15 MONTHS LATER

CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK 

Y/N sniffed at the air, the pungent scent of the jungle mixing with something else—something unfamiliar. She tore a bit of the meat from the fire, chewing slowly as her mind drifted back to the chaos they'd left behind. It had been days since she and Spider-Man had successfully brought Kazar and Zabu back from the Savage Land jungle, and for a while, things had been calm. Kazar, with his spear and untamed spirit, had proven to be a strong ally, and Zabu, the saber-toothed tiger, had found his place beside them. But even with the respite, Y/N couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that had been growing inside her.

She looked down at her hands, her fingers curled around the bone of the meat she was gnawing on. It wasn't just the hunger or the thirst that gnawed at her now. It was something deeper. A change. Her senses were sharper, far sharper than they'd ever been before. The sounds of the jungle—each rustling leaf, each distant call—felt as if they were being pulled directly into her mind. Her eyes could see further, the details clearer, as though the entire world had shifted into a crisper focus. And then there was the sensation in her teeth, a subtle, gnawing ache that made her uncomfortable. It wasn't the sensation of hunger anymore; it was something else. Her teeth were longer. She could feel them lengthening in her mouth, sharp and dangerous. She could feel herself becoming more... predatory.

It was like an animal was trying to emerge from inside her, clawing to get out. Her muscles were tighter, her body stronger. She was faster, more capable in a fight—but it wasn't entirely her. This change, this shift, wasn't one she could fully control. It was terrifying. Y/N hadn't asked for this. She hadn't wanted to become something... less human.

With a soft growl under her breath, she shook the thought away, trying to focus on the present. The world around her had its dangers, and she couldn't afford to let herself lose control now, not when Kazar and Zabu were depending on her.

But that voice, that gnawing sense of power, kept tugging at the edges of her consciousness.

Just embrace it, the voice whispered—dark, tempting. It will make you stronger. You were meant for this.

She clenched her jaw, trying to push the voice away. This wasn't who she was. She couldn't let herself become that monster.

"Y/N?" Spider-Man's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up, blinking, only to see his masked face peering at her from across the campfire. He was leaning against a tree, his body relaxed, but his eyes were full of concern. "You okay? You've been quiet for a while."

Y/N opened her mouth to respond, but her voice was hoarse, strained. "I'm fine," she said, even though she wasn't. "Just... thinking."

Spider-Man nodded, though she could tell he wasn't buying it. But for now, he didn't push. He knew when to back off, and she appreciated that. Still, her mind was a storm of uncertainty.

The jungle's heavy humidity pressed in on them, and the night felt heavier than usual, the shadows stretching like they were alive, watching, waiting.

And Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that something else was coming. Something she wouldn't be able to stop, no matter how hard she tried.

SCENEBREAK

Y/N stood outside the Batrisekllion, her heart pounding in her chest as she prepared herself for what was to come. She wasn't sure what exactly awaited her, but her instinct told her she was ready for it. Ready for the fight, the challenge, and most importantly—what lay ahead with this new team. She was tired of running from herself, tired of trying to ignore the beast that stirred inside her.

The sun had barely risen, but she was already in motion. Spider-Man met her outside her quarters, his friendly smile breaking through the otherwise quiet morning. "Ready?" he asked, his voice light but with an edge of seriousness.

Y/N nodded, forcing herself to focus. "I am."

Together, they walked toward the training center, the air thick with anticipation. The center was a mix of old and new faces, all eager to prove their worth, including the newest recruits. Y/N's eyes briefly flicked over them, a mix of curiosity and wariness flickering in her chest. Some faces were familiar, others not so much. But that didn't matter. They were all here for one reason—to train, to fight, and to survive.

As they entered the room, Spider-Man couldn't help but give a little speech. He cracked a joke or two, trying to lighten the atmosphere, but Y/N noticed how tense everyone was. They had all been through enough to know that today wasn't just about learning to fight. It was about survival.

Before Spider-Man could finish, Nick Fury's voice boomed over the speakers, cutting through the tension. "Enough chit-chat," Fury barked. "You're here to train, not to socialize. Get moving."

Y/N's muscles tensed as she stepped into the arena. The floor beneath her feet was solid, the weight of what she was about to do pressing down on her shoulders. She'd trained before, sure, but not like this. Not with this team. They were stronger, faster, more experienced. And Y/N would need to be the same if she was going to fit in.

Spider-Man gave her a quick thumbs-up before stepping into the fray with the others, and Y/N took a deep breath. It was time to prove to herself that she wasn't losing control—not today, not ever again.

With that, the training session began. Fury's voice was drowned out by the sound of punches, kicks, and the occasional snarl. Y/N quickly got into the rhythm, her senses sharpening as her instincts began to take over. The more she trained, the more she felt that familiar pull, that power that lurked beneath the surface.

She had to stay in control.

But as she faced off against her first opponent, a wave of unease washed over her. Her body was stronger than she remembered, faster, almost too fast. She held back, reminding herself that she wasn't like the others. She couldn't afford to be. She had to find a balance—between the human side of her and the beast she could feel clawing at her from within.

Every punch, every block, felt like it brought her closer to the edge, but she couldn't back down now. Not when this was all she had left. Not when they were all relying on her.