CYOA Wednesday 2025 #1 [Beyond the Woods 1]

A new CYOA story begins today. Synopsis below:

When Derek, Jade, and Clara go camping, they stumble upon a portal to another dimension filled with strange creatures and sexy seductresses.

Read the opening segment below:

1 – The Campsite

Derek Whitmore stood at the edge of the forest clearing under the shadow of towering pines as the sun dipped low in the sky. Beside him, Clara Keller and Jade Summers unloaded the car, laughter bubbling up around them like a warm breeze, and momentarily lifting the weight of their friend’s absence. It had been hard on Sofia when her boyfriend decided to call it quits, especially with this trip so close at hand. But Derek and the girls were determined to make this adventure one for the books.

“Hey, check this out!” Jade exclaimed, holding up a set of mismatched marshmallow skewers she’d found tucked between bags of gear. They were adorned with little charms – tiny rocks and leaves – that had been collected from previous camping escapades. “These are way too cute! We need to roast s’mores tonight!”

Clara chuckled as she rummaged through her backpack for her favorite plaid blanket that had seen countless picnics and stargazing nights. “Only if we can find some chocolate that hasn’t melted into a gooey mess. Remember last time? We ended up with a chocolate puddle instead of actual s’mores!” She rolled her eyes, recalling the sticky disaster that had halted their outdoor fun.

Derek grinned as he set down the last cooler filled with snacks. “Let’s just avoid any chocolate-related catastrophes this time, shall we?” He stretched his arms overhead, cracking the stiffness from his shoulders. The scent of pine filled his senses with the promise of adventure.

As twilight began to set in, Clara laid out the blanket against a soft patch of moss. “This spot is perfect,” she declared, glancing around at the surrounding woods. There was something comforting about the embrace of nature – the gentle rustle of leaves in the evening breeze, the distant call of an owl settling in for the night. It was like a cocoon, holding them safe from the outside world.

Jade plopped down beside Clara and sighed. “I can’t believe we almost didn’t come. This place is magical.” She reached for her phone, only to remember that there was no signal out here – no social media distractions, just real conversations and shared moments. “Let’s promise to take a million pictures while we’re here, anyway! For Sofia,” she added with a slight tremor in her voice.

Derek could see the light reflecting in Jade’s eyes as she spoke about their absent friend; it was a bittersweet reminder of their bond, a chain linking them all together, even when one link was missing. “We’ll make sure she feels included,” he said. “How about we create a little video message for her? Capture all the fun we have this weekend.”

“Great idea!” Clara exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Let’s start with a toast to Sofia as soon as we set up camp.”

Jade, already on her knees, began organizing their little campsite. Her fingers danced over the various items, transforming chaos into order. “Alright, who’s in charge of firewood?” she asked, glancing at Derek.

“Let me handle that,” he replied with a confident nod. He ventured into the woods, the cool earth beneath his shoes as he looked for fallen branches and dry twigs. The forest was alive with sounds – the crackling of leaves underfoot, the whisper of the wind threading through tree limbs. With each step deeper into the wilderness, a sense of freedom washed over him, cleansing him of everyday worries.

He was a tall man, ruggedly built with broad shoulders that hinted at weekends spent climbing, hiking, and embracing the great outdoors. His dark hair fell in untamed curls, kissed by sunlight and wind alike, framing a face dusted with freckles, a map of his escapades. Those deep-set hazel eyes sparkled with an infectious enthusiasm, as if they held some secret knowledge of nature’s wonders. When he smiled, which was often, it revealed a warmth that drew friends close and made even strangers feel welcome.

Derek loved camping not just for the thrill of adventure that awaited him in the wild but for the way it transported him to a place devoid of distractions, where time unraveled like a spool of thread. Out here, under the vast expanse of sky, he could breathe without worries, every inhalation filled with the aromatic perfume of damp earth and resinous pine.

When he returned, arms laden with wood, Jade and Clara were setting up the tent. Jade was the embodiment of vivacity, her laughter like a cascade of silver bells chiming in the shimmering twilight. She was petite, with a curvaceous frame stressed by a bright red sundress that danced around her knees as she moved. Her ebony braids bounced around her face, emphasizing those wide, expressive eyes, one a vivid green akin to new leaves in spring, and the other a striking blue reminiscent of the summer sky.

“Hey, Derek!” she called out as he approached, her voice light and teasing. “You sure took your sweet time out there! Did you find enough wood to build us a mansion?”

“Two mansions. One for me and the other for Clara. You get the tent, but only because I’m generous!” he replied with a grin. They were always playing with each other like this, and it never stopped being charming.

Clara laughed at their friendly banter. Unlike Jade’s exuberance, she often exuded an aura of quietness and introspection, as if she were a tranquil pond reflecting the world around her. Her demeanor was serene, and even in a bustling environment, she radiated an inner peace that seemed to anchor everyone else.

Clara had short, chestnut hair and a face that was soft yet striking. High cheekbones accentuated her delicate features, while her warm brown eyes held depths of understanding and compassion. She loved animals and called herself a proud rescuer of three dogs and seven cats, with an eighth one close to be joining the family. She already missed them like crazy but knew they were safe in her mother’s care while she was away.

She wore a pale blue cardigan over a flowing white blouse that danced with the breeze, hinting at an artistic spirit underneath her calm exterior. Clara had brought along a sketchbook and pencils, and even now, as Jade and Derek laughed and joked about their camping endeavors, she was observing the intricate patterns of the surrounding woods – the way the light filtered through leaves like honey dripping from a spoon, or how the shadows contrived to paint mysterious pictures on the forest floor. Her first sketches would have to wait until the morning light, though.

With the canvas of night now unfurling above them, the trio continued their preparations, shadows stretching and shrinking like playful spirits across the clearing. Derek dropped the collected wood near the designated fire pit, a natural indentation in the earth that seemed to call out for warmth. He kneeled beside it, arranging the pieces with care – thicker logs on the bottom to cradle the flame and smaller twigs on top to spark life into the fire.

“Look out, firestarter extraordinaire coming through!” he declared as he lowered a match to the dry twigs. A crackling cheer erupted from the hearth as flames danced and licked at their surroundings the moment they were ignited.

Jade clapped her hands in delight and laughed. “And so begins our grand adventure! What shall we feast upon tonight? I hope you brought something delicious!”

To decide what happens next, head over to my Patreon (you can join for free), and vote on the poll there until next Sunday. 

If you’re new to these CYOA stories, here are the basic rules:

1) You can only choose one option;

2) If there’s a tie at the end of the poll, and the competing options can be combined somehow, I’ll do that. If not, I get the deciding vote to keep the tale going.

3) The process continues every Wednesday until the story runs its natural course.

Have fun.