JUNGLE THINGS : LOST IN AIRODLE

Chapter 1: Gateway of the Jungle

Year 1993

Eldoria, State of Chiapas, Mexico.

The sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the cozy living room where Grandpa Logan sat with his grandsons, Sully and Jack. The crackling fire added to the ambiance, filling the room with comforting warmth. Sully and Jack, their eyes wide with anticipation, sat cross-legged on the floor, eager to hear one of Abuelo's famous stories.

"Abuelo, tell us a story," Sully pleaded, his voice brimming with excitement. Jack chimed in, nodding vigorously. "Yes, please, Abuelo! We want to hear a really exciting one."

Abuelo smiled, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. "Well, niños, how about a story about a mysterious forest?" he suggested.

Sully's eyes widened even further, and Jack leaned in closer. "¡Sí, sí! A mysterious forest! With adventures and secrets!"

Abuelo chuckled and began his tale. "Once upon a time, in a forest much like our own, there was an army officer named Hank. He and his team were on a mission deep within the heart of that very forest. But one day, an air of unease settled over them. Something strange had occurred—the heart-stopping realization that all of Hank's fellow soldiers had vanished without a trace."

Sully gasped. "What happened, Abuelo? Did they get lost?"

Abuelo nodded, his voice filled with mystery. "That's what Hank thought at first. Determined to find his comrades, he embarked on a journey into the forest, searching for any sign of them."

Jack leaned forward, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Did he find them, Abuelo? Where did they go?"

Abuelo's voice dropped to a hushed tone. "Well, as Hank ventured further into the forest, he encountered a tribe. The tribe told him a haunting myth, a story that sent shivers down his spine. They spoke of a gate that would suddenly open and take people from this world."

Sully's eyes widened with wonder. "A gate, Abuelo? What kind of gate?"

Abuelo smiled, pleased with their curiosity. "Sully, no one truly understood that time. The tribe warned Hank that he shouldn't be in the forest alone because of this gate, this enigmatic portal."

Jack's voice quivered with excitement. "Did Hank listen to the tribe, Abuelo? What did he do?"

"Hank was brave, just like the two of you. He heeded their warning but remained determined to find his comrades. So, he continued his journey."

Sully's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Did he find the gate, Abuelo?"

Abuelo leaned closer, his voice filled with suspense. "Yes, Sully, he found the gate."

Jack's mouth hung open in amazement. "Did Hank rescue his friends, Abuelo?"

"Curious Hank entered the gate and found himself in a dark and mysterious world. The air was thick with mist, and he could hear strange noises coming from every direction. He cautiously made his way forward and soon came across a large, green lava pit. As he approached the pit, a strange and terrifying creature emerged from the shadows. Glowing red eyes, long, sharp claws, and a body covered in green, scaly skin."

Sully: "Abuelo, what kind of creature is that?"

"The Jungle Things."

"Before Hank could react, the creature grabbed him and dragged him towards the green lava pit. He struggled to break free, but the creature was too strong. It threw him into the pit, and Hank was immediately consumed by the hot, green liquid. As he sank deeper into the lava, he felt a strange transformation taking place. His body was changing, and he could feel himself becoming one of the Jungle Things. He tried to fight it, but the transformation was too powerful. He was now a part of the mysterious world, and there was no turning back."

Jack's curiosity shone brightly in his eyes as he asked, "Abuelo, what kind of gate is that?"

Abuelo's gaze shifted from Jack to Sully, his eyes glistening with unspoken emotions. For a moment, he remained silent, lost in the depths of his own memories. The crackling fire seemed to echo the flickering emotions on his face.

"I... I don't know, mis niños," Abuelo finally replied, his voice soft and tinged with a hint of sorrow. He paused for a moment, his eyes welling up with tears that he couldn't quite contain. Sully and Jack exchanged a puzzled glance, their concern growing.

"Abuelo, what happened?" Sully asked gently. "Why are you crying?"

Abuelo's lips quivered with the weight of unspoken stories, the burden of untold secrets. But instead of answering their question directly, he chose to share a different kind of wisdom.

"One day," Abuelo whispered, his voice barely more than a breath, "you boys will tell me what kind of gate that was."

As the fire crackled and the sun dipped below the horizon, Sully and Jack's minds were filled with dreams of mysterious forests, cosmic gateways, and the boundless possibilities of the unknown. With their imaginations ignited, they knew that their Abuelo's stories would forever inspire their thirst for knowledge and their yearning to explore the hidden wonders of the world.

With a warm smile, Abuelo concluded, "And so, children, the mysteries of the world are vast and always waiting to be explored. Never stop asking, and you too will find yourselves on incredible journeys."

Sully and Jack shared a look of awe and excitement. This was just the beginning of their adventures.