*KRACKA-BOOOM!!
The burst of energy shook the ground as the two collided, its impact sending waves of violent energies enacting destruction at every angle. Soon the trees around couldn't be seen, as only a large crater formed up the ground with a thick fog of dust shrouding the area.
*THUD!
*THUD!
Mia could hear heavy footsteps as someone approached, her vision blurred by the fogginess. She held on to the body of Yannah's as they were quite fortunate to still be safe for she had moved a fair distance away before the collision. Alert she lifted up her head to see the silhouette of a figure drawing closer by the second. Quickly reaching for her sword, she sat on the ground leaning back on the tree's back, awaiting whoever it was.
Moving in the fog, two figures could be seen with one dragging the other alongside. Grunting with each step, his breathing heavy he pulled the fur cloak which the other laid on with one hand. The other hand pressed down on the wound at his left side, the weight he was pulling adding to his plight.
Laying on the fur cloak, his face bloodied beyond recognition, he held on to every thread of life he had. For there was no part of his body which didn't have a heavy damage currently. His ribs were shattered, his spine broken, his hands dislocated with his legs unable to be felt— since they weren't even there. Still, someone believed he could survive, deciding to bring him along to safety.
************
Farther away, hanging atop the trees which were tall and hadn't been affected by any of the detonations which occurred there. On one of the solid branches which could hold his weight without snapping. A figure with amber eyes sat there, one leg up and serving as an armrest while the other swung to and fro instead.
"Aldren, shouldn't we check it out? What if—" He interrupted the figure who stood beside him on the same branch, also staring at the foggy area.
"But—"
"Shut up Mo-an!" Aldren snapped at him, silencing him. As looking down at him, the bald-headed man could see how much kept his focus on the fog.
'Perhaps, I'm the one who doesn't even care here.' Mo-an thought to himself, noticing how intently he stared.
Aldren kept his eyes and ears on that particular area, awaiting the slightest movement to charge right there. Losing one of his comrades was like ripping a part of him off and he hated that feeling so badly.
Aldren could feel the lump in his throat, his eyes burning not from the flaming gold aura shrouding it. Rather, it was from the tears he tried to hold back, clenching his fist so hard and tight. Thoughts of what he didn't want to accept spinning around in his mind.
How long had it been? He couldn't tell, and it wouldn't matter. As long as he could see one of them, or both of them, being selfish to leave death with nothing to take from him.
*GROWL!
*GROWL!
"Move there! You two take the right! The rest are with me! Find the Guildmaster and Fronds!"
The voice was faint, being further away yet he perceived each word clearly. As some of the other party of Ferns were already on a search for them. "Drey is here," Aldren informed.
"Huh?" Mo-an snapped out of his thoughts hearing the other speak to him. "Drey, shouldn't he be with the assets?" He could now also hear the growlings as Drey's party drew closer to their position.
"It's better to not let him know about what happened," Aldren said, standing up with his eyes still on the fog which didn't seem to dissipate all this while.
"B—" He refrained from protesting, though his thoughts wondered exactly what he'd have to say. As after all, one couldn't dare pester the Guildmaster to spill out something he didn't want to. Drey wasn't like them, yet what about him, he wouldn't just be able to keep it shut in— and Aldren knew just that.
"Forgive me, brother." He heard Aldren mumble something under his breath, and the next second Mo-an could see him right in front of him. "I'm sorry all of you died for me."
Confused by his words, his brain short-circuited and caught off guard. He could never expect what came next to occur in a hundred lifetimes— it did happen in this one. For suddenly in both hands and between Aldren's fingers were arrowheads. All coming at him from below and shimmering with his golden aura.
They pierced right into both sides, sending a wave of pain not from the weapon but from what he felt within—betrayal. His eyes wide open, he dropped back first onto the tree, his eyes wide open.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Watching as Aldren pounced on him, his hands continuously moving up and down, each one drawing out blood and apologizing with each stab. Mo-an didn't manipulate his energy, nor did he fight back. He only watched, the pain not mattering as his fate was sealed. A tear breaking down from the corners of his eyes he only wondered.
'When did you become a monster? I was loyal to a monster all this while. We were loyal to a monster Tham— a monster, not a beast.'
"Mono, can you now catch a scent of Aldren?" A figure in beast skin armour groomed the hair of his mount, speaking to it aware it did understand him. As coming to a halt, the white Saber Tooth Jaguar snuffed the air and changed its path. Ordering the others to follow him, they made their way through the forestland.
Moving where Mono could pick the scent from, a figure could be seen standing in the path. As nearing closer, the rider finally got a look at who it was.
"Guildmaster!" He stood up on his beast and jumped off, rolling and landing on his feet in front of the figure. Going on a knee and clasping his hands, he paid his respect, the others dismounting and doing the same.
"Let's head back Drey," Aldren said walking him, just when he was about to talk. 'Where's everyone!' He thought.
************
Staring into the fog, the figure drawing closer, Mia's eyes lit up aflame with her golden aura, although only one eye could be seen.
*THUD!
*THUD!
The footsteps got louder and heavier as if the figure was about —
*BAM!
'He fell?' Mia thought, seeing the silhouette of the figure disappear. Unsure who it was, the thought of it maybe being Vans came to mind, though the person she could see didn't look like him.
So picking up a few nearby stones, she brought out her feather pen, drawing the same runes on each. As they were still having energy in them, Mia threw them forward into the fog.
*WHOOSH!
*WHOOSH!
The wind runes activated as a gust of wind blew out in all directions, driving out the fog and exposing the figures on the ground.
'Vans?'
"VANS!!"