dome. They'd chain us the moment they saw what we are."
Keith nodded. "Smart. That place will eat itself soon enough. If you want to live, you need your own ground." He pointed down the tunnel. "There's a spot by the river—natural walls, good sightlines, water close. Claim it before someone else does."
Kira narrowed her eyes. "Why help us?"
Keith's expression softened. "Because no one survives alone anymore—not even with lions and tigers."
The group exchanged looks. Marcus still wary. Tina clinging to Jamie. Ravi itching with questions. Maya unreadable.
Ethan nodded. "Then we go together. To the river."
Keith rose, his beasts flanking him like living shadows. "Until it's claimed. After that, we'll see."
They rested briefly, patching wounds and dividing what little food remained. Ravi quizzed Keith about bonding and instinct, and Ellie listened to every word.
Then the air changed. Ethan felt it first—the faint pressure of threads brushing his skin. Keith's beasts stiffened, growling low.
The system's voice struck like thunder.
---
> [Announcement: Attention survivors.]
[You have 24 hours before the beasts of this world begin to mutate.]
[Prepare yourselves.]
---
The words vibrated through stone and bone. The lantern guttered. Silence followed—then Jamie whimpered softly.
Tina held him close. Marcus swore. Ravi's echoes collided in panic. Ellie clutched Ethan's sleeve.
Keith laid a scarred hand on the lion's mane, jaw tight.
Ethan straightened, fire returning to his eyes. "Then we don't waste a second. We reach that river before the clock runs out."
The group nodded, fear and purpose twining together. For the first time, they weren't just running from death.
They were running toward a future.