Chaos of Elements

Crystal Clear

Yuna's POV

One of my ears twitched, and I swiftly lifted my head. The air was filled with a cacophony of sounds, but one particular howl made my heart race with panic. Something dreadful had occurred to Aqua. The commotion of distressed wolves and the deafening rumbles of thunder were all foreign to me. I hastily rose from my den, taking notice of everyone scurrying toward higher ground. Shadow, approached me, and together we followed the fleeing pack members.

Seeking shelter, we all congregated on the elevated terrain, where the devastating flood had mercilessly swept away everything in its path. My eyes darted around, desperately searching for Sparrow and his friend Rosalie. They were huddled near the Alpha. I swiftly approached them, yearning to know what had occurred to Aqua as they began recounting the events. My heart sank.

Aqua's POV

I felt relaxed when they gave us treatment for our wounds. The gentle touch of their paws while they applied soothing herbs to our injuries, put my mind at ease. I was glad that Sparrow had reunited with his long-lost friend Rosalie, a beautiful and fierce she-wolf. Their joyful reunion brought a smile to my face, yet something within me stirred. A subtle uneasiness crept into my heart, clouding the joy that should have filled my soul. It was as if I couldn't fully surrender to their happiness as if a part of me resisted the closeness between them.

I shook off the irrational thought and closed my eyes. However, my restless mind continued to argue back and forth, refusing to grant me a moment of peace. Unable to ignore the persistent feeling tugging at me, I decided to follow my instincts and seek out the two. When I found them, it appeared that I had arrived on time. A storm gained on us causing a reckless scene and challenge for all as bolts of lightning struck the sky and ground, creating a rumble.  A sense of impending danger filled the air sending shivers in my body. 

The ground shook violently once more, but this time it was not the wrath of lightning. It was the force of a raging flood surging towards us. Desperate, I whispered incantations in a language foreign yet familiar to me, in my thoughts. With a resounding howl, I unleashed a barrier of energy encircling Sparrow, Rosalie, and the rest of the wolf pack. The shield shimmered, a fragile yet resolute shield against the impending disaster. I knew my power was limited, knowing that it would break any time soon.

With urgency in my voice, I called out to Sparrow, instructing him to lead Rosalie to higher grounds. The shield finally shattered as the flood took me. I clung to a tree, fighting against the powerful current. The water surged around me threatening to drag me away into its depths, I held onto hope refusing to let go. When Sparrow came back, he flew as fast as he could. And then it happened. A sharp searing pain shot through me, cutting across my vision. Darkness enveloped and extinguished any sense of the world around me. I was swathed in an abyss of nothingness, floating between reality and oblivion.

                                                                                        ***

The flood carried Aqua's body to a damp and dark place. She laid there, unconscious for what seemed like an eternity. Drops of water fell from the ceiling, gently splashing onto her face, slowly bringing her back to consciousness. She groaned and struggled to open her eyes.
Blinking and squinting to regain vision, a soft light glow appeared before her. The dampness of the place seemed to intensify as she could now make out her surroundings, finding herself in a hidden underground cavern. The ceiling was alive with sparkling crystals, reflecting the light and casting mesmerizing patterns on the walls. It was so quiet that anything could echo. She whispered and called out. Nothing responded, she was all alone. Cold, tired, and hungry, she began to panic.

Aqua's heart ached as she thought about the pack, wondering if they had survived the menacing flood in time. She had to find a way out of the underground cavern and reunite with them as soon as possible. With a deep breath and gathering her strength she started venturing deeper into the darkness, then noticed a faint shimmer of light coming from one corner. Curiosity guided her and cautiously made her way toward it. Its luminescence provided a dim but steady glow, revealing a narrow tunnel. The tunnel barely wide enough for her to squeeze through, seemed to be a passageway to the outside world. Her heartbeat quickened with hope as she squeezed through the narrow path, her body leaning against the rough rock walls. 

Pushing onwards, it began to slope upward gradually. "Hello? Anyone here? Hello? Hmm, it seems like I may have taken the wrong route." Aqua turned her head and surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings, her eyes scanning the area. The sky was still weeping, albeit not as heavily as before. Her paw throbbed with a dull ache but she pushed it aside, focusing on finding her way back home. With decidedness, her muddy legs moved her forward. Despite her efforts the path seemed to lead her further into unknown territory and eventually, evening gradually faded making way for an eerie fog that rolled over the land. Fear began to nibble at her well aware of the perilous creatures lurking in the darkness. Almost taunting her, a tree emerged in her path, its vast roots extending. 

Longing for a hiding spot, she darted towards it, discovering a narrow space between the roots. Squeezing herself into the tight crevice her heart pounded with anxiety. Curled up tightly, she hoped this nightmare would soon come to an end. However, as hunger gnawed at her stomach, it filled her with dread fearing it would attract any lurking predators by the sound. Instantaneously, a disturbing and hideous being made its way towards her hiding spot. She held her breath, attempting to remain as motionless as possible. The creature, devoid of sight and relying solely on its sense of smell and hearing, paused, listening for any signs of prey. Aqua attempted to withstand to maintain her composure, aware that her fear would only make her an easy target. 

Just as it seemed the creature was on the verge of discovering her, her stomach growled loudly. The creature's sensitive ears perked up, enticed by the sound. She shut her eyes, praying that her body's betrayal wouldn't lead to her demise. Thankfully, the creature eventually gave up and slinked away into the night never to be seen again. Breathing in a sigh of relief, her body trembling from the adrenaline of the encounter. Alone and terrified exhaustion settled in, she made an effort to sleep and yearned for the morning to bring a safer path.