The green-eyed wolf among them didn't wait for orders — he immediately gave chase, sprinting after Tolu with pounding steps. The other newborns, shaken and trembling, quickly scrambled back into their clothes, their glowing eyes still flickering as they tried to steady themselves.
They turned to the instructors for guidance, but what they saw instead was panic — the calm, collected expressions of their mentors now broken.
The girl with them snatched out her phone and dialed fast. "Ore," she said sharply, her voice trembling. "It's the boy you marked… he went haywire. He's running rampant in the forest."
The leader's eyes followed the blur of silver vanishing into the forest. His jaw tightened.
The girl hesitated, her voice trembling. "Even if she manages to subdue him… how are we going to turn him back?"
The leader's expression darkened. "We won't. Not on our own. Call them."
Her throat bobbed as she nodded, already reaching for her phone with unsteady hands.
Ore hung up the phone without another word and set off at a run, her heart hammering. Branches whipped past her as she tore through the forest path, her eyes locked on the faint glow of lanterns ahead.
When she broke into the clearing, the newborns and their instructors turned at once. Faces were tense, strained.
"What happened?" Ore demanded, her voice sharp.
The leader spoke quickly. "Your boy—he lost control. We tried to bring him down, but… he bolted. One of ours gave chase, but—"
"Clothes," Ore cut in.
The girl blinked. "What?"
"His clothes. Give them to me."
They handed her the folded bundle. Ore buried her face in the fabric for a moment, inhaling deeply until she caught it—his scent. Fresh, raw, spiked with adrenaline.
She let the clothes fall to the ground, unclasping her gown in a single motion. Standing there in only her underwear, she fixed her eyes on the dark forest ahead.
Without hesitation, she sprinted forward, her body rippling as bones cracked and fur erupted across her skin. In seconds, the girl was gone—only the massive wolf remained, silver eyes glinting in the moonlight.
With a single leap, Ore disappeared into the woods, chasing after Tolu's trail.
The leader exhaled, rubbing his temples. "The rest of you can go," he told the newborns, waving them off. "We'll take it from here."
As the shaken group dispersed, he turned to the remaining instructors, his voice low but firm. "Report this to the higher-ups. They'll want to know immediately."
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Ore moved like a shadow, her massive frame weaving through trees, nose pressed low to the ground. Every pawstep carried the scent stronger—burnt pine, churned earth, and Tolu's raw, untempered energy.
The trail bent sharply, claw marks gouged deep into bark. She followed, ears flicking at every echo until movement caught her eye.
The green-eyed wolf stepped into view, his chest heaving, fur bristled from exertion. He shook his head once, frustration clear in the gesture.
Ore growled low, understanding. He'd lost him.
She dropped her muzzle to the ground again, inhaling sharply until Tolu's scent flared strong. Without hesitation, she surged forward, the green-eyed wolf falling into stride behind her.
Together, they vanished deeper into the woods, hot on Tolu's trail.
--
Two boys strolled along a narrow trail, the sun slipping through the leaves overhead in golden streaks. Their shoes kicked up dry soil as they walked, a plastic bag swinging in the taller one's hand.
"Did you watch the match yesterday?" the taller boy asked, grinning. "Arsenal came back in the second half like lions."
The shorter one groaned. "Guy, abeg. Don't remind me. United fell my hand. Our midfield is useless."
"Useless?" The tall boy barked a laugh. "Your whole squad is sleeping. If I was on that pitch, eh, I swear I'd scatter defenders!"
The shorter one gave him a side-eye. "You? You can't even jog two laps without holding your chest."
"Keep deceiving yourself," the tall boy shot back, puffing his chest out. "Coach said I've got potential. Just wait—I'll shock you."
His friend chuckled, shaking his head. "Potential to faint, maybe." Both burst out laughing, their voices carrying across the trees.
After the laughter died, the taller boy's tone softened. "But for real, I want to go pro. One day, I'll wear that Super Eagles jersey. Or even better—the Premier League. Imagine the stadium shouting my name. Goosebumps, bro."
The other boy slowed, watching his friend's determined face. "You really think you'll make it out of here?"
"I don't think—I know," the tall one said firmly. "Otherwise, what's the point of all this training? All the running? It's either I make it… or I make it."
The shorter boy sighed, kicking a stone down the path. "Sometimes I feel like I'll be stuck here forever. But if you make it, promise you'll carry me along, yeah?"
The tall boy grinned and smacked his shoulder. "When I score my first hat trick, I'll shout your name in the post-match interview. You'll see."
The shorter one chuckled. "I'll hold you to that."
Their laughter faded as they reached a small clearing where an abandoned shed sat crookedly in the sun. The taller boy pulled a folded slip of paper from his pocket, sighing. "Alright. Enough talk of glory. Let's just drop this thing off and go. If I stay too long, my mom will send search parties."
"True," his friend muttered, shifting uneasily. "This place feels weird during the day, can't imagine it at night."
They exchanged a look, then stepped into the clearing, neither realizing something else was already moving through the woods nearby.
The boys laughed softly as they placed the parcel by the crooked shed, dusting their palms. One of them stretched his arms, yawning. "Omo, I'm hungry. Let's bounce before my stomach eats itself."
His friend snorted. "You're always hungry."
They turned to leave, but high above them, hidden in the thick brush of a sloping hill, Tolu crouched on all fours. His body trembled with restless energy, violet eyes blazing unnaturally bright. Saliva dripped from his fangs, the sound of their voices striking his ears like drums.
His claws dug into the soil as he stalked along the ridge, low growls slipping past his throat. The beast inside was past reason—no thoughts, no hesitation. Only instinct. Hunt. Kill. Feed.
The boys never saw him. They were still joking, still carefree. Then—
WHOOSH!
Tolu's hulking frame tore through the air, claws outstretched, jaws wide. The boys below didn't even get the chance to turn—
CRASH!
A dark blur slammed into him from the opposite side, knocking his body mid-air and sending him crashing into the undergrowth. Leaves burst, branches cracked, the forest shook.
The boys spun around, startled. All they caught was the rustle of bushes, a low rumble echoing through the trees.
"Did you hear that?" one whispered, voice tight.
"Yeah. Probably an animal."
Neither dared linger. They picked up their pace, hurrying away from the clearing.
In the shadows, Ore landed on all fours, her body shifting seamlessly into a crouch. Her eyes burned an icy blue as she straightened, dust clinging to her skin.
Before her, Tolu rose from the dirt, violet eyes blazing, his growl shaking the ground between them.
Ore bared her teeth, her own growl answering his. The air crackled with tension.