Trollhunters: Becoming

Welcome to the Darklands

im was the first to step foot in the Darklands, and his eyes scanned the dark underworld where evil roamed.

"Wow," Toby grimaced. "I'm getting a lot of repressed memories."

"You're telling me," Jim replied.

"This is the Darklands?" Krel asked. "You said you were down here for two weeks! This place isn't sustainable for humans!"

"No, it isn't," Claire agreed, looking pointedly at Jim.

"I've only heard stories and rumors about the Darklands," Douxie said, looking around.

"This place...it's so...gloomy," Aja whispered.

"Varvatos Vex agrees with her highness," Vex nodded.

"Yes, the Darklands is most definitely a sight for sore eyes," Blinky conceded.

"Don't like Darklands," Aaarrrgghh rumbled. Chompsky tuttered at Jim's foot.

"Chompsky says we need to move before we're spotted," Jim translated.

"Then let's get moving!" Toby exclaimed. The nine began following Chompsky down into the Darklands.

None of them noticed as six glaring eyes followed them from afar.

___

Jim slid down a rocky slope, followed by Aja and Douxie. Not long after, the rest of the configuration was at the bottom of the hill.

"Ugh," Krel groaned. "There is no end to this place. I thought we'd be fighting by now."

Chompsky tuttered.

"Chompsky says we're taking a long way, so we don't get spotted by a gumm gumms," Jim responded.

"That's klebso," Krel drawled.

"It's strategy, brother," Aja smiled. Jim looked past the siblings and saw Blinky looking cautiously around the high walls that surrounded them. Jim strode towards his father.

"Is everything okay, Blink?" Jim asked.

"It's odd," Blinky replied, voice low. "But I get the strangest sense of being watched."

Taking Blinky's concern to be genuine, Jim too began to scan their surroundings. The group fell silent as they waited for something...

Suddenly, Jim's ears twitched as the smallest pebble could be heard bouncing down to the ground below. Everyone drew their weapons, and Jim quickly scaled the wall. He reached the edge and growled at the mystery enemy.

Jim's growl fell short when no one was around.

Claire watched as Jim disappeared over the edge above only to return back down to the bottom a few minutes later, hackles raised.

"Was there a gumm gumm up there?" Claire asked, voice low. Jim shook his head.

"No one was up there," Jim murmured.

"Nevermind that," Blinky dismissed, patting Jim's shoulder. "We must continue forward but let us keep our eyes and ears peeled."

"How do you keep your eyes and ears peeled?" Aja questioned, feeling the sides of her head while Vex opened his eyes wider with his hands.

"It's a metaphor," Douxie corrected. "Just means keep your guard up. Stay cautious."

"In this place? You can only be cautious," Krel shivered.

___

"Would anyone like some tea?" Barbara asked, looking at the other adults in the room.

"Ah, tea would be lovely, Barbara dear. But maybe perhaps made by your lovely friend here," Nancy smiled.