A MIX OF TWO WORLDS

Alex was deep in a restless sleep when the dream began. It was the kind of dream that felt vivid yet surreal, leaving him adrift between the waking world and something darker. He was standing in a field shrouded in mist, the soft grass cold beneath his bare feet.

Suddenly, an icy wind swept through, and the ground crumbled beneath him, plunging him into an abyss.

The sensation was strange at first, a cool numbing touch against his skin until it became unbearable. The cold seeped into his bones, and the weight of something pressing against his chest made it hard to breathe.

He struggled to open his eyes, his lungs screaming for air, but there was none.

Water filled his mouth and nose, the taste of salt stinging his throat. His eyes snapped open, and he realized with horror that he wasn't dreaming. He was underwater.

Panic clawed at him as he flailed, dark spots creeping into his vision. His chest burned from the lack of air, his muscles weak and unresponsive.

Every instinct told him to fight, but the cold was unrelenting, dragging him down. Just as the darkness threatened to consume him, a firm hand grabbed his arm and yanked him upward.

The surface broke with a gasp, Alex choking and coughing as water poured from his lungs. His throat burned, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to stay afloat.

"Breathe!" a voice commanded sharply, cutting through his haze of confusion.

Alex turned, still coughing, and saw Tanaka treading water beside him. The older wolf's expression was calm but intense.

"Focus, Alex," Tanaka urged. "Just breathe."

Alex sucked in a shaky breath, his lungs stinging with every inhale. "What… what's happening?" he managed between coughs.

"The first trial," Tanaka said grimly. "It began at dawn."

Alex's mind reeled. No warning, no preparation, just waking up to drowning. He glanced around, seeing other wolves nearby, their heads bobbing in the frigid water.

Tanaka scanned the group, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Is everyone accounted for?"

A chorus of gasps and nods answered. Alex realized with a sinking feeling that all ten wolves selected for the Trials were here. His cousin Rina was among them, helping a younger wolf stay afloat.

"So this is how they start," Alex thought bitterly, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. "No heads up, no chance to prepare, just toss us in and see who survives."

Tanaka's voice brought him back to the present. "Alright, listen up! We need to stick together. No one gets left behind. Head for the shore, and help anyone who's struggling."

The beta and gamma wolves, along with their female counterparts, led the way, swimming with steady determination.

The icy water sapped their strength with every stroke. Alex struggled to keep up, his body protesting against the relentless cold. Within minutes, his muscles burned, and his lungs still felt raw from nearly drowning.

"Don't give up, Alex!" Rina called out, swimming closer to him. "This part's testing our endurance and teamwork. We can do this if we stick together."

Alex nodded weakly, letting Rina take some of his weight as they moved forward. He wasn't sure how long he could keep this up, but his cousin's encouragement was the only thing keeping him going.

Minutes stretched into hours as they swam, the shore always seeming just out of reach. The freezing water was unrelenting, dragging at their limbs and making every movement feel like a monumental effort.

"Keep moving!" Tanaka barked, his voice cutting through the cold. "Help each other if you have to, but don't stop!"

The older wolves took turns assisting those who were too tired to continue. Alex clung to Rina for support, every breath a struggle. Just when he thought he couldn't go on, his feet brushed against something solid.

"Land!" someone shouted, the relief palpable in their voice.

Alex's legs wobbled as he stumbled onto the rocky shore, collapsing onto his hands and knees. He gasped for air, his entire body trembling from the cold.

Around him, the other wolves were in similar states of exhaustion, some lying flat on their backs while others sat hunched over, shivering violently.

"Don't rest yet," a voice commanded. Alex looked up to see a tall, broad-shouldered boy, a fourth year wolf named Marcus Kane. His sharp blue eyes surveyed the group with the authority of someone used to leadership.

"We need to get our blood circulating," Marcus said firmly. "If we stay still, we'll freeze. Everyone spread out and look for anything we can use to start a fire."

The wolves staggered to their feet, their movements sluggish as they scattered into the forest. The air was bitterly cold, and the wet clothes clinging to their bodies only made it worse.

Alex stuck close to Rina, his teeth chattering as they searched for dry wood. Most of the branches they found were damp from the winter frost, but eventually, they came across a patch of dry grass hidden beneath an overhang.

"Over here!" Nathan called, holding up a handful of the precious find.

They returned to the shore, where Marcus was already crouched over a pile of kindling. Using two sharp stones, he struck sparks onto the dried grass. It took several attempts, but finally, a thin trail of smoke appeared. Marcus blew gently on it until a small flame erupted, quickly feeding it with sticks and larger branches.

The fire roared to life, and the group huddled around it, their frozen bodies soaking up the heat.

Alex sank to the ground, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. The warmth of the fire was a small comfort, but his mind was still reeling from the ordeal.

"What kind of trial starts like that?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.

Marcus chuckled weakly. "The kind that weeds out the weak."

Alex shook his head, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't even know what we're supposed to be proving here."

"Endurance, teamwork, survival," Marcus said, his tone matter-of-fact. "This is only the beginning. If you can't handle this, you're not going to make it through the rest of the Trials."

Alex stared into the fire, the flickering flames reflected in his tired eyes. He didn't know how much more he could take, but one thing was clear, this was only the start and the worst was yet to come.