Apophis moved swiftly through the dense foliage, following the faint traces left by the crocodile and Finn the fox. The silence around him was unnatural, the usual hum of the forest replaced by an eerie stillness. His instincts screamed of danger, but he pressed forward, his mind focused on his companions.

The smell of blood hit him suddenly, sharp and overwhelming. Apophis quickened his pace, and soon, the source of the scent came into view. In a small, shadowed clearing, the crocodile and Finn lay sprawled on the ground, battered and bleeding.

The crocodile, his armored body usually impervious to most attacks, was covered in long, deep gashes. Blood dripped from his cracked scales as he tried to rise, only to collapse again with a pained grunt. Finn, though agile and quick, hadn’t fared much better. His once vibrant fur was matted with blood, and his breaths came in shallow gasps.

“Cyrus! Stay with me!” Finn’s voice rasped, calling out to the crocodile, his golden eyes wide with both fear and anger. The name echoed in the clearing, a sign of their bond in the face of death.

Cyrus groaned and tried to lift himself, his massive body trembling as he forced his jaws to snap at the air. Despite the severity of his injuries, the determination in his eyes was unyielding.

Apophis' heart tightened as he slithered closer, eyes darting around the clearing for signs of the attacker. Then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.

The creature was tall and menacing, its muscular form wrapped in bark-like armor, as though it had fused with the very forest. Its long, vine-like arms swayed with a menacing grace, and sharp thorns jutted out from its hands, glistening with fresh blood. The air around it buzzed with power, the essence of the forest bending to its will.

“I am Thorne,” the creature growled, its voice deep and resonant, like the creaking of ancient trees. “The Forest King demands loyalty, and those who resist pay with blood.”

Finn bared his fangs, struggling to rise. “We’ll never bow to that tyrant,” he snarled. “This is our land—Cyrus and I swore to protect it.”

Thorne’s eyes glowed with a sickly green light. “You’ve made your choice, fox. And now, your end is near.”

With a powerful leap, Cyrus surged forward, his jaws wide as he lunged at Thorne. His tail swung with a mighty force, aiming to crush Thorne under its weight. But Thorne was swift, twisting his vine-like body out of reach, his arm slashing down with thorned claws that left deep gashes in Cyrus’s side.

Cyrus roared in pain, his massive body shuddering as he tried to keep his balance. His scales, cracked and bleeding, made every movement torturous, but he refused to back down.

“Cyrus!” Finn’s voice cut through the chaos, his legs finally steady beneath him. He darted forward, his slim form a blur as he aimed for Thorne’s back. He knew he couldn’t overpower Thorne directly, but if he could just distract him long enough...

With a graceful leap, Finn latched onto Thorne’s arm, his sharp teeth sinking into the vines. The thorny bark tore at his flesh, but he held on, his grip unwavering.

Thorne let out a howl of rage, his free arm swinging wildly as he tried to shake Finn off. The vines that made up his body twisted and lashed, but Finn’s determination burned through the pain.

“You pests!” Thorne roared, twisting violently. With a quick snap of his body, the vines wrapped around Finn, pulling him off and slamming him into the ground with a heavy thud.

Finn yelped, his body writhing as the vines tightened around him. His vision blurred from the impact, but his will remained unbroken. He had to fight. For Cyrus. For their freedom.

Cyrus, still reeling from his own injuries, saw Finn trapped in Thorne’s grip. With a last surge of strength, the massive crocodile swung his tail once more, this time connecting with Thorne’s side and sending the creature stumbling backward.

Thorne staggered, his grip loosening just enough for Finn to wriggle free. Gasping, Finn scrambled to his feet, his sharp eyes locking onto Thorne’s glowing form.

The battle wasn’t over yet

Cyrus, despite his wounds, wasn’t finished. He struggled to his feet, each movement accompanied by the sound of his cracking scales and labored breathing. But his resolve was unbreakable. Finn’s desperate fight had sparked something deep within him—a primal urge to protect, to survive. His tail swung low, carving deep grooves into the earth as he prepared for another assault.

Thorne, now showing signs of wear, snarled in frustration. His vine-like limbs writhed in the air, gathering energy from the surrounding forest. The ground beneath him pulsed as roots and tendrils erupted, forming a barrier around his body. His glowing eyes narrowed, sizing up his opponents.

"You creatures don’t understand," Thorne spat, his voice resonating through the clearing. "The Forest King isn’t someone you can defy. You’re nothing but prey to him."

Finn, panting heavily, grinned through bloodied teeth. “If we're prey, then we'll make him bleed first.”

With those words, Finn darted toward Thorne, his movements a blur of silver as he weaved through the roots and tendrils trying to ensnare him. He leaped, claws extended, aiming for Thorne's exposed throat. But Thorne, prepared this time, thrust his vine-arm upward, catching Finn mid-air. The thorns dug into the fox’s fur and skin, drawing more blood.

But Finn had expected this. Using the momentum of the grab, he twisted his body and, with a sharp bark, bit down hard on the vine, causing Thorne to recoil in pain. At the same moment, Cyrus surged forward with all his remaining strength, his jaws snapping at the barrier of roots. With a mighty crash, he tore through the protective shield, sending chunks of vine flying as he barreled straight toward Thorne.

Thorne, now vulnerable, staggered backward, trying to keep both attackers at bay. His thorned arm lashed out wildly, but the coordinated strikes of Finn and Cyrus overwhelmed him.

"Enough!" Thorne roared, slamming his fist into the ground. A shockwave erupted, sending a wave of force through the clearing. Finn was thrown back, tumbling through the dirt, while Cyrus crashed against a nearby tree with a heavy thud.