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You turn to Jaq and ask her what she thinks you should do.
"Well, before we make any decisions, let's take a step back and assess the situation," Jaq responds. "How do you feel about all of this? I know you're more emotional, and I'm more rational, so I want to get a sense of what you're picking up that I might not be able to analyze."
You pause for a moment, trying to put your feelings into words. "I don't know, I just have this feeling that something's not right," you say. "It feels a bit ominous, but I can't really describe it. I'm just feeling a bit scared."
Jaq looks thoughtful. "Okay, here's what we'll do," she says. "You and Alex will form one group and search the surrounding area for any signs of wolves or other creatures. Meanwhile, Mason will go by himself in another direction. Don't go too far and make sure the teachers don't see you. I'll distract them by whistling."
Alex and Mason are Jaq's two roommates. Alex is the one that looks a bit like a butler. Mason is shorter and stockier, with messy blonde hair and a perpetual scowl on his face.
<span class="mu-i">Whistling sound</span>
You take a deep breath and start jogging off the path, trying to find any signs of animals or creatures. You're alert, constantly scanning the trees and bushes around you, trying to identify any movements or sounds. The forest is dense and green, with tall trees towering above you, and a thick underbrush of ferns and shrubs. Sunlight streams down through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
As you continue your search, you come across the carcass of a dead animal. It looks like a deer, with half the meat still on it. But what catches your attention is the abnormal green mucus covering the exposed flesh.
"I've never seen anything like this," Alex says, his voice trembling with horror as he steps back.
You both ponder what could have happened, and you start to feel a sense of tension settling in. This was not what you expected to find, and you start to wonder if maybe Ms. Müller's warning about the forest was more serious than you initially thought.
All of a sudden, Alex says, "Let's get out of here quickly".
You have no choice but to agree. You start running back to the main group. Your heart starts pumping, and you can feel the blood pulsing through your veins. As you sprint through the forest, you feel like you're losing your sense of orientation. The trees blur around you, and it's hard to tell which way is which. You run as fast as you can, hoping to put as much distance between yourselves and the carcass as possible.
Despite feeling disoriented, you and Alex manage to find your way back to the group. Ms. Brüngger catches sight of you. "What's the rush? Don't fool around like that, and make sure to stay close to the group. We don't want anyone getting lost in this forest." she scolds, her tone sharp and commanding. You and Alex nod, feeling slightly ashamed, and join the rest of the group as you continue your hike through the forest.
