Solraya crept closer to the encampment, her movements as silent as the moonlight filtering through the broken buildings. Her golden tail flicked behind her, betraying her anticipation. From her vantage point, she could hear the gruff voices of the two soldiers—one large and broad-shouldered, the other wiry and restless. They were engrossed in conversation, oblivious to the predator lurking in the shadows.

Her blue eyes gleamed with excitement as she coiled her muscles, ready to strike. Without further hesitation, she launched herself from the cover of the ruins, letting out a ferocious snarl that echoed through the encampment. The larger soldier barely had time to react before Solraya collided with him, her claws sinking deep into his chest. He let out a guttural cry of pain, his arms flailing as he tried to dislodge her.

With a powerful tug, she yanked him off his feet and slammed him into the ground. The impact sent a cloud of dust billowing into the air, and the soldier's breath left him in a wheezing gasp. Blood seeped from the deep gouges her claws had left in his flesh, staining his uniform in dark patches.

A burst of gunfire erupted, the sharp cracks shattering the tense quiet of the ruins. Bullets pinged harmlessly off her shimmering scales, sparking as they ricocheted into the rubble. Solraya turned her head slowly, her icy gaze locking onto the smaller soldier. He stood a few feet away, his rifle trembling in his hands. The smell of his fear was sharp and intoxicating, fueling the predator within her.

"Intruders!" she hissed, her voice rough but intelligible in broken English. The word escaped her lips like a growl, dripping with menace.

The soldier froze, his eyes wide with terror as he took an involuntary step back. The sight of Solraya—her lithe, golden body coiled with strength, her fangs bared in a snarl—was more than he could process. His mind screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to obey.

Solraya advanced a step, the ground beneath her claws crunching as she moved. She tilted her head, her expression somewhere between curiosity and predation. "Weak," she muttered, the single word heavy with disdain.

Her tail lashed out, sweeping across the ground with a force that knocked the rifle from the soldier's hands. It clattered to the ground, spinning uselessly into the shadows. The man let out a strangled yelp, his survival instincts finally kicking in as he scrambled backward, tripping over debris in his haste to escape.

Satisfied with the chaos she'd unleashed, Solraya turned her attention back to the larger man, who groaned weakly at her feet. She leaned down, her sharp teeth glinting as she examined him. "Foolish humans," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "This is not your place."

Her mother would be pleased with her boldness, she thought. Perhaps these soldiers would make fine trophies—or better yet, a fine meal.

-

Ghost's mind was a haze of pain and desperation as he clawed at the ground, his fingers scrambling for the pistol he had dropped. His chest throbbed with every beat of his heart, blood soaking into his tactical gear and pooling beneath him. His breaths came in short, ragged gasps, each one a battle against the fire in his ribs. The monstrous creature loomed over him, its sharp teeth snapping just inches from his leg, a wicked snarl rumbling from its throat.

With a sudden swipe, the beast's claws tore away his iconic skull mask, leaving his face exposed to the cold night air. Ghost froze for a split second, the vulnerability of the moment searing into his mind. But there was no time to dwell on it—the beast lunged again, and this time, Ghost barely rolled away, his hand finally closing around the grip of his pistol.

Before he could raise it, the sharp report of gunfire rang out, cutting through the chaos. Soap and Pierce had burst from the warehouse, their weapons already trained on the creature. Their faces were a mix of shock and determination as they opened fire, the bursts of light from their muzzles illuminating the hulking form of the beast.

The creature snarled in fury, bullets ricocheting off its shimmering scales, though some found their mark, embedding themselves in softer flesh. It roared—a bone-rattling sound that echoed through the ruins—and released Ghost, retreating a step as it assessed the new threat.

Without warning, the beast pivoted and bounded away, its powerful limbs carrying it across the crumbling terrain with terrifying speed. Ghost struggled to sit up, his pistol still clenched tightly in his shaking hand, but he could do nothing as the creature leapt toward the team's vehicle parked nearby.

Donald, their driver, barely had time to scream. The beast descended upon him with brutal efficiency, snapping his neck in a single motion. His lifeless body slumped against the steering wheel as the creature vaulted over the car and vanished into the coarse grass beyond the city walls, leaving destruction in its wake.

Silence fell, broken only by the rasping breath of Ghost and the muted echo of retreating gunfire. Gaz was the first to move, his face pale and grim as he stumbled toward the car. "Oh, Donald," he whispered, his voice thick with grief. He reached into the vehicle, his hands trembling as he gently lifted the driver's body from the seat. Donald's head lolled lifelessly to one side, his wide eyes staring into nothingness.

Gaz carried the fallen man a few steps away from the car, laying him down carefully on the cracked pavement. The weight of loss was palpable, hanging heavy in the air as the team gathered around.

Soap crouched next to Ghost, his voice tight with concern. "You alright, mate? That thing tore you up good."

Ghost nodded weakly, his hand pressing against the wound on his chest. "I'll live," he rasped, though the pain in his voice betrayed the struggle ahead. His eyes drifted toward the city walls where the beast had disappeared. "But that thing... it's not done with us."

Price's voice crackled over the radio, sharp and commanding. "Report! What the bloody hell just happened?"

Soap's gaze didn't leave Ghost as he responded. "We've got one down, and Ghost is injured. The target escaped... but not without a fight."

Ghost leaned back against the steps, his breath slowing but his mind racing. Whatever that creature was, it wasn't just an animal. It was smart, ruthless, and—most unsettling of all—calculating. It had tested them, and now it knew their weaknesses.

The team exchanged glances, the unspoken question weighing on all of them: What happens when it comes back?