The bus rumbled off the main highway somewhere deep in the pine-choked hills of the Midwest, weaving through a small, fog-laced town with a hand-painted wooden sign at the city limits:

Welcome to Timber Rock – Home of the 87th Annual Lumberjack Days
Axe-citing things are happening!

Gabriel pressed his face to the window, ears perking up.
“Guys… is that a wood-chopping competition?”

Jonah, already in full chaos goblin mode: “Please tell me there’s axe throwing.”

Cassie peeked out from her bunk curtain. “And chainsaws. I want chainsaws.”

Diesel grunted from the driver’s seat. “I’ve never seen so much flannel outside a Canadian bar fight.”

The bus rolled slowly through downtown Timber Rock, which was currently decked out like a Hallmark fever dream—bunting made from denim strips, logs everywhere, and hand-carved signs reading things like “Paul Bunyan Would Be Proud!” and “Beard Oil Tent: Left of the Axe Toss.”

Mark leaned on the open window with a tired sigh. “This feels like a trap.”

Thane muttered, “Definitely a trap.”

That’s when a loudspeaker somewhere in the distance echoed:

“Next up in the balance log contest — local champ Butch Haversack! And we still need one more challenger!”

Gabriel turned slowly, eyes lighting up. “Thane.”

He just glared at him. “No.”

Gabriel nudged him. “Thaaaaane.”

Fifteen minutes later, Thane was shirtless, standing on a floating log in the middle of a large inflatable pool, surrounded by people holding deep-fried pickles and cheering like he was about to fight a dragon.

Mark, arms folded, muttered, “Why is he shirtless for this thing?”

Emily, recording everything from under a hoodie: “Brand integrity.”

Gabriel had found an axe-throwing booth and was absolutely terrifying the staff by nailing bullseyes… with his eyes closed.

Jonah tried the log toss. He immediately pulled something.

But Thane?

Thane won the balance contest.

By not moving.
At all.
He just stood there with perfect wolfy balance, calm and silent, arms crossed, eyes like ice, his clawed feet gripping the spinning log better than any spiked boots ever could… and let Butch Haversack tire himself out trying to knock him off.

By the end, Butch slipped, fell into the water with a curse, and the crowd lost their minds.

The mayor of Timber Rock—a jolly guy with suspenders and a beard that could trap squirrels — grabbed a mic.

“Folks, we have ourselves a true lumberwolf champion!!”

Cassie nearly choked on her root beer. “Oh my god… lumberwolf.”

As the sun started to set, Thane was awarded a custom 4XL red flannel shirt embroidered with Timber Rock Legend on the back. He looked down at it like someone had just handed him a baby raccoon. Gabriel immediately begged him to wear it every day.

Emily whispered, “This town is going to build a statue.”

They didn’t stay long after. The next city still loomed, and load-in was tomorrow. But as the bus pulled away — windows open, laughter spilling out — the sound of chainsaws revving and polka music played them off.

Inside the bus, Thane sat silently with the red flannel folded neatly on his lap.

Diesel looked over from the wheel. “You gonna wear that thing?”

Thane didn’t look up. “I might.”

Gabriel leaned over and whispered, “Lumberwolf…”

Thane growled.

Everyone else burst out laughing.