The forest had changed without Jack noticing.
At first, the path had been clear—wide enough for two people to walk side by side, the ground packed down by years of passing travelers. Sunlight slipped easily through the gaps in the trees, and the air felt open. Jack had walked with an easy pace, almost relaxed.
Dinha Town couldn't be far.
That was what he had thought.
Now, the trees stood closer together.
The light thinned as branches tangled overhead, turning the forest into a quiet maze of shadows. The path beneath his feet had narrowed, then faded, until it was no longer a path at all—just uneven ground and scattered leaves.
Jack stopped.
He turned slowly, looking back the way he had come.
Everything looked the same.
No markings.
No familiar bends.
No sign that this was the way he had walked just minutes ago.
A faint crease formed between his brows.
"…This isn't right."
He tried to remember when the route had disappeared. When the forest had grown this dense. But the memory slipped away the moment he reached for it, like trying to recall a dream after waking.
Turt shifted beside him, claws brushing against the soil.
Jack glanced down at his partner. "We're still fine," he said, more to himself than to Turt. "Dinha Town should be close."
He took a few steps forward.
The forest did not open.
Instead, the trees pressed in tighter, their trunks rising like silent watchers. The sounds of distant birds had faded, replaced by a heavy stillness that made every footstep feel louder than it should have been.
Jack stopped again.
This time, he didn't turn around.
A thought surfaced—slow, unwelcome.
The map.
Most new battlers never started their journey without one. Routes, landmarks, safe paths—everything was marked clearly, passed down like a rule no one questioned.
Jack reached into his bag anyway.
Empty.
He checked again, as if the map might appear the second time.
Nothing.
"…Damn it."
The word left his mouth quietly, but it echoed louder in his head. He exhaled through his nose and let his shoulders drop.
So this was it.
Confident enough to think he didn't need directions. Casual enough to assume he would just figure it out. And now, deep inside the Dino Forest, he couldn't even say which direction Dinha Town was supposed to be in.
Turt let out a low sound, something between a hum and a question.
Jack crouched and rested a hand against its shell. "Yeah," he said. "I know."
For a moment, he stayed there, listening.
The forest was not hostile—but it wasn't welcoming either. It simply existed, vast and indifferent, as if it didn't care whether he found his way or wandered until nightfall.
Jack stood up.
Running around blindly wouldn't help. Panicking wouldn't either.
He took a slow breath and looked ahead, then to the sides, searching for anything—broken branches, disturbed soil, a sign that someone else had passed through recently.
"Alright," he muttered. "We'll find a way."
Not because he was sure.
Not because he had a plan.
But because stopping here wasn't an option.
Jack thought for a moment, steadying his breath. Wandering aimlessly wouldn't help—but moving carefully might. If he looked around enough, he might find a familiar landmark. A trail. Or at least a smaller route that connected back to the main road.
There had to be one.
When he had started earlier, the road had been wide—wide enough for a truck to pass through without trouble. That route wasn't made by chance. Traders used it. Supplies moved through it. People passed this way regularly.
A road like that didn't simply disappear.
"If I keep searching," Jack murmured, "something will show itself."
He began scanning the area more carefully, eyes moving across the ground, the trees, the gaps between them.
That was when the grass to his left shifted.
Jack froze.
The movement was subtle—but real. The tall grass swayed again, parting slightly, as if something inside had shifted its weight.
His hand tensed at his side.
A monster?
His pulse quickened, just a little. The Dino Forest wasn't known for being empty. He hesitated, then swallowed and took a cautious step forward.
"…I'll check," he said quietly.
Pushing aside the thick grass, Jack peered through.
A small creature sat there, completely unaware of him—white fur catching the light, tiny paws holding a fallen nut as it gnawed away contentedly.
Jack blinked.
"…Sheesh. It's just a Squile."
The tension drained from his shoulders, and a faint smile crossed his face. The Squile glanced up briefly, then returned to its meal, uninterested.
"Cute," Jack muttered.
The Dino Forest was home to countless species, most of them grass-type. If he had to guess, nearly eighty percent of the forest belonged to them. The rest—well, those were a mix. Some harmless. Some… not.
"One day," Jack said quietly, stepping back, "I'll contract one like you."
He turned and motioned for Turt to follow. "Let's keep moving."
Cute monsters were one thing—but the forest also housed creatures far more dangerous. Serpents large enough to crush trees. Poisonous types that didn't warn before striking.
Engaging any of them right now would be a mistake.
A fatal one.
Jack glanced at the sky through the branches.
The only thing that mattered now was finding the road before the light was gone.
While searching through the trees, Jack noticed a faint reflection ahead.
He slowed.
Carefully pushing aside a branch, he spotted water—still, wide, and alive with quiet movement. A lake.
He stayed where he was, partially hidden, observing.
Several Todepol floated lazily on the surface, drifting with the gentle movement of the water. Near the shore, a few Greendear lowered their heads to drink, ears twitching as they remained alert.
Jack exhaled softly.
"So this is where they come," he thought.
Judging by the number of monsters gathered, this lake wasn't just a water source—it was likely the water source in this part of the forest.
His gaze lifted toward the sky, now painted with the colors of evening.
Sunset's close.
"If it gets dark," Jack thought, "I won't make it out today."
The decision formed quickly.
"…I'll camp."
He immediately ruled out staying near the lake. Monsters came here to drink—strong ones, territorial ones. If this was the only water source, more would arrive after dark.
Jack moved away, keeping the lake within reach but far enough that no wandering creature would stumble upon him.
After some searching, he found a small clearing—just enough space for him and Turt to rest. It was hidden, dry, and defensible.
"This'll work."
He gathered fallen branches and dry wood, stacking them neatly before lighting a small fire. The flames caught easily, their warmth pushing back the chill of evening.
Fire would help.
Most monsters avoided it.
He made sure the river wasn't too far—he still needed water—but far enough that creatures drawn to the lake wouldn't wander near his camp.
Night fell.
The forest changed its voice as darkness settled in. Jack sat by the fire, notebook open, writing by the flickering light.
He liked recording his days.
The forest.
The lost path.
The lake full of monsters.
A gentle tug pulled at his sleeve.
Jack looked down to see Turt gripping his hand.
"…Hungry?" Jack smiled faintly. "Yeah. We've been walking all day."
He set out Turt's food, then took out his own. They ate quietly, side by side.
Later, as the fire burned low, Jack lay back on the ground. Above him, a small opening between the trees revealed a patch of sky—narrow, but clear enough to show the stars.
Turt curled up beside him.
Jack watched the sky for a while longer, listening to the forest breathe, before sleep finally took him.
Tonight, at least, they were safe.