CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX – THROUGH THE FOREST OF DARKNESS

The next few days passed in a blur of exhausting travel and constant vigilance. They encountered no more cyborgs, but the forest itself seemed to grow more hostile the deeper they ventured. Strange noises echoed in the night, and more than once they awoke to find bizarre scratch marks on nearby trees. On the fifth day, as they crested a steep hill, Kelly suddenly froze. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing ahead. There, nestled in a secluded valley, stood an ancient structure unlike anything Laura had ever seen. Massive stone blocks, weathered by centuries of exposure, formed intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as they watched. Thick vines and moss covered much of the exterior, but there was no mistaking the aura of power that emanated from the temple. "We made it," Laura breathed, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through her. As they approached, the air grew thick with an almost tangible energy. Laura's skin tingled, and she noticed the werewolves' eyes glow