"Drip Drip"
Ying Yue was awakened by water drops dripping on her right cheek. As she laid on the hard rock floor, she realized she was not dead. Ying Yue forces herself to sit up. Glancing around her, Ying Yue realized she was in a cave. Yet she knew she was no longer in the same world. Ying Yue decides she needed to explore her surroundings. Unsure of how long she's been unconscious for, she needed to find Zhi Ruo as there's a chance everyone landed in the same place. Whispering to herself to keep herself occupied.
"Oh man, I don't think I've ever seen such large crystals before. How long was I knocked out for?"
It was a beautiful cave. Crystals lighted up the darkness. With Firefly's flying around the cave, flowers, and grass grew in the corners of the cave where there was dirt. In the moment of silence, Ying Yue heard noises.
"What's that sound?"
Placing herself on the hard rock floor she tries to listen for anything unusual. It sounded like water, and a lot of it.
"Water! It's got to be a waterfall! But why would there be a waterfall inside a cave?"
Ying Yue ran, listening to the sound of the water to guide her. There she spots the large waterfall. The cave looked even larger now. With the top of the waterfall not even visible. Ying Yue then spots a huge tree, growing beside the waterfall. it was pure white with golden leaves growing from it.
"What is this?"
Ying Yue walks to the tree and couldn't help, but touch it. It did not feel like leaves, it was soft like silk and had a sweet scent, almost like honey. Ying Yue plucks a leaf off and stuffs it into the sash on her waist for memories. Ying Yue returns to the waterfall and takes a sip of water to quench her thirst. As she was about to leave and search for the others, Ying Yue heard someone call out to her. It was a man voice, a deep soft voice called out her name.
"Ying Yue, you must come find me."
Ying Yue pauses mid-way; turns around, but didn't see anyone. Unsure of who just called her, Ying Yue takes out her sword. Removing it from its cover, Ying Yue points it at every direction her eyes moved to.
"Whose there?!"
Nothing, but silence. After five minutes of nothing else happening, Ying Yu brushes it off as a side effect of falling or being transported to some other world. Thinking nothing much of it she exits the entrance to the waterfall and big white tree. After twenty minutes of walking around the cave; Ying Yue spots the other noble girls unconscious near each other. Ying Yue ran to check on all of them to make sure they were still breathing.
"Sigh, thank god they're still alive."
Ying Yues once white dress was now dirty. She could only sit in silence as she waited for the girls to wake up. Zhi Ruo was the first one to wake up. Groaning in pain she quickly looked up and realized they weren't outside. Zhi Ruo sees Ying Yue and crawls to sit next to her. In the dark cave, yet bright due to the crystals. Whispering to Ying Yue as to not alarm anything.
"Ying Yue! Where are we?"
"I'm not sure either Zhi Ruo, I've never seen anything like this before. We don't even have such large and bright crystals. Safe to say we aren't in the same world anymore."
"Oh no, what are we going to do?"
"Zhi Ruo my mother told me of stories about another land. This has to be the dragon clan's world."
"No, there's no such thing Ying Yue. Even if there was they will kill us if they find us!"
"Maybe, but it's weird. Shouldn't they have been notified that there's intruders on their lands by now? That's what my mother told me."
"What? But there's no one, but us, here right?"
"Zhi Ruo, earlier I heard someone call my name. I turned around and there was no one though."
"Stop it Ying Yue, you're scaring me!"
"Ha Ha sorry! I'm not trying to scare you though, it really happened. I also found a big tree and water fall. Once everyone wakes up we should go there. It's our best chance of survival."
"I'll do whatever you say, you're our best bet at surviving right now."
After sitting and chatting around for an hour, the rest of the noble girls woke up one by one. Everyone looked just as confused as Ying Yue and Zhi Ruo were when they realized they were in a cave. Ying Yue took it upon herself to protect these girls.
"Follow me ladies, I found a spot earlier. It will be our best way of survival for now."
Without much thought, everyone followed Ying Yue as a she went back to where she saw the waterfall and sweet-smelling tree. After twenty minutes of walking, everyone made it to the waterfall. Everyone was just as amazed as Ying Yue was. Zhi Ruo had never seen anything like it, she walked towards the water fall and touched the pool of water before her, to make sure it was real.
"Oh my god, you weren't kidding Ying Yue!"
Smiling from ear to ear Zhi Ruo motioned for the other girls to come. One by one everyone joined Zhi Ruo at the waterfall. Ying Yue was happy that everyone was still alive and well. Zhi Ruo notices Ying Yue in the distance and walks to Ying Yue.
"Ying Yue, where's the big tree you mentioned?"
"Huh? It's right there, next to the waterfall."
Ying Yue points to the tree, yet Zhi Ruo insisted she didn't see anything. Zhi Ruo was confused and wondered if Ying Yue was ill, she reached her hand out and placed it on Ying Yues forehead to make sure she wasn't sick.
"Hmm, you aren't sick. Are you tired Ying Yue?"
"I'm fine Zhi Ruo, the tree is right there!"
"I don't see anything there Ying Yue."
Ying Yue ushered the other ladies to come and take a look, but once again no one could see the tree Ying Yue was pointing to. It finally hit Ying Yue that maybe only she could see it, but how is that possible? With everyone just staring now, Ying Yue decided to take out the leaf she had taken from the tree earlier. She placed it in her palm and everyone started chattering among each other. Zhi Ruo stared at Ying Yues palm where the leaf was in amazement.
"Oh my god! Ying Yue, that's a golden leaf! Where did you get it?!"
"I got it from the tree, I don't know why I can see it and you guys can't. I really don't understand what's going on."
"Can I touch it?"
"Of course, Zhi Ruo, here."
As Ying Yue hands the leaf to Zhi Ruo. The moment it touched Zhi Ruos skin the leaf turned brown and crinkled up. Ying Yue and Zhi Ruo stared in shock at what just happened.
"What? What just happened Ying Yue?"
"I don't know, let me go get another one. Follow me Zhi Ruo."
Ying Yue walks to where the tree is. She plucks another leaf and shows Zhi Ruo, before stuffing it into her sash. Zhi Ruo stared in shock as Ying Yue pulled out the leaf from nowhere.
"Ying Yue. you literally just got that out of thin air."
"Zhi Ruo, we're standing in front of the tree. Put your hands out and try grabbing something."
Zhi Ruo tried grabbing whatever Ying Yue was pointing to, unable to grab anything Zhi Ruo breaks into a small smile and gives up.
"Well, looks like the tree only likes you Ying Yue."
"Ha! Real funny Zhi Ruo."
"It's been hours, we need find something to eat Ying Yue."
"Alright, you all stay here. I will look around for something."
Ying Yue explores the cave. After an hour of looking around Ying Yue returned to the waterfall. She even dived under the water fall where the water was calm enough to. Not a single fish. Nearly giving up Ying Yue walks closer to the water fall and notices there was small light coming from behind the waterfall.
"No way..."
Thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her, Ying Yue walked closer. Now she was right next to the water fall. In the space between the waterfall and the cave wall; there was a little pathway to walk. Unable to hide her excitement, Ying Yue screamed.
"Guys! I think I found an exit!"
All the ladies walked to where Ying Yue was, and looked. It really was light coming in. Zhi Ruo started jumping in excitement. She was worried they would all starve to death before being caught by the dragon clan. Breaking into a smile she jumps into Ying Yues arms.
"Ying Yue! You did it! Let's get out of here."
"Right! Follow me everyone, we're getting out of here."
Taking one last glance at the golden tree, Ying Yue ushered for the other ladies to follow as she turned to lead. Slowly following the light from behind the waterfall, Ying Yue slowly watched as the golden tree disappear from her sight.