Under the full Moon

Ethan loved the city—its tall buildings, bright lights, and the constant hum of life. The bustling streets, the endless opportunities, and the anonymity it provided made him feel at home. But, for once, he was stepping out of his comfort zone.

When Jake, his best friend since childhood, invited him on a camping trip in the mountains, Ethan hesitated. He hadn't spent much time outdoors, and the idea of being far away from the city, surrounded by trees, bugs, and all the things that came with nature, wasn't exactly his idea of fun. But Jake wouldn't take no for an answer. After some convincing, Ethan agreed.

"You're not going to back out now, are you?" Jake had teased, his wide grin impossible to resist.

Ethan rolled his eyes, throwing his bag over his shoulder. "Fine. But don't expect me to enjoy all the dirt and bugs and whatever else you think is fun about 'the great outdoors.'"

Jake just laughed, his eyes shining with excitement. "You'll see. You'll love it. I promise."

They drove out of the city the next day, heading deep into the mountains. The air grew thinner, the trees taller, and Ethan's skepticism grew as the scenery shifted from urban to wild. But Jake was in his element, setting up the campsite with ease and confidently navigating the winding trails.

It wasn't until evening, when the sun dipped below the horizon, that Ethan started to feel the weight of the place. The air was heavy, cool with the onset of night, but still vibrant with the sounds of the forest. The crackling of the fire they'd built was the only comfort against the eerie silence of the woods. Jake was telling one of his usual stories, a mix of made-up adventures and ridiculous antics from their childhood, but Ethan wasn't listening.

There was something about the night that unsettled him—the way the shadows in the trees seemed to stretch longer than they should, the strange stillness in the air that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"Don't tell me you're getting spooked already," Jake said with a smirk, tossing a log onto the fire.

Ethan rolled his eyes again, forcing a laugh. "I'm not scared. It's just... quiet. Too quiet."

Jake waved him off. "It's the mountains. Everything's alive here. You just have to listen carefully."

But despite Jake's easygoing attitude, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it—maybe it was the way the trees swayed slightly even though there was no wind, or the distant howl he'd heard earlier, just on the edge of hearing. It made him shiver, even though the air was warm.

The firelight flickered, casting dancing shadows, and the sound of the forest seemed to swell around them. That's when he heard it again—a low, menacing growl. It was distant at first, but it was unmistakable. Ethan's heart skipped a beat. His instincts screamed that something was wrong.

Jake, who had been laughing, stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "You heard that too, didn't you?"

Ethan nodded, his stomach sinking. "Yeah. What was that?"

Jake didn't answer at first. His gaze had shifted to the tree line, the smile vanishing from his face. "Stay here. Don't move, Ethan."

Before Ethan could respond, Jake was already on his feet, disappearing into the darkness. Ethan stayed where he was, heart pounding in his chest, trying to make sense of what he'd just heard. The sounds of the forest, the crackling fire, the whisper of the wind—everything seemed to fade away, leaving only a strange, oppressive quiet.

Then, without warning, the ground beneath him trembled. He barely had time to react as something huge, powerful, and fast lunged from the shadows. The creature was upon him before he could even scream.

Ethan's body collided with the ground, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. The sharp pain that followed—something gnawing at his shoulder—was immediate, searing through him like fire. He gasped, struggling to push the weight off of him, but the creature didn't relent. His blood pooled in the dirt as he cried out in pain.

The creature's growl was deafening, its claws digging into the earth, its teeth sinking into his flesh. He couldn't see it clearly in the darkness, but its eyes burned a brilliant gold, glowing like molten fire.

Just as quickly as it had appeared, the beast was gone, disappearing back into the forest with a final, chilling growl. Ethan lay there, stunned and in agony, his mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

Moments later, Jake was beside him, panic clear in his eyes. He frantically checked Ethan's shoulder, cursing under his breath. "Stay with me, man," he urged. "We need to get you back to camp. Come on."

Ethan's vision blurred as his head spun. He could barely process what was happening. The pain in his shoulder was unbearable, but there was something else—a strange, tingling sensation spreading from the wound, making his skin crawl.

"What the hell, Jake? What was that? What just happened?" Ethan asked, his voice shaking.

Jake's expression softened for a moment, but then a grim determination settled over his features. "We need to get you out of here," he said, lifting Ethan to his feet and helping him back toward the campsite. "And when we're safe, I'll explain everything. Just hang in there."

As they made their way back to camp, Ethan tried to process what had just happened—the creature, the pain, the burning sensation in his shoulder. He didn't understand, and that uncertainty filled him with fear.