Impending danger

The moonlight filtered through the dense foliage above, casting a silver glow on the forest floor. Blake's eyes darted around, taking in his surroundings, desperate for any advantage he could find. His gaze was drawn to an unusual formation of trees that created a natural tunnel leading to a small clearing.

"Jay," Blake whispered urgently, "look at this. The way these trees are arranged... they create a funnel."

"Interesting," Jay responded, his voice echoing in Blake's mind. "If you can lure the monsters into the funnel, it'll force them to come at you one at a time."

"Exactly." Blake scanned the area before spotting several large stones and fallen branches lying nearby. "I have an idea. I'm going to dig some holes right here, where the trees narrow. That should slow them down even more."

"Good thinking," Jay praised, as Blake grabbed a sturdy stick and began digging shallow pits in the soft earth.

As he dug, sweat dripped from his brow, but Blake knew the effort would be worth it. Once the holes were finished, he concealed them with leaves and twigs, making sure they blended seamlessly with the forest floor. Then, he dragged the corpse of the monster he had killed earlier into the center of the clearing. Its scent would draw the others straight to him.

"Get ready, Blake," Jay warned. "They're getting closer."

"Keep me updated on their distance," Blake said, positioning himself behind one of the trees just outside the funnel. His heart pounded in his chest, and he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "We can do this."

"Absolutely," Jay agreed, his confidence bolstering Blake's resolve. "Remember, wait until they're fully committed to the funnel before you make your move."

"Got it." Blake gripped the broken stick tightly, using it as a makeshift weapon. He peeked around the tree, watching as the shadows of the approaching monsters grew larger and more distinct.

"Three... two... one," Jay counted down, his voice steady despite the impending danger. "Now!"