the mysteries of the woods

The jungle was oddly quiet. After the chaos with the massive sea beast, the group was finally able to breathe again—barely. Soaked, shivering, and still in shock from the destroyed raft, they stumbled onto the muddy edge of the jungle.

As they sat down, catching their breath, Jack turned toward the tiny creature now perched on Sunny's shoulder.

Jack squinted. "Wait, how do you even know about that snake and sea monster? Like… how did you know we just escaped from them?"

Paragon, casually cleaning his feathers with an annoyingly smug look, responded, "Well, I've been watching you guys this whole time. I gotta say, you people are the best jungle entertainment I've seen in years."

Rick's eye twitched. "You were watching us?! You could've helped!"

Paragon shrugged. "I could have. But let's be honest—it was way more fun watching you run for your lives from that Bixnix." He started laughing in tiny little chirps. "Especially you, Screamy McFalls-a-lot."

Rick stood up and pointed at him, eyes wide. "Hey! That's disrespectful. I screamed with dignity, thank you!"

Paragon grinned. "Oh yes, very noble. The part where you ran straight into a tree and started crying really gave 'warrior' vibes."

Rick turned to the others. "I didn't cry, right?! Tell me I didn't cry."

Lucky folded his arms, looking away like he couldn't be bothered. "You sobbed like a child who dropped his ice cream."

"TRAITOR!"

While the group chuckled, Lucky's mood remained unchanged. He turned toward Paragon with a low, irritated voice. "Can't you shut this parrot up already? He's getting on my nerves."

Paragon gasped, flapping his wings dramatically. "Excuse me! Parrot? I am not a parrot, you emotionless beanbag! I am—"

Rick interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. You're a Paragon. You've only said it like five thousand times."

Paragon narrowed his eyes. "You dare interrupt the mighty me again and I'll personally pluck your eyebrows one by one in your sleep."

Rick blinked. "I don't even have eyebrows."

Everyone stared at him.

Sunny whispered to Brock, "Do we… tell him that's not how faces work or just let him live in denial?"

Brock sighed. "Let him be. The trauma's probably still fresh."

Paragon fluttered up into the air. "Anyway, now that introductions are out of the way—you five buffoons and Miss I-care-about-everyone—"

Serena tilted her head. "Wait, what did you call me?"

"Compliment."

Sunny clapped his hands. "Okay, okay. Time out." He looked at Paragon. "You said you've been watching us. Does that mean you saw everything? Like everything?"

Paragon smirked. "Oh, every single second. From the snake chase to Rick crying in a fetal position to you pretending to pray before death."

Rick held up a finger. "I was tricked into that prayer!"

Sunny chuckled. "Best moment of my life."

Paragon sat cross-legged mid-air (how? no one knows), clearly enjoying his role as the group's new source of chaos.

Jack shook his head, trying to bring some order. "Paragon, jokes aside, how much do you actually know about this jungle?"

Paragon stretched and said proudly, "Everything. I've lived here for years. I've even left the jungle once. Saw humans driving shiny cars, drinking brown fizz from cans, and arguing over people kicking balls."

Brock blinked. "...Football?"

"Yep. Weirdest cult I've seen."

Rick gasped. "You've been to the human world?! Do you have Instagram?"

"What's that? A spell?"

Lucky rolled his eyes. "Of course the jungle parrot doesn't have Instagram."

Paragon flared up. "I AM NOT A PARROT."

Sunny chuckled. "You keep saying that, but… you're pretty parrot-y, my guy."

"I HAVE A DRAGON'S TAIL."

"Still talk like a parrot."

"DO PARROTS KNOW NINE LANGUAGES, HUH?!"

Serena giggled softly. "Okay okay, let's not bully the flying rainbow."

Paragon spun dramatically in the air. "Thank you, Serena! Finally, someone appreciates my elegance and wisdom!"

Lucky muttered, "Just say you're fragile and move on."

Paragon zipped in front of him, pointing a tiny claw at Lucky's nose. "Listen here, Mr. 'I'm Too Cool To Smile', one day I'll save your life and you'll owe me. And I'll be insufferable about it."

Lucky raised an eyebrow. "More than you already are?"

Everyone burst into laughter again—even Jack let out a smile.

Scene changes – Outside the Jungle, Somewhere in the City…

A dimly lit room glowed with the light of RGB strips lining the ceiling. Posters of anime characters, digital art, and random memes plastered the walls. A boy, around 17, sat in a high-end gaming chair, headphones wrapped around his head, eyes glued to the screen.

"Okay okay, guys, I think I'm ready," he whispered with intense focus. "I have full netherite armor, three totems of undying, fifteen enchanted golden apples, and two stacks of beds—this Ender Dragon is toast."

The screen flickered with the intense final battle in Minecraft. The chat beside it exploded with "LET'S GOOO," "BRO'S GONNA CLUTCH," and "SASUKE STYLEEEE." His username glowed on the screen:

@ArmyBorderWithGunsAndRosesToTheKingSasukeLovingHinataHinataRejectingNarutoTheLamborghiniHittingASheepTigerTailBecomingSnakeAndTheCarYouSitWillExplodeTheChairAndTheTVWithWeAreNotHumansWeAreHorsesAndTheUnicornIsMyGF.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. He answered without looking, still focused on the screen.

A girl's voice came through the call. "Leon! Did you hear?! Jack… your brother Jack—he was also part of that jungle research group!"

Leon blinked, still clicking frantically in-game. "Forget about him."

"What?! How can you say that?"

Leon sighed. "Why do you even still care about him? You know for me… he's dead."

The girl's voice cracked. "But Leo—"

"I'm live streaming, don't disturb me!" Leon snapped, waving at the chat with a fake smile. "Sorry guys, annoying calls, y'know how it is."

But his sister wasn't done.

"Enough of this gaming crap! We need to have a serious talk. Meet me in the park behind our house. Now."

Leon narrowed his eyes. "You don't have the right to shout at me. I'm your elder brother—"

She cut him off, voice sharp. "You're just a minute older than me."

Leon leaned back in his chair smugly. "Yeah, and that one minute is the difference between you being a nobody and me being your big bro. Facts."

She groaned. "Ugh. Fine, just come. I'm waiting."

"Okay okay, just wait a little, I'm almost done with the livestream."

Back on-screen, Leon delivered the final blow to the Ender Dragon. The Minecraft screen flashed victory particles.

"WE DID IT, GUYS!" he screamed into his mic. "Ender Dragon is dead! That's it for today's livestream! Don't forget to like and subscribe to my channel—"

He leaned closer to the mic dramatically.

"Army Border with Guns and Roses to the King Sasuke Loving Hinata, Hinata Rejecting Naruto, the Lamborghini Hitting a Sheep, Tiger Tail Becoming Snake, and the Car You Sit Will Explode the Chair and the TV With We Are Not Humans We Are Horses and the Unicorn Is My GF!"

There was a long pause on the call.

"…What?" his sister said flatly.

Leon blinked. "Huh?"

"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU EVEN SAYING?"

"Oh, that's my channel name," Leon said proudly.

The girl went silent on the other end of the call.

"…You need therapy."

Scene Shifts Back – Inside the Jungle

The thick leaves rustled gently above as the group trudged through the dense underbrush. Sunny, with Paragon clutched tightly in both hands like a detective inspecting evidence, leaned down toward the ground, pointing at something squirming in the dirt.

Sunny: "What's this?"

He shoved Paragon dangerously close to a small, wriggling creature.

Paragon blinked, unimpressed. "It's a worm. A normal worm. Are you serious?"

He flapped his wings in irritation. "Ughh, I'm so tired of this. Why do you guys keep holding me like this? I'm not your pet! I'm a majestic, mythical creature! I have the right to go wherever I want, fly wherever I please. I'm wild and free!"

Lucky, arms crossed, gave a scowl. "There's no choice. You have to come with us. We need you."

Paragon dramatically dropped to the ground with his wings spread out flat, beak on the floor. "Oh hell nah. I'm not moving. Even if a flood or an earthquake comes, I'm staying right—"

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, trees trembled, birds scattered into the air, and the sky rumbled with an eerie growl.

Sunny calmly brushed dust off his shoulder. "Okay bro. You stay here. We'll go further, right Jack?"

Jack nodded without hesitation. "Yup. Let's move."

Without missing a beat, Jack, Brock, Serena, Sunny, Lucky, and Rick turned around and bolted.

Paragon sat there blinking. "Wait—what? Why are you guys running?"

A shadow loomed behind him. He slowly turned his head…

Behind him stood a towering dragon—leathery wings, bat-like face, glowing red eyes, and thick, smoky breath escaping its fanged mouth.

Paragon screamed: "HOLY CRAP!"

He flapped his wings in pure panic and took off into the air. "HELP ME! THIS BAT DRAGON WILL KILL ME! DO SOMETHING!"

Sunny, still running, called out over his shoulder. "Why are you even running? You can fly, remember?"

Paragon blinked mid-air. "Oh yeah! I can fly! I can fly faster than this ugly pterodactyl cousin!"

He zoomed upward, zigzagging through the trees. The rest of the group sprinted toward the river. Behind them, the dragon swooped through the air, chasing the glowing blur that was Paragon.

SPLASH!

The group jumped into the river. Cold water crashed around them as they swam through violent waves, gasping and struggling to stay together. The current picked up speed fast—too fast.

Jack: "Guys… this is bad! The current's too strong!"

Serena: "There's a WATERFALL ahead!"

Brock: "Are you kidding me?! We just escaped a water monster!"

Lucky reached up as Paragon flew low over the water, grabbing his tail mid-air.

Lucky: "You'll die with us if you don't stay close!"

Paragon flailed. "Hey! Let go of me! I don't wanna die!"

Ahead, the roaring sound of falling water grew louder—a massive waterfall loomed just seconds away.

Suddenly—

WHOOSH!

A blinding blue light exploded from beneath the water. Swirling particles enveloped them all like fireflies caught in a whirlpool. Before they could scream, the river vanished beneath them—

They were standing on dry, soft ground.

The rushing water and danger were gone. Trees surrounded them again—but the area was calm, open, and oddly peaceful.

Rick dropped to his knees, gasping. "Omg—I'm alive. Somebody saved me! Wait… who was it?"

Everyone looked ahead.

There, standing just a few meters in front of them, was a—

TO BE CONTINUED...