[table][row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/XGsWg9R.png[/img][/cell][/row]
[row][cell][sub]Location: Forest Crime Scene[/sub][/cell][/row][/table]Beneath the pale light of the moon, the forest seemed almost serene, quieted after the departure of Katherine, Daphne and Nathaniel. Gentle snowflakes drifted down from the sky, settling atop the icy stalagmite or melting into the blood pooled beside it. From beyond the clearing, curious eyes observed, drawn to the unnatural creation made from Amaya’s magic, yet too fearful to venture closer. 

Yet, near the base of an ancient pine, a brave creature stirred.

Once a squirrel, it skittered out of the forest's shadows with twitching, erratic movement, sniffing the ground fervently. Glowing orange eyes, devoid of their pupils, darted around the clearing as it approached the icy structure. Mangy fur, matted with dark clots of blood, hung loosely over its oversized frame, its decaying flesh emitting a faint, sickly odor. Large claws scratched into the frozen earth as it moved, while the occasional clicking of its teeth echoed eerily through the forest's stillness. The ears—scarred and frayed—twitched at every distant rustle, giving the impression that it was both prey and predator, eternally listening, eternally hunting. Sniffing the crimson-stained snow, the creature chittered, then began to lap up the pool of blood into its mouth.  

Suddenly, the creature froze. Its ears pricked forward, glowing eyes growing wide as the faint sound of crunching snow drifted to it from the north. With a jerky rhythm, it rose onto its hind legs and sniffed the air, now towering at four feet tall. 

[i]Crunch[/i]

Instantly, the creature’s head snapped in the direction of the sound with unnatural speed. Its gaze pierced through the darkness, spotting the silhouette of a soldier accompanied by a wolf. 

The creature’s jaw unhinged like a snake, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. With its eyes set upon Valthyr and Adonis, a guttural hiss tore from its throat, low and venomous. Crouching, its muscles coiled with unnatural strength.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, like a shadow given life, it launched forward.

[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/xRVIzb1.png[/img][/center]

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[Sub][b]Mentions:[/b] Coswain [@PrinceAlexus], Valthyr [@Fetzen] [/sub]