"..what" the bearkin exclaimed lost for word looking at the dark lines that spread on the sky like web.
The black lines multiplied further forming cracks that slowly enevelop the sky, underneath the cracks the Bearkins could only hold on to their spear and prepare for the worst.
Some froze on the spot unable to comprehend what's happening while the chief and his warrior stood their ground.
A Bearkin tighten his grip on his spear and without any warning shot to the sky.
His spear flew cutting air with a whistle but it couldn't reach the sky.
It could not be touch therefore it could not be hit, the spear reached its peak before returning to the ground making the Bearkins make way for it's landing and for the spears owner to get scolded by his peers.
"The chief will surely protect us" A bearkin let out the word that the others also have in the back of their mind, the sole reason why not even one of them tried to flee in this situation.
"I don't think it's a beast, chief" the bearkin always by the chief's side spoke.
"The others frozen in fear, it should have done something by now"
"What can we do" The chief spoke before hesitantly lowering his spear away from the sky.
"It's better to leave it alone" he said "tell others not to do anything rash" the chief glanced at the bearkin being scolded by the others
Thud
He let go of the meat he was carrying and gestured for the others to do the same.
"I want willing warriors to head home" the chief spoke "you'll come back here after making sure that, this thing" the chief looked up to see the cracks slowly spreading further beyond where he could see
"Is not everywhere "
The horde was silent, every single one of them is right here, the chief is here, therefore this is the safest place.
Their home being safe?, it only applied when their chief and his pack of hunters are there to protect them.
They weren't stupid.
The cold air brushed off their fur yet they stood resolutely waiting until a hand rose.
"I'm willing" Krisna spoke
Everyone look towards the voice in disbelief until they saw Krisna, the brave fool struck again some couldn't help but think.
The bearkin by the chief's side spoke "Any others"
Glancing around the unwilling Bearkins.
Some hands raised hesitantly and soon a squad made up of four Bearkins ventured out while the cracks spread wider unto the sky.
The three Bearkins following Krisna couldn't help but look up the sky, it was moving, pulsing, as if it was alive.
It's terrifying.
"Can't believe you guys would willingly go with me" Krisna spoke slowing down her pace so the three other Bearkins awestruck by the thing above could catch up.
"It's our job"
"What she said"
"Can't leave you dying alone"
The three Bearkins spoke one after another.
Krisna released a sigh walking faster by the second.
"Krisna, slow down!"
"What she said!"
"Hurry up, you two!"
All four of them, same size continue forth after that one exchange.
Endless White Snow.
Three kilometers in and only snow welcomed them.
The sky remained the same their entire journey.
"How much longer" A bearkin slumped to the snow panting and another followed.
"..what she said"
"We're near, I can feel it!, stand up!" Another bearkin cheered.
"No, ...We reached the end" Krisna spoke making the two panting Bearkins to look towards her.
Even she couldn't believe her words.
Reaching her hands forward, the trees from afar started to wiggle as if it was seen from the reflection of water, not just the trees everything started to move along with krisna's hand that couldn't pass through the soft barrier locking them.
"This is..." The one cheering the two slowly approach Krisna, putting her hand to the soft barrier.
It produces the same effect as it did when Krisna touched it, the barrier tried to reach more of her hand as the silver like mirror liquid started to climb up making her forcefully pull away.
"Isn't this" The bearkin backed away trauma evident in her eyes before her eyes locked on Krisna
"Pull away....Krisna, put your hands down" She said meekly slowly approaching Krisna as if trying not to wake something up.
But it was futile.
The silver liquid engulped krisna's hand, slowly going up to swallow her whole.
The bearkin quick to her feet tried to help grabbing Krisna by her other arm.
Gritting her teeth she shout at the two dumbstruck twin.
"Come help!!"
The should jolted the two awake and they quickly grab hold of the bearkin grabbing Krisna.
Krisna tried pulling away the very moment the mirror like liquid caught her arm but it was futile, she looked back to see the others in panic.
"I don't think this is dangerous, it doesn't hurt at a-"
"Pull!!!"
Before she could finish the bearkin holding her shouted at the top of her lungs and Krisna's body stretched between the Bearkins pulling her body and the liquid keeping it in place.
"Ow, ow ow!" Krisna winced in pain feeling her arm dislocate by the pull, yet despite the pain she planted her foot to the snowy ground helping the others in pulling away from the liquids grasp.
Struggling seemed futile but through her half closed eyes already misty with tears she saw her arm loosening away from the liquid.
"It's working!!" She shouted at the back, the thought of getting out numb her from pain and strengthened the trio's pull.
"You heard krisna, Pull!!" The bearkin holding her arm yelled and the other two grunted in response.
Plop!
The trio stumbled to the ground covering their body in snow but they quickly recovered with the most active one launching at krisna once she saw her free from the grasp of the liquid.
They both rolled on the snow before stopping with the bearkin at top of Krisna.
"Calm down I'm fine" Krisna said giggling wiping away the bearkin's tear but stopped seeing her arm unable to reach the Bearkin's face.
Looking at it, she realized her arm have gotten shorter
No, she no longer have her arm.
"!!!"
Her eyes widened as she looked at the stump on her used to be arm, it still have that silver like liquid oozing out.
The bearkin at top of krisna was smiling relief filling her face yet the moment she saw Krisna's arm she immediately grab the liquid oozing from the stump swiping it away distress evident in her eyes.
But like magnet it floated up going back on its place in Krisna's stumped arm
"It's happening again" The bearkin muttered standing up wobbling towards the barrier of silver. "It would have been better if it was a monster instead"
"You know whats happening??" Krisna got the meaning behind the bearkin's words.
"You also know it" The bearkin said looking back at krisna "But your too young to remember"
The words left krisna speechless, while the bearkin approached the silver barrier, her breath making it's reflection cloudy.
"If it wasn't for this!!" A quick jab, followed by another jolted the silver liquid, creating a ripple that took on the sky creating a jagged crack.
"you just said not to touch it!!" Krisna panicked standing up to approach the bearkin.
"It's no use" The bearkin said "you've been marked, it's no use being cautious" followed by multiple jabs
"Maybe, just maybe if we could make it retreat.....it wouldn't take you" the bearkin said aloud.
"Calm down sister" One of the twin bearkins said finally able to stand on her feet.
"What she said" The other said unable to stand up, back aching because of hitting a boulder hidden on the snow.
They tried to approach, krisna already lost her arm they don't want her to lose one as well.
"Yes, tell us what's happening , maybe we could help" Krisna said approaching slowly, she wanted to rush to the bearkin and stop her forcefully but fear gripped her hard.
She already lost an arm, she couldn't afford losing the other one.
The bearkin look back at them, in the Bearkins eyes she saw them at a safe distance, she could tell that they were afraid.
Wether it was for her safety or having the same fate as krisna, she could care less.
It shouldn't take too much time.
This thing acts on a whim, she saw it do it once so it could do it again.
"Kill it, then maybe you won't get taken"
She said eyes staring straight at krisna.
.....
The bearkin's words was like puzzle to Krisna's ear, it's no use?, she have been marked?, it would take her?.
But before she could piece this puzzle together, the silver liquid told her the answer.
She was pulled closer, unable to fight back she sunk inside the liquid the last thing she saw was the three Bearkins, two were in shock while the other have despair written on her face.
"I'll be back" She wanted to say to calm them down but the word got stuck on her throat and only a yelp exited her mouth before everything turn dark.