Before them stretched an ancient hanging bridge—a rickety structure of wood and rope that looked like it had been built by drunk goblins. Below, the river churned through a deep gorge, the water crashing against jagged rocks.
"Perfect," Ethan muttered. "This bridge looks like it was built by drunk goblins!"
[Chat]
BridgeFear: that thing looks unsafe
CamSurvivor: they're not gonna make it
GoblinFan99: the bridge has protective enchantments
Seraphine checked the Goblin Pro's lens. "It's safe enough. The bridge has protective enchantments—goblin craftsmanship."
"Safe enough?" Ethan repeated. "It looks like it'll collapse if I sneeze!"
Nyx suddenly darted back toward the forest edge, his fur standing on end. The cat didn't speak—none of them expected him to—but his presence was a quiet comfort. He arched his back and let out a low growl that seemed to vibrate at a frequency that made the air around them shimmer.
[Chat]
NyxSavior: the cat senses it coming
CamSurvivor: please don't let them get caught
ShadowSeeker: is that static behind them??
The ground began to tremble as the anaconda emerged from the trees, its massive body crashing through the underbrush. The serpent's eyes glowed with unnatural light, and its scales glistened with supernatural energy.
"Go!" Seraphine shouted. "Cross the bridge!"
Ethan fumbled with the crossbow, loading an arrow with shaking hands. "Cover me!"
He fired. The arrow flew true, striking the anaconda's side—but bounced harmlessly off its thick scales.
[Chat]
CrossbowFail: LOL
CamSurvivor: that did nothing
NyxSavior: keep trying
Ethan fired again. And again. Each arrow bounced off the creature's impenetrable hide. Five shots. Five misses. Well, five hits that did absolutely nothing.
"Seriously?!" Ethan yelled, loading his last arrow.
This time, he aimed for the creature's eye. The arrow flew straight and true, embedding itself in the anaconda's eye socket—but the creature barely flinched, shaking its massive head to dislodge the arrow.
[Chat]
LastArrow: NOOOO
CamSurvivor: that should have worked
GoblinFan99: those scales are supernatural
Nyx darted forward, claws extended, raking the anaconda's face. The creature recoiled slightly, giving them precious seconds.
"Go!" Seraphine shouted again.
Ethan and Seraphine began crossing the bridge, the wooden planks creaking ominously beneath their feet. Ethan glanced back to see Nyx still darting in and out, drawing the anaconda's attention.
"Nyx, come on!" Ethan shouted.
The cat didn't budge. He leapt at the anaconda's head again, but this time the creature was ready. It snapped at Nyx, missing the cat but slamming its massive body against the bridge.
Wood cracked. Ropes snapped. The bridge began to collapse.
[Chat]
BridgeBreak: NOOO
CamSurvivor: NYX IS STILL ON IT
NyxSavior: the cat is trapped
"Nyx!" Ethan screamed.
The cat turned, but it was too late. The bridge gave way, and both Nyx and the anaconda plummeted into the river far below.
Ethan powered down the stream as the battery hit 72%. "Twenty-eight minutes today," he said to himself, tucking the camera away. "
---
They didn't stop running until they reached the relative safety of a rocky outcrop about a mile from the bridge. Ethan collapsed against a boulder, his chest heaving.
"Are you okay?" he asked Seraphine, his voice tight with concern.
She nodded, though her threshold-mark was pulsing more intensely than ever. "Just... need a minute."
Ethan powered on the stream—battery at 68%. "Alright, chat. We made it across, but... Nyx didn't."
His voice caught as he continued. "The bridge collapsed. Nyx and the anaconda both fell into the river."
[Chat]
NyxGone: NOOOOO
CamSurvivor: the cat can't be gone
GoblinFan99: cats always land on their feet
Seraphine put a hand on his shoulder. "Nyx is stronger than he looks. He'll find his way back to us."
Ethan nodded, though his eyes were suspiciously bright. "I hope you're right."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, the weight of what had happened settling over them. Ethan checked Seraphine's threshold-mark, which was still glowing faintly.
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the silence.
"Meow."
They turned to see Nyx padding toward them, completely dry, with not a scratch on him. The cat looked at them with an expression that seemed to say, "What, you thought I couldn't handle a little swim?"
[Chat]
NyxReturn: THE CAT IS BACK
CamSurvivor: I KNEW HE'D MAKE IT
NyxSavior: the cat is a legend
Ethan scooped Nyx into his arms. "You're okay!"
Nyx purred contentedly, then licked Ethan's nose before jumping down to inspect their surroundings. As he did, a large leaf stuck to his fur fell to the ground—a trophy from his battle with the anaconda.
[Chat]
NyxHero: the cat is a legend
CamSurvivor: that was the most intense thing ever
GoblinFan99: the cat brought back a battle trophy
Seraphine managed a weak smile. "Told you he'd find his way back."
Ethan scratched behind Nyx's ears. "What happened? How did you survive?"
Nyx merely blinked at him, as if to say, "Cats have nine lives, amateur."
[Chat]
NyxSecrets: what's his secret??
CamSurvivor: cats are magical
GoblinFan99: the cat has supernatural abilities
Seraphine's threshold-mark began to settle, the violet glow fading to a soft pulse. "The anaconda wasn't just a predator. It was a guardian—protecting the valley from intruders."
Ethan frowned. "So what does that make us?"
"Survivors," Seraphine said simply. "And we need to keep moving. That thing might have survived the fall too."
[Chat]
GuardianTheory: they're intruders in a sacred place
CamSurvivor: how much further to the coastal city??
TechWitch: the Goblin Pro is essential for survival
Ethan powered down the stream as the battery hit 62%. "Thirty-five minutes today," he said to himself, tucking the camera away.
---
They rested for a few more minutes, catching their breath by a small stream. Ethan checked Seraphine's threshold-mark, which was still glowing faintly.
"Does it hurt?" he asked quietly.
"Only when something supernatural is near," she admitted. "Right now it's just a dull ache, but if that thing catches up to us..."
Ethan nodded. "Let's not give it the chance."
He offered her a hand up, and for a moment, neither of them moved, the air between them charged with something more than just the tension of their situation.
[Chat]
ShippingAlert: did they just...??
CamSurvivor: please don't let them get caught
NyxSavior: the cat is watching
Nyx, ever the observant one, looked between them with an expression that seemed to say, "About time."
Seraphine took his hand, and they stood together, the bridge now safely behind them. Ahead lay the rest of the valley and, eventually, the coastal city.
"We're not just running away," Ethan said quietly. "We're running toward a solution."
Seraphine nodded. "The coastal city is where the veil is strongest. Where the language of luck might still work."
Ethan checked the road ahead, the journey stretching before them. They had survived the bridge crossing—barely. But the journey was far from over.
He adjusted the strap of the Goblin Pro across his shoulder. The card hummed faintly in its compartment. Eternal. Waiting.
But this time, Ethan knew—he wasn't just recording the story.