Her words stuck their heart in a sharp sting for some reason. Is it fear? Is it the fact that deep down they know if they are a threat they have to keep running from the shadows for the rest of their life ?
" can't we take them out of here with us?" lana asked her jaw tightened
Swan shook her face "no..The opening it's not for their size.. let's not meddle too much in their business or else we'll only make ourself a target"
swan flew to the opening of the tunnel she first came out of and she stood there waiting for them to follow her.
Lana and zai got up on their feet slowly
They approached the mother glowfang. Raising their hands towards her furry cheeks.
They laid their forehead on hers.
"Thank you" Lana said remembering how she saved them back there from entering the portal.
They let their hands down slowly their eyes teary. She nudged them gently and squinted her eyes in goodbye.
Then they walked towards where swan was standing
Their gaze uncertain. Is it right for them to just Leave the glowfangs to wither?
What can they do about it? Is there even something they can do?
They reached the tunnel and started walking forward. Swan leading them while Lana fallen back her gaze fixed on the floor.
Then—She stopped, curling her palms close to her chest, her eyes dim and her gaze wandering.
Zai turned around, one glance and he knew what she was thinking
Then he turned to look at swan
Glancing at them both back and forth
Then Lana raised head and continued to walk forward
"Is there something we can do?" Zai broke the silence
Lana halted and swan turned around
As zai stood between them.
Swan's eyes narrowed. Glancing at zai and Lana back and forth
" I'm going to need you to be more clear… are you saying you want to stay here to help the glowfangs?"
Zai crossed his arms
"Lana … do you want to stay and help with me?" He asked smirking slightly as if he is just making an opening for Lana to speak her mind without hesitation.
Her eyes that were once dim rekindled.
Swan came closer to them closing the gaps
And spoke in frustration with hints of pain
"Do you know what your saying! If the shadows recognise you and your essence you will be marked for life.." her breath coming in sharp gasps
" Lana don't you want to fulfil your father's wish and make it to the eclipse fore—"
"Father would have told me to follow my truth and make the right choice.." she interrupted her eyes narrow and determined
"Running runing and runing… that's all I have ever done all this time … perhaps it's time I take a look at what I have been blindly runing from" she said her tone mad sad yet frustrated in herself.
"—Ofcours… I'm not forcing you to stay" she added as she came closer to swan kneeling in front of her
She ran her fingers through her soft feathers
And smiled with embracing care.
" I'm not forcing you to share my vision or morale, but this is mine and I hope you respect that." She nudged her nose in her beak
"Now go get out of here, get back to the cave of veins and return to the stable forest , the one we were at before stepping foot in the shapeless forest."
"If… we made it out alive you know how to find my flame" she said hesitant yet… as if she knows they will meet again.
Then she took off her necklace that she was wearing, Hiding its significant symbols of
(the mother Celtic knot) underneath her cloth that was immersed by the illusion feather's magic
She gently placed it around swans neck
As soon as zai glanced at the necklace
His eyes flinched, slowly uncrossed his arms while his gaze fixed, piercing as he wandered those symbols.
"If this is your choice… then I understand and I'm proud of you" swan said with teary eyes and a soft tone.
However you have to accept the fact that your making a enemy of a strong powerful force and you must be ready to face what's uncertain"
She said with a firm warning voice and sharp eyes.
Then she sharpened her eyes more.
like lasers garnering their attention as if the words she is about to say will be painted in their mind.
"… at the centre of the cavern where the glowfangs rest, an opening in the ceiling will stretch and stair of rocks and rubble will emerge from the ground
This is supposed to be the opening that arrives every ten days —you have 8 left
the shadows will send a fierce withering creature with a physical body that leaks of foxglove posion dangling from the opening into the puddles, to weaken the physical state of the glowfangs and make them kneel to their will faster."
She steadily yet quickly blurted this information to them right after she flew away In a hurry
Zai was taken a back with surprise and shock.
Meanwhile Lana didn't react much as if she is sued to this behaviour from swan.
Lana rose from the ground and walked towards zai
" so! Any ideas?!" She brightly said with a gasp
Zai was just staring at her eyes darting from one eye to another.
" I have so many questions…. But I know your going to brush them off" he said in a deep desperate tone
Lana smirked " well that makes things easier for me…now back to the topic
Swan just mentioned poison… do your swanish abilities have anything to do with that?" she said as she walked back in the direction towards the glowfangs cavern
"Swan…" zai blurted
" she seems to know more than she should about the shadows" he added his tone deep and washed with suspicion.
Lana stopped at her pace
" well… she used to be one of them" she blurted like it's no big deal
Zai flabbergasted by how much she's brushing things off
Lana : Well it's within your right to ask because.. since your traveling with us you wouldn't want To get in trouble because of our—
"Why do you have the third rivers symbol in your necklace" he said in an angry, curious frustrated, and desperate tone.
Lana turned to face him shocked by what she just heard.
This is the first time she noticed the look in his eyes… she never thought deep about his gaze
But, this time she looked in the ocean in his pearled eyes, they are yearning like echos in a silent hall, Like they want to catch a glimpse of something distanced yet so close.
" why.. do I .. third" she stuttered lost in words
She realised he is talking about the necklace she just place around swans neck.
She rested her eyelids and bended her head to the ground brushed it off and continued to walk in silence
"Lana answer me!" He yelled mad, entitled, torn and desperate.
She turned to face him
" what about you zai?" She said Her eyes sharp like a knife all of a sudden.
calling out him out.
" are you the only one allowed to keep secrets?
I also see that jaded pearl wrapped around your neck also hidden in your starry silk. Its symbols might have something to do with … I don't know"
"The shadows" she added
"Or perhaps something else something private l… "
"Something you don't want to remember
Or something that keeps you in a state where your breath is choked and your mind is racing! Like you were that day!"
( she referred to that time with the grifkit when he collapsed because of the whispers)
She said her voice gradually getting louder and angrier with hints of crying.
But I… I didn't push it I didn't ask you
I didn't keep pressing on the wound!
Because I know how it hurts..why can't you understand that"
He felt a shiver down his spine as he saw Her hazel eyes turning slightly crimson in colour. Her words ringing in his ears like a drum.
A tear went down his eyes from being overwhelmed
"I'm.. sorry" he said with a full heart, stuttering
Her eyes being covered with the color red as if it's being painted and blinded.
She came closer and closer to him
As if she's losing her mind
In a blink he saw it—
He could see a shadow entity wrapping its claws around her shoulders and whispering in her ears.
Taking advantage of her uncontrolled anger.
Triggering grief , loss of hope and victim blaming.
It looked as if she's out of it not in her right mind , her eyes getting more crimson red
Like she had immense power, too strong for her body to control
Once she was a few inches away from him
She summoned her dagger emitting red flames
Zai breath got heavier coming in sharp bursts with fear,
His hand instinctively reached for his sword
"Lana..?" He stuttered gasping
Then he realised the illusion feather that was wrapped around her ears began to wither and fade as if its expiring and intense suppressed essence was being released.
The shadow entity took advantage of that fact bracing the moment where her physical body lost its balance and weakened until it effects her mental.
" he is a threat … not an alley .. just another one of your mothers tricks! A spy! A spy! She sent him to capture you like when you were a child!"
The entity screeched in her ears
"You were a fool to let down the walls around you… did you really believe you can find someone to trust again?"
Then—
She swung her dagger and stabbed him as he reached for her embrace letting her cut him deep.
He was knocked to the ground holding her
His blue shaded blood shattered and washed over her skin as he embraced her
Whispering in ears
" it's okay… your alright…im right here ..no one is going to hurt you"
His words echoed through her ears
"You know what its saying isn't true… you have people who are there for you Leon , sirene , Zoey and…" he paused
" and me" he added
Then he raised his hand twitching
And held her hand that was gripping on the daggers handle and
her emotions stirred and thoughts resurfacing. all she could think of was what she had written back then :
*In a forest .. with blue trees as if the fire burning me was washed away by their cold embrace ..
Like his blood was cold water poured into a burning hot one that was balanced by its touch.
Then tears bursted from her eyes , her crying voice shaking As the crimson color faded slowly.
her body started emitting faint blue flames and her echoing tears dried
Zai smiled slightly then closed his eyes as if he lost consciousness
His hands falling to the ground.
She snapped back to her right mind
And realised what she had done
Her palm gripping on the dagger that made a long deep cut in his chest
Her hands shaking as it slowly pulled away from the daggers handle.
Her teeth gritting, lost in words and her eyes darting at his wound
"Zai.." she said in a low tone
"ZAI!.." then she screamed
She looked at her hands and body it was covered in dancing blue flames
It was as if she turned into a flame herself
Zai slightly raised his hand while his eyes were closed
He was whispering something she couldn't hear
She came closer to his face and held out her ears in his mouth to listen
" set your intention to heal what's physical"
She understood he was probably talking about something within her abilities that she didn't know
" your powers charge my healing abilities…"
"Please…"
His voice faded