The Glowfang followed the rest of the pack,
walking calmly and slowly.
Its back was so big that Zai and Lana could sit beside each other and it would still fit them,
and the Glowfang was huge enough that it almost touched the high ceiling of the tunnel.
The tunnels were dark but lit by the
Glowfang's faint light in their horns.
Zai reached out his hand to touch the ceiling, and the moment he did, it started glowing
like neon lights in the night sky.
The ceiling felt soft, as if it were covered by fur and flowers.
The glow followed the pattern of his touch.
"Wooah…" Lana and Zai said in awe.
Lana then also reached out to touch the ceiling too following his pattern.
Then the Glowfangs started walking even faster than their were
The faster they got, the more colors started to appear in the ceiling's glow.
They both were smiling—chuckling with joy and immersed in the scenery
Then Lana's expression switched from joy to worry, her smile faded as she let her hand down slowly, her gaze faltering.
Zai glanced at her and noticed her expression .
"Are you worried about Swan?" He asked while his hand still raised to the ceiling
"A little," she replied.
"We often got separated through our travels together, but she always made it out alive,
Then she smiled to herself
"Out of all the creatures I've met she's the weirdest one" she chuckled slightly
"so I'm not too worried." She shrugged
Zai still listening attentively
"You seem to care about her a lot." He said as he let down his hand.
Lana : "Well… it may not look like it, but… she's like my teacher. She's the first creature I met that was from the Eclipse Forest like me… so…
she taught me a lot about my powers
and —other things…"
Zai still listening attentively
Then he smirked
" the first one? I doubt that" he muttered to himself
Lana tilted her head " did you say something"
" nothing …" he brushed it off
The tunnel seemed to come to an end.
The tunnel led to a huge round space like a cave with a lot of colorful, puddles on the ground that were filled by colourful neon liquid.
And there were very sharp rocks shaped like upside-down triangles hanging from the ceiling of the space.
Dripping from them also colourful liquid that filled the puddles.
It is clear All the tunnels led to this place.
The Glowfangs entered this space—
each of them rested in the glowing puddles
and started to drink the dripping water
from the sharp ceiling rocks.
Lana and Zai were looking around, processing all this.
The Glowfang they were on sat down in a puddle, and then, from within the puddle, its children popped up as if they were immersed in the puddle , waiting for their mother.
The children were as tall as Lana and Zai.
Zai : "They're cute…"
Lana : "Yeah, like that Grifkit…
Speaking of which. She reached her hands to her pocked
And took out a bunch of pearls that grifkit gave them putting in a smug look
His eyes widened
" we could get the most exquisite rare ability powering consumabilia with this!"
He said as he leaned towards them as if drown to the pearls glitter.
She tapped the back of his hand, just below the elbow
" hand out" she said in a firm ordering playful tone , as if she's used to being obeyed
He held out his arms and opened his palms then she slipped half of the pearls in his hand
"In case we get separated , your gonna need this.." she said in a soft tone
Zai's glanced at her..
Then his gaze bended to the ground with hints of sadness.
As if he is contemplating something "Actually… there's something I need to tell you—"
Then he was interrupted by the Glowfang. It started shaking its back, as if it's signaling them to get off and go down into the puddle with its pups.
The Glowfang's pups were waiting for them to get down from their mother's back, looking at them cutely and jumping around.
"No… no no no, Lana, I think we're their dinner," he stuttered. His jaw drawn back as his eyes stretched open.
Then the Glowfang started to shake its back even harder until they slipped from its back into the puddle.
They stood up after falling.
The liquid washing over them
" euugh " Lana groaned
" well .. it kinda smells nice" zai added
The water in the puddle reached to their knees when they stood.
and it was colorful— felt kinda gluey and smelled like soap and foxglove flowers.
The pups didn't try to harm or eat them. They just looked at them curiously.
Then the mother Glowfang gently nudged her pups closer. She licked their heads, then curled her body protectively around the pups, Lana, and Zai.
Lana and Zai were startled and caught off guard…
They let out a surprised breath as they were being pushed right beside each other. They were being snuggled in, just like the pups—wrapped up in fur and warmth.
"I guess we're adopted," Lana said in a low tone to Zai.
"…It thinks we're lost pups!?" he replied.
The mother Glowfang then let out a low growl, as if telling them to shut up and sleep.
Meanwhile
The two shadow creatures that attacked Lana, Zai, and Swan earlier came to report to First River.
"Commander… we found something. Perhaps it's what you're looking for."
First River: "Well… out with it!"
As the two were about to speak, they were interrupted by another commander —one of lower rank than First River.
"Hehehehehahaha," she laughed maniacally, grinning with her sharp teeth as she swung her ponytails annoyingly.
First River: "Jokã… long time no see."she said in a low deep voice
Clearly not pleased with her presence.
Jokã: "Well, you will be seeing me a lot from now on… since I just got promoted."
She said this as she was getting closer and closer to First River, until she reached her ears by lifting her foot (because she was shorter) and whispered:
"Promoted to a higher rank than you, hehehe."
She pulled back and spoke annoyingly and loud:
"It's obvious why… because my kind are trustworthy, unlike you rivers.
You have a history of betrayal
You know who I'm talking about—your brother Second River.
She put her fingers around her chin and snickered.
"And perhaps your sister too has chosen betrayal"
First river tightening her first trying to keep her composure.
"After being sent on a mission she disappeared for far too long , maybe she decided to side with Second River. Who knows?"
"—Is someone asking for me?"
Third River barges in out of nowhere
Interrupting the conversation.
Everyone around was surprised
Because she has been absent for too long, never visiting the shadow forces layer
She came and stood beside First River,
then leaned toward Jokã at eye level
"You're still running your mouth accusing me, aren't you?
Just admit your jealousy and superiority complex.
Even with you being a higher rank,
you can't come close to the Rivers.
Soon enough you'll end up like the rest who tried to challenge us—Gone" she added smirking intimidatingly
Jokã didn't bat an eye, used to this feud
She loosened her eyelids unamused
"I have news for you… I have been entrusted to find the Eclipse Forest entity's physical residue…
Since your back empty handed I see.
Isn't that enough to show how much they've lost hope in you finding them?"
"Oh… and there's more.
I already know where they are." She added
Third River's eyes widened and her body shivered.
"You… know where they are…?" she stuttered.
Jokã: "Mhmm… let's see who captures them first."
"Ehehehehehhahahaha," she laughed maniacally again as she was walking away her laugh echoing through the halls as if faded slowly.
" shes just trying to intimidate you…"
First river said to third river
Then she walked away then paused and said
" —oh and my patience is wearing thin
Pick a side sister"