Beast In The Woods

You hear that?

It was the last day of their 'vacation' in the simulated world. The large majority of the pack was glad to be going back soon. While they did have a break from all the worry and work their first year brought them, the stress of monsters in the area didn't help them rest at ease. Ever since the horde of monsters was brutally slaughtered by Izuku's creations there haven't been any major threats. They only had to deal with wandering beasts every once in a while.

It was a few hours before they were dragged back to the real world when Jirou brought up something. "Guys, I've been hearing something odd for the past few minutes. It's hard to tell but I think it's flapping wings?"

The whole pack was silent immediately and let their more perceptive pack members focus. Shoji's arms transformed into animalistic ears just as Izuku taught him and pivoted around. Izuku's quirk was mostly back to normal and did the same. He created a cone of flesh and carapace to funnel the sound to a large ear in the center. They tilted their heads as if that would help discern the sound. They looked at each other to confirm what they were hearing.

"It's getting closer and it's definitely wings," Shoji said first and Izuku readily agreed.

"Wings? Bird wings or insect wings?" Kaminari asked and was promptly smacked by Jirou.

"Mhh, I think bat wings." Izuku hummed in thought. "Possibly bird, what do you think?" He asked Shoji who shrugged.

Kaminari glared at Jirou. "See, it wasn't a dumb question. It's probably that-" He was cut off as a distant roar reached their ears. "-dragon we saw on the first day." He finished with some worry.

There were various reactions to the roar. Some began to prepare for combat, some began to seek shelter, and others grinned at the challenge. Izuku most especially was eager just as Kacchan to fight a real dragon. They looked at each other in anticipation. Yaoyorozu was already pulling creations from her skin as she assembled a large device. She turned to Sato for help in driving metal rods deep into the sand as she asked for more food. The pack became unified in taking on the threat coming their way.

"Maybe it's intelligent and we can speak to it?" Kouda asked hopefully as everyone worked.

They considered Kouda's idea and put it at the top of their plan. Talk and if that didn't work then fight. Some of the more battle-hungry packmates grumbled but agreed. More and more food was brought out as Yaoyorozu was stuffing her face with fatty foods to keep up with her preparation. Others helped her or did their preparations. Then, there were people like Izuku who were always ready to fight and just stood around waiting for the beast to show up.

Izuku twirled his thumbs as he waited by Kacchan who did the same only more in a more brooding manner. The feral boy side-eyed his oldest friend in a scheme. A thin tendril sluggishly slithered closer to the blond and Izuku glared at the quirk that still refused to return to full power. With more effort than he would put in it normally, his tendril stabbed into Kacchan's palm. The explosive boy reacted with predictive emotions as Izuku casually turned his back on his friend as if he had nothing to do with the sting.

"Damn bugs." The boy grumbled and detonated his palm to incinerate the supposed pest.

The feral boy cheered his stealth mission as he began mimicking the cells on Kacchan's palms. The main thing to copy was Kacchan's sweat glands then he could make nitroglycerin on demand. His smile split his face, literally, as he began making plans.

"That's something we should worry about?" Kaminari said to the group.

Everyone turned to see what he was pointing at and agreed immediately when they saw Izuku's scheming face. It was impossible to tell what he was working on since everything he did it microscopic. When he noticed everyone staring at him, he jolted into a crouched position ready to flee. His eyes flickered from person to person in an instant then he began to dig furiously in the sand. He disappeared in a cloud of sand in moments. Oriel and Kiel trotted over to where Izuku disappeared and sniffed the area before lying down. The pack worried about what he was up to but got back to preparing after seeing there was nothing they could do.