Haoran never should have let Chao go off on his own. Screw finding Ling faster. As if it was worth the price of risking Chao's safety.
He fumed as he stormed through the forest, no longer searching for their missing teammate, but for his one and only friend.
He charged through the thicket, slashing indiscriminately at everything in his path, his anger boiling like a waking volcano.
"Damn it!"he yelled"Pan Chao, where in the world are you?!".
"Hey,shh... you're bothering the trees"an annoyingly familiar voice butted in.
Haoran looked up, and groaned. Of course, it just had to be her.
Yingyue was perched on a tree, her legs swinging.
"What a friend you are,"he bit out"what happened to searching for that vegetable?".
How dare she leave Chao to do it all alone?
"You..."Yingyue's annoyance was evident on her face"don't you know that I have a better chance searching from above? Idiot".
"Who do you think you're calling...".
"Hey,shh"Yingyue cut him off"you're supposed to be searching for Ling, idiot. Chao is here to search, not to be searched for. Acting like he's your toddler son or something. What an idiot".
A sharp retort was at the tip of Haoran's tongue when they heard the sound.
Loud, like an explosion. Even Yingyue felt the ground shake.
"What was that?"she asked, landing smoothly beside him.
Before he could answer (if he had any plans of answering, that is),a very familiar flare went into the sky. A signal for help.
Haoran's heart skipped a beat, and he turned immediately, about to dash off.
"Hold your horses, idiot"Yingyue dragged him back"it might not be Chao, you know".
"It is. I can tell".
"Of course you can. Because you're psychic".
"I don't have your time"he made to leave, but she dragged him back again.
Haoran shot her a glare worthy of Pan Yuchen.
"Fine fine,"she clicked her tongue"let's go".
"You're going with me?"Haoran had never been more surprised.
"If someone is in danger,then rescuing them takes priority. Let's go".
*
*
*
Ling and Chao had been dropped into a place several feet below level ground, and the fall had been everything but gentle.
"Ouch"Chao muttered as he rose to stand beside Ling.
"Where are we?"he asked, looking up.
"Underground,"Ling replied"obviously".
"That shouldn't be possible, unless..."Chao suddenly paused, reluctant to scare Ling.
Sensing his hesitation, Ling completed the sentence for him.
"Unless someone planned to lure us in here, which is obviously what happened".
"But for what reason?".
"I can guess".
But Ling did not get to continue, because low growls filled the air.
Both boys turned to their right, already certain what it was they would see. Sure enough, it was the beast from the previous night, looking prepared to devour them.
Instinctively, Chao seized Ling's hand, taking a frightened step backwards. This time, Ling did not pull away.
"Don't take your eyes off it"he said.
If he was afraid, his voice gave nothing away.
"Stay alert,"he added"and do try to stop trembling".
"I... can't"even Chao's voice was shaky.
"That's fine too".
Just then, the beast lunged, and Chao could not help a terrified scream. Ling pushed him out of the way, and the beast dashed past.
Startled by the sudden movement, Chao stumbled, and his back slammed painfully into a wall of rocks just before Ling leaned into him. Chao reflexively wrapped his arms around Ling, only to feel the blood soaking the back of his clothes.
Chao's panic increased.
"A-Ling... you're hurt".
"Just a swipe of its claws. Nothing major. More importantly...".
"Don't say that. We need to do something about your injury...".
"While that thing stands politely by? No, Pan Chao. We should focus on priorities right now".
"So, what should we do?".
"Let's hide first...".
He was still speaking when it launched itself at them again. Ling acted fast, pushing Chao into a passage in a rock. They couldn't see where it led, but that was fine,as long as it led away from this persistent creature.
Chao had just found his footing when he heard a sickening crunch. Looking up, he realized that Ling had his arm between the monster's jaws. The force of the beast's momentum had slammed his already injured back into more rocks, which unfortunately happened to be jutting out sharply.
Chao's heart nearly stopped.
"A-Ling..."he started forward.
"Don't come here. Go, before it turns it's attention to you".
"But...".
"Just go!".
Chao wavered,then started down the passageway. However, he had not taken up to five steps before he turned and hurried back to Ling,who was still struggling to peel himself from the wall.
Without a word, Chao drew his sword and jabbed it between the monster's teeth, into it's mouth.
Turns out, there wasn't any armor in there, because it howled and let go, fortunately not taking Ling's arm with it.
Ling stumbled sideways, and Chao steadied him with gentle hands.
"Idiot. I told you not to come back. Now we're both in trouble".
"Don't talk. You're in worse shape now"Chao replied with concern.
He held Ling up as they walked into the passageway under the monster's wary eyes.
Wary, because it was pretty hard to be anything else when it's mouth was fast filling with it's own blood.
"It's not coming after us"Chao observed.
"Looks like it likes to keep its distance from anyone that succeeds in causing it pain,"Ling said, his voice a little weaker "just like when my sister used her sword on it".
"Good for us,then".
But perhaps it thought it wouldn't be a proper monster if it gave up so easily, because as soon as Chao said that it dashed forward.
Too late, though, because Chao swung his sword and several rocks fell, completely obstructing its way.
"A-Ling, are you...".
"I'm fine. We should get as far away from it as possible".
They walked on, leaving a long trail of blood,
until they got so deep inside that they couldn't see even the marks on their palms.
Chao lifted his hand, summoning a ball of bright flame. It was fortunate that he did, because that was when a large lake came into view.
"It looks deep"Chao said.
But that wasn't the problem, not really. The problem was one they silently agreed not to discuss. This lake was swirling dangerously, the most turbulent body of water they had ever set their eyes on.
Chao had no doubt that it could easily break the bones of a regular person.
"Great,"Ling replied"I can swim. Can you?".
"Yes, but you can't. Not in this condition".
"Do I have a choice?".
"We can stop here. I'm sure we've gotten far away enough".
"You sure about that?"Ling asked.
Chao heard it before he saw it- their monster friend barreling down the passageway, straight towards them.
Chao's soul nearly fled his body.
Before he could wonder how in the world it managed to make it past those rocks, Ling used the whole weight of his body to shove the other boy.
And down they fell, into the lake.