The night was as thick as smoke, and in the Tiger Forest the darkness always hid more than it seemed. Kiran, a young wolf with silvery fur, walked along the dark paths trodden by hundreds of paws. The air was tense, suffused with the rustling of leaves and the rasp of branches broken by unknown creatures. Usually at this time the forest was quiet. Owls were out hunting and foxes, like Siona, were weaving their secrets among the bushes. But this night something was different. For the first time, Kiran felt a chill not so much from the cold, but coming from deep within his heart. For days, the animals had disappeared, leaving only twisted footprints and the echo of a frightened howl. By the great pine tree, where the moon seeped through the branches, Siona was already waiting for him. Her tail was twitching and her eyes were staring at something in the distance. "I saw something strange by the ponds today," she whispered, not taking her eyes off the shadow creeping through the ferns. "Footprints bigger than wolf tracks, deeper than bear tracks. And that smell... Like a damp mist mingling with ash." Kiran lifted his muzzle and felt the same - something alien, penetrating, heralding unease. They pressed their paws to the soft earth and set off, heading towards the ponds. Each step brought them closer to the place that was still to become the arena of a unique encounter before dawn. Suddenly, a short, penetrating shriek sounded from the thicket. Siona froze, and Kiran pressed his ears towards the sound. Amidst the mist, in the tall reeds, two glowing dots began to tinkle - eyes that belonged to neither fox nor wolf....