Typhoon & Tempest

The rhythmic thump of "Soul Searcher" pulsed through Lily Morgan's ears, a defiant soundtrack to the mundane reality of her walk home. Rain lashed down, a humid curtain that clung to her thick red hair, and her Aunt Ollie's emergency shift meant no ride. Yet, the music was a lifeline, each beat a step away from the encroaching frustration.

Her beat-up trainers squelched in puddles, the uneven pavement a testament to the unruly tree roots snaking from the nearby forest. She almost smiled as the song's beat dropped, a small rebellion against the dreary afternoon. But as her eyes lifted, locking onto the dark, shadowed woods, a prickle of wariness traced its way down her spine. Today's class had been on the dangers of those very woods, not the usual human perils, but the specific, supernatural threats known to Nova High.