Eyes quizzically gazing at him, Druis just asked, "Umm, you were cheering for me, right? Right? Right??" His voice pleading, he hoped that's what they were doing. Eyes veering off to the side slightly, Grud answered hesitantly, "Yup. We knew you could do it. We always believe in you."
Swilde, attempting to correct the statement, shut up after getting the stinging glare from everyone, even Jake.
Just as Druis was about to ask what Grid had actually said, a sudden rumbling began behind them. As they watched in awe, the garden slowly sank into the ground, the only evidence of its existence being the large, mottled bronze gate, still emanating those pale sparks.
Silence fell across the area, as the group, and even the wind itself, stopped making noise. They stood shocked, wondering what had happened. Fearing for their lives, they all looked at each other, nodded, and ran back to their camp.
Reaching there in record time, they all panted rapidly, too tired to do anything. "Did... hah... this... whew... ever happen at... ugh... other ruins as well?" Panting for his life, Jake still managed to ask this very important question (at leat in his opinion), to Grud.
Grud, still very tired from the debacle, managing to regain a small semblance of breath, turned to look at Druis, who laid down beside his sack like a pile of potatoes, and hesitated. After what seemd to be a couple of minutes, he replied, gravelly "Yes, this typenof things do occur." Jake, noticing, asked "But...?" Sighing heavily, Grud turned back to Jake "These only happen at more dangerous ruins. I don't know how, or even why, they occurred here. This... this shouldn't even occur here at all. I'll report this to dad, and see what he knows."
Sensing that this was dangerous territory, Jake attempted to steer the conversation elsewhere "Okay, no more of the doom and gloom, let daddy see what we got." Jake grabbed his sack and opened it. He thrust his hand into it, rummaging through it.
He grabbed one, and pulled it out. "Ooohhh, shiny." Druis, who was just lying down just now, leapt up, and ran to Jake. "It cannot be... no, wait, it is. It's the fabled Goldrof berry, the sparkliest herb in the lower tier. Although it looks very shiny (very pretty), it's main usage is that it helps in strengthening the users bones."
Jake, confused, asks him "But aren't the only ones capable of doing it are martial art practitioners? Why would they need it, they can do it by themselves, using their 'mystical' arts." Druis quizzically turned at Jake, raising an eye "Who told yoy that this only helps martial artists?" Realisation dawning upon him, Jake, awed, asked "You mean..." Druis quipped "Yep, they can."
Finally understanding the ramifications of the herb, Jake realised why ruins are so sought after. Why aren't wars being fought now? Realising the worth of the herbs, he wondered how come there doesn't seem to be wars and battles being fought forbthe right to control ruins.
Just as he was about to ask Fruis about his thought, Beebo, Beba, and Biba all ran towards them, arranging themselves into a defensive formation. "Boss, stay alert, Beba seemed to have smelled something dangerous coming this way. Something... primal... yet somehow modern at the same time. They also seemed to be exhibiting killing intent towards us at the same time."
Just as Beebo finished the sentence, out of the bushes, a large shadow rumbled it's way out towards them.