Dr. Carter's hand trembled as he gripped the flare gun. The predator's golden eyes gleamed in the dim light, its muscular frame poised to strike. The team barely dared to breathe.
"Slowly," whispered Elena, the team's biologist, edging back. "No sudden movements."
But then, from behind them, a branch snapped. A second predator, slightly smaller but just as menacing, emerged from the undergrowth. They were being hunted.
Dr. Carter made a split-second decision and fired the flare into the air. The sudden burst of light startled the creatures, making them flinch just long enough for the team to break into a run.
They tore through the jungle, dodging twisted roots and massive ferns. The sounds of pursuit were deafening - pounding footsteps, guttural snarls, the rustling of leaves disturbed by something fast and deadly.
"There!" shouted Marcus, their navigator, pointing toward an ancient stone structure barely visible through the thick vegetation. A relic of the forgotten civilization they had glimpsed earlier.
With no other options, they sprinted toward it, pushing past vines and crumbling stone. The moment they crossed the threshold, a strange hum vibrated through the air. The predators skidded to a halt just outside the entrance, their golden eyes narrowing in frustration.
"Why aren't they following us?" gasped Elena, catching her breath.
Dr. Carter turned, examining the walls. Strange carvings, pulsating faintly, lined the stone. "This place… it's protecting us."
The realization sent a chill through the team. Whatever civilization had built this ruin had left behind more than just remnants of their past. They had left a warning - or perhaps a weapon.
And now, trapped inside an ancient stronghold, the team had only one choice - to uncover the secrets of the lost world before it was too late.