CYOA Wednesday 2025 #7 [Beyond the Woods 7]

This fantasy CYOA story continues 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.

Jade helps Derek escape, leaving the predator behind. Deep in the forest, they find Clara and “Sofia” Now what? You decide.

Read the sixth segment below:

7 – Finding Clara

The tiger’s roar reverberated through the air as it began its descent, its massive form silhouetted against the darkening sky. Derek scrambled to his

The tiger’s roar reverberated through the air as it began its descent, its massive form silhouetted against the darkening sky. Derek scrambled to his feet, his body aching and bruised, but he didn’t have time to dwell on the pain. He could hear the creature’s thunderous footsteps growing louder, closer.

Jade appeared beside him, clenching her jaw. She grabbed his arm, her grip tight. “This way!” she shouted over the wind, pulling him toward a dense thicket of crystal trees that glittered like shards of glass in the fading light. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, and Derek stumbled, but Jade steadied him.

Behind them, the tiger crashed through the underbrush, its roars growing more frantic as it realized it was losing ground. Jade led him through the thicket, the sharp edges of the crystal trees slicing at their clothes and skin, but she didn’t slow down. On the other side of the thicket, the ground dropped away sharply, revealing a narrow, winding path that plunged into the shadows of a deep ravine.

“Do you trust me?” Jade yelled. Without waiting for a response, she pulled him down the path. The descent was steep and treacherous, the ground slick with moss and loose stones. Derek’s stomach lurched as they skidded and slid, their hands grasping for anything to hold on to.

Above them, the tiger reached the edge of the ravine, its four eyes blazing with fury. Then, with a growl that shook the earth, it began to make its way down, its claws digging into the rock as it descended with terrifying agility.

Jade didn’t look back. She kept her focus on the path ahead, her movements swift and precise. The air grew colder as they descended, the shadows deepening into an inky blackness that seemed to swallow them whole. Derek could hear water, a low, steady roar that filled the air.

A river opened before them, running fast. Jade didn’t hesitate. She pulled Derek into the river, the shock of the freezing water hitting him like a slap. He gasped, his breath catching in his throat, but Jade kept moving, wading deeper into the current. The water rushed around them, swirling and eddying as it carried them downstream.

Behind them, the tiger reached the edge of the river. It snarled, looking at them with unblinking intensity. For a moment, it seemed to consider following, but then it let out a frustrated roar and turned away, vanishing into the depths of the forest.

After a while, Derek and Jade emerged from the river, their bodies trembling as the cold air bit into their soaked skin. The forest around them was dark and silent and for a moment, it was almost like they were back on Earth. They looked at each other, their breath visible in the chill of the night, and without a word, they knew what they had to do.

Derek led the way. They were deep in the woods, and the only shelter in sight was a small cave hidden by a tangle of overgrown bushes. He gestured for Jade to follow, and she did, her teeth chattering as she clambered over the rocks that led to the cave’s entrance.

Inside, the air was damp, and the darkness was absolute. Derek fumbled in his pocket for a small lighter he had kept dry, his fingers trembling as he tried to spark a flame. After a few frustrating attempts, the lighter roared to life. The light revealed a small, dry space, the floor littered with leaves and twigs.

“Thank God,” Jade muttered, her voice shaking as she huddled closer to the faint warmth of the flame. “Where the fuck are we, Derek?”

“I wish I knew. Did you find any sign of Clara?”

“No. I was still trying to find my bearings when you came running. Are you okay? Did that thing hit you?”

“It sure tried but yes, I’m fine. Just a little bruised.”

“Okay. Let’s take a breather, dry ourselves for a bit, and then go find her.”

“Do you think that’s wise? It’s getting dark out there. Maybe we should wait until we have more light.”

“The sooner we find her the faster we get out of here. I’d rather not wait if I can help it. She could be in trouble.”

The minutes dragged on, the darkness outside seeming to press in on them from all sides. Suddenly, the crystal trees began to shine, some form of bioluminescence coming to life. It bathed the world in blue and pink hues, a true spectacle to behold.

“Oh wow!” Jade exclaimed. “We won’t have any luminosity problems now.”

“It’s beautiful,” Derek said.

“Yes, it is. Let’s go take a look to see if we can find her.”

“Okay.”

Derek and Jade emerged from the cave, blinking as their eyes adjusted to the ethereal glow emanating from the crystal trees. Lost in wonder, they wandered deeper into the forest, their eyes wide with amazement. The crystal formations glittered and sparkled, casting intricate patterns on the ground below.

They ventured deeper into the forest, and noticed something peculiar—an impression of movement from between the tall, ancient trees in the distance. A light flickered like a distant star hidden beneath the canopy. Curiosity piqued, they made their way toward it, stepping lightly to avoid disturbing the delicate crystal structures that surrounded them. These natural formations shimmered in the dim light, casting kaleidoscopic reflections across the forest floor.

As they drew closer, they realized that the glow was coming from a clearing in the woods. Stepping into the open space, Derek and Jade gasped aloud. There, in the center of the clearing, stood Clara face to face with their friend Sofia.

“What the fuck?” they said in unison.

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.