Elementals: Book 3: The Dark World

Chapter Four

Ix quivered with fear as the three of them stood patiently on the edge of Kydjo's territory, Ash could sense his fear and apprehension as they awaited the arrival of the leader Sergal and his Bear acquaintance. He looked over at Brilliaband and watched her examine their surroundings, her head on a swivel. She had recovered from her ordeal with Midnight and was able to use her Powers once more, although at a limited capacity, but now she was afraid that someone was coming after her. Ash breathed a sigh as he realized he had to be the strong one of the group, something he usually had Tsubaki for.

"Ix," a voice spoke from afar. Ash was torn from his thoughts as a black and gray Sergal walked towards them on all fours, followed by a much larger black Bear.

"K-Kydjo... we... we request entry," Ix stammered.

He bent down on one knee as Kyjdo approached them, stopping only feet away from them, the Bear followed and stopped just behind him. There was a silence as Kydjo looked down upon Ix, seeming to judge him and size him up. Ash took a step backwards as Kydjo rose to his feet and glared down upon the kneeling Sergal, even the bear was taken aback by this and retreated a step.

"P-please, sir," Ix said with his head still bowed.

Kydjo fell forwards and slammed his front paws on the ground, creating a small heat wave that washed over the three of them.

""Ix, you know you don't need to request entry to your own land," Kydjo responded fondly with a smile on his face. "Now get up and give me a hug you goof."

Tears began to fall from Ix's snout as he began to laugh through the sadness, the black Bear breathed a sigh of relief and shook its head. Kydjo took a step forward and grabbed Ix before pulling him into a long hug.

"You must be Asher and Brilliband," the large black Bear stated. His voice was deep and shrill, sending chills down Ash's spine. "You can call me Dusk."

As Dusk stepped forwards, Ash noticed that he had the same markings beneath his eyes and on his back as Midnight, he also noticed that the Bear wasn't facing them head on, his head seemed to be on a swivel surveying the area, even going so far as to stand on his hind legs to get a better view.

"Kydjo, sir, I suggest we head back to the longhouse. I'm sensing something out there, not sure if it's Shade or the Watchers. But something is definitely watching us," Dusk stated as he fell back on all fours.

"Oh, you're right," Kydjo replied, still wrapped in a hug with Ix. "Follow me, Ix you can walk up front with me and tell me about all you've been up to."

Kydjo turned and began to walk off with Ix by his side, leading them across the plains and towards a large jungle. Dusk walked behind the Sergals with Ash and Brilliband. The two up front were talkative for sure, not stopping for a second as Ix described everything he had experienced while on Terra Firma. Kydjo seemed invested in the Plane as all of his questions were about the strangest things, like the colors of things, how other animals had changed, how the humans had evolved. It was all odd to Ash so he decided to stay quiet for the most part.

He caught himself staring at Dusk, or rather, the Bear caught him staring at the large glossy mirror-like markings on his back.

"Don't stare at those too long," he stated without even looking.

"How'd you know I was staring?"

"I'm a Fear Elemental."

"Fear Elemental?" Ash asked.

"The things on my back and under my eyes are like mirrors in that they reflect whatever is looking at them, however where you only see your reflection, I'm able to see into your mind and find your deepest darkest fears, and then I use the Darkness Element to conjure those fears into reality," Dusk explained. "That's why you'll never see me look someone in the eyes, it's not a voluntary thing to see your fears. It's also how I'm able to sense if something is watching us, I can feel them looking into me and I can see into them."