The Antarctic Expedition

Ryan's group watched from behind thick foliage as the smoke continued to curl up into the sky from the new camp. There was no doubt now—a fresh campfire was burning, and whoever had set it was organized and purposeful. Kenji kept a hand on his weapon, eyes narrowed, while Emily glanced at Ryan, her unease evident. After a quick, whispered decision, they edged closer, their steps light and silent.

As they approached the makeshift camp, they saw a handful of people—battle-worn and alert, just like them. A tall woman with short-cropped hair seemed to be in charge, standing at the campfire's edge, assessing Ryan's group just as carefully as they were being assessed. Her gaze was sharp, scanning each of them as if weighing their worth.

"We don't mean any harm," Ryan said, stepping forward, trying to keep his tone neutral. "We're just… curious. Didn't expect to see anyone else on this island."

The woman's expression softened, if only slightly. "Seems we're in the same boat, then." She introduced herself as Zara, and the others followed suit, though they offered only first names. They didn't elaborate on how they arrived on the island, leaving Ryan's group wondering just how much they knew.

After a tense silence, Zara spoke again. "We've found some ruins in the jungle," she said, looking to gauge their reaction. "It might be of interest to you."

Ryan felt a prickling along his neck at her words, a thrill of suspicion and curiosity all at once. Temples and ruins seemed to hold answers, or at least power. But he wasn't sure how much to trust her, even if the ruins could provide clues.

Emily, standing slightly apart, kept her gaze fixed on one of Zara's group members, noticing something peculiar on his leather vest—a faint symbol, nearly worn away, that looked disturbingly similar to markings they had seen in the previous temple. She nudged Ryan subtly, and he gave her a barely perceptible nod.

"We'll help," Ryan finally said, wary but intrigued. "If we get something in return."

Zara gave a low chuckle. "Then it sounds like we have an agreement."

Before they could plan their next steps, a loud, rustling noise echoed from deeper within the jungle. Both groups turned, watching as the dense foliage began to part, and a large beast emerged. It was covered in hard, dark scales that shimmered faintly, blending almost seamlessly into the surrounding jungle. The creature had a low, predatory stance, and its eyes locked onto them.

Without a word, everyone scrambled for cover or weapons, but it was clear the beast was fast and vicious. Kenji took a defensive stance, while mia and Alex readied their weapons.

The beast lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Ryan, acting on instinct, reached out with his newfound powers, willing the nearby vines to form a barrier. He was still getting used to this ability, unsure of the extent of the dryad's influence, but to his relief, the vines responded, forming a makeshift wall that slowed the beast's advance.

Zara's team wasn't idle, either. One of her members, a wiry man with a quick, calculating look, drew a small blade that seemed to hum with a faint energy. He lunged at the creature, managing to pierce one of its scales, but was thrown back by a powerful swipe.

Working together, they managed to chip away at the beast's defenses, finally driving it back enough for a decisive strike. With one last coordinated attack, both groups struck together, felling the beast in a tangle of vines and weapons. Panting, they regrouped, wary of each other despite the shared victory.

"That thing wasn't normal," Emily muttered, watching at Zara's team carefully