Shadows Unleashed
We follow the Seeker, and urgency fills the labyrinthine alleyways of the city. Every shadow seems to indicate danger, and every alleyway feels like a dangerous trap about to spring up.
We are looking for exactly what? In a tight, anxious voice, Natalia asks.
The Seeker stops, her well trained eyes sweeping over the dimly lit streets. We're seeking for any indication of the creature's presence, she continues, low and desperate. "It might leave hints of its travel that lead us to its den."
Head whirling with possibilities, I nodded. When, though, will that be? I ask a little doubtfully.
The Looker gets gloomy-eyed. We face it then, she says, her voice firm. And put an end to the threat it stands for forever.
I cast a cautious glance toward Natalia as well, the Seeker's comments weighing heavily on both of our shoulders. Even if fear is eating at the edges of my awareness, we can't afford to back down now, not with so much at stake.
We hunt feeling as though the city is enclosing in on us, its lofty buildings and meandering streets engulfing us like a blanket. Every noise gets louder and every darkness seems to be reaching out with grasping fingers, ready to swallow us whole.
About the time we give up hope, the Seeker stops, her eyes narrowing as she glances at something on the ground.
Just what is it? Just above a whisper, Natalia asks.
The Seeker, knelt, runs her fingers over a dark spot on the sidewalk. She says, "Blood," low and desperate. Like in "fresh."
It depresses me to know what this implies. The implications hit, and as I begin, "The creature..." my voice fades off.
Nodding grimly, the Seeker. She says, clear-eyed, "It's close." That's hunting, too.
We continue, moving with new urgency through the city's winding streets, following the blood trail. We are getting closer to an encounter that might very well be our last, and every step feels like an effort against time itself.
And I find myself questioning if we're truly ready to face the darkness that lies ahead or if we're just marching toward our own demise as the sounds of our pursuit fill the city streets.
Every step we take us one step closer to the unknown, and the air thickens. Natalia clamps her hand over mine and scans the area for any danger.
Just barely audible above the distant buzz of the city, she whispers, "We need to be cautious."
The Seeker nods permission as she leads the way and peers from shadow to shadow. Her voice tense with expectation, she says, "Agreed." Hesitancy, though, is not an option.
With a large swallow, my heart hammering in my chest, we continue along the blood route into the city. My instincts all warn me to turn around and flee the unknown animals that lurk in the darkness.
I make those thoughts leave, though, and get ready for anything. We have advanced too far to go back now, and the future of the city is in danger.
We pause dead in our tracks as a low snarl echoes down the alleyway. I feel my blood freeze as we locate the creature's den.
Tensing, the Seeker searches for movement, her hand straying to the hilt of the blade. She says, in a tense, anxious voice, "It's close."
Fearful eyes wide open, Natalia grips my hand even more firmly. She asks, "What do we do?" almost quietly.
The Seeker hardens her eyes and sets her jaw sharply. Resolute as steel, she continues, "We confront it." "We ended this threat before it could injure anyone else."
We nod, then, with hearts throbbing in unison, prepare to take on the darkness. We have come too far now to back down from a danger; there is no turning back.
When we walk into the creature's den, the air thick with expectation and tension, I find myself wondering if we're really ready for what's ahead or if this will be the end of our adventure before it's even begun.
Entering the creature's burrow, the shadows seem to wrap us like a stifling blanket, each one hiding unidentified danger. Every breath is a struggle against the weighty unknown.
With years of training, the Seeker glides with an elegance that comes from leading with her blade at the ready. My heart hammering in time with Natalia's, we both trail hard behind, prepared for anything.
Then two brilliant eyes appear out of the darkness and fix us with a mischievous glance that tingles my spine. The monster emerges from the darkness, its form a twisted parody of nature, ugly and horrible.
Fearful retrenchment from the picture sends Natalia's palm to her mouth. Nary a whisper above a sob, she whispers, "What... what is that thing?"
The Seeker squares up to the monster, her jaw set in determination as she grips her blade tighter. "It's the source of the darkness that has plagued our city," she continues, voice steady even as fear flickers in her eyes. It's also past time to hang up the phone.
Claws slicing through the air with deadly precision, the monster screams feral and pushes forward. The Seeker strikes it squarely, her sword and the little light dancing deadly steel and sinew.
Grabbing my arm, Natalia looks dreadfully at the fight. She yells, in a panicked voice, "What do we do?"
I take a big swallow, doubt and dread racing through my thoughts. We cannot, I know, stand by while the Seeker fights for our lives.
I say, resolutely, "We help her." Everybody gets into arguments.
As we start the battle, the night closes in around Natalia and me, and every blow serves as a reminder of the stakes. I still have the feeling, though, that this is only the beginning and that our fortitude and resolve will be truly tested later.
A loud roar shakes the very ground under our feet as soon as we enter the fight. Startled, I glance worriedly at Natalia and realize that there might be many more than one beast in our path.