Story of Draconia

Before Coral could respond, a loud thud echoed from behind them. The group whipped around just in time to see Cole flat on his back again, having tripped over yet another root. This time, however, he wasn't alone. Out of the shadows, a group of shadowy wolves crept toward him, their eyes glowing an eerie green.

"Coal, get up!" Reef shouted as he and the others rushed to surround him.

"I'm trying!" Cole yelped, scrambling to his feet as the wolves advanced.

Sable snarled and stepped forward, his wings flaring wide to intimidate the creatures. "These aren't normal wolves," he muttered. "They're enchanted. Stay sharp."

Splash grinned. "Sharp is my middle name! Well, actually, it's not, but—"

"Not the time!" Moss hissed, elbowing Splash as the first of the wolves lunged.

The group sprang into action, fighting off the enchanted wolves with quick strikes and dodges. Despite their best efforts, it quickly became clear that the wolves weren't backing down easily.

"Okay, these things are tougher than they look!" Splash grunted, narrowly dodging a set of snapping jaws.

"Tell me about it!" Elanor called out, using a tree branch to fend off a wolf that had gotten too close for comfort.

Amid the chaos, Cole tripped once more, landing hard on his backside. This time, however, he managed to swing his sword upward just as a wolf lunged at him, accidentally knocking it back with surprising force.

"Ha!" he shouted, getting to his feet with newfound confidence. "Told you I was testing the terrain!"

Despite the chaos, the group found their rhythm, slowly but surely pushing the wolves back into the forest. As the last of the wolves retreated into the shadows, panting and snarling, Coral lowered his weapon and turned to the others.

"Is everyone alright?" he asked, scanning the group.

"Apart from Coal kissing the ground every five minutes, we're fine," Reef said, grinning.

"Hey, I was just keeping things interesting," Cole shot back, brushing dirt from his clothes for what felt like the hundredth time.

Sable, still catching his breath, gave a nod of approval. "You all fought well. But we need to keep moving. The wolves are just a taste of what this forest holds."

The group regrouped and continued on their way, the mood lighter despite the lingering danger. As they moved, Splash patted Cole on the back. "You know, you might actually be getting better at this."

Cole raised a brow. "Really?"

"Yeah," Splash grinned. "You managed not to trip over that last wolf, at least."

The group laughed, their spirits lifted as they pressed on toward the temple, knowing that their toughest challenges were still ahead.

A few days of trekking later...

"So....where is this...forgotten temple?" Aurora asked. 

Sable craned his neck, scanning the dense jungle around them. "I swear it's here. I've flown over this area dozens of times." His tail flicked in frustration.

"Well, maybe it's called the forgotten temple for a reason," said Splash, laying against a nearby tree. "Seems like even you forgot where it is."

Sable shot him a glare but said nothing, still trying to get his bearings.

"Maybe it's hidden by magic," Coral suggested, his eyes narrowing as he crouched near the ground, examining the dirt. "It wouldn't be the first time we've encountered ancient magic hiding things."

Aurora frowned, peering up at the trees that towered above them. "Isn't that a little cliché? Hidden temples and all? You'd think someone would've put up a sign or something."

Cole, wiping sweat from his brow after days of trekking, plopped down on a nearby rock. "I could've sworn we passed the same tree three times. We're lost, aren't we?"

Elanor sighed, hands on her hips. "I don't think we're lost. Just… misplaced." She glanced at Sable. "Right?"

Sable scratched the back of his head. "I'm sure it's close. It's probably just hidden. There could be traps or illusions keeping it from view."

"Well, illusions or not," Splash said, stretching his legs and cracking his neck, "we've been walking for days. I think we deserve a break."

As the group took a moment to rest, Moss was busy inspecting the nearby trees and rocks, tapping them lightly with her claws. "If it's hidden, there has to be a way to reveal it. Temples like this usually have some kind of trick."

Cole, sitting on his rock, leaned back with a sigh. "Great, more ancient puzzles. Maybe we should try pushing some rocks around or chanting something magical?"

Reef raised an eyebrow. "Oh sure, let's just randomly chant until something explodes."

"Well, that sounds like fun," Cole grinned, clearly joking.

Moss shook her head as Reef flapped his flippers, pretending to chant a magical spell. Cole leaned back... a little too far and—predictably—fell off the rock with a thud.

Elanor and Aurora stifled their laughter as Cole sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "Okay, maybe not that fun."

Just then, a soft rumble echoed beneath the ground. The group froze, looking around in alarm.

"Did… did Coal just trigger something by falling off a rock?" Splash asked, wide-eyed.

Sable stepped forward, his ears twitching as he listened to the rumble growing louder. "I don't think it's the rock. Something's shifting."

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and before their eyes, the earth parted, revealing a set of ancient stone steps descending into the ground. A faint glow illuminated the entrance as vines slowly unraveled from the temple door that had been hidden beneath the soil.

Coral blinked in surprise. "Well, would you look at that. I guess we found it."

Aurora stared at the newly revealed temple entrance, shaking her head in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me. Coal's clumsiness actually worked for once?"

Cole, still sitting on the ground, grinned sheepishly. "I told you I was testing the terrain."

Shadow let out a chuckle. "Looks like you tested it just right, Coal."

Sable, staring at the glowing entrance, finally allowed himself a small smile. "I knew we were close. Now comes the real challenge."

Aurora stretched her wings, looking down into the mysterious steps. "I'm ready for anything… as long as there aren't any more rock traps."

The group gathered at the temple's entrance, ready to descend into the forgotten depths and discover what lay in wait. As they stepped forward, Cole hesitated for a moment before glancing down at the stone beneath his feet.