Roots | Cycles Book 1 | ONC 2024

XIV : Metamorphosis

Shanirin walks with the Elder in silence for a nameless while.

He has no idea where they are going, or what any of this means. He never would've expected the Forest to hear his prayers, much less for a Soulbiter to do so. He supposes it makes sense, given that the Soulbiters are rooted into the soil of the Forest.

Still, this is quite the turn of events for him. The Elder takes a winding path through the woods, Shanirin has no idea how it knows where it is headed.

Eventually, it leads Shanirin to a clearing, a cave set into the back of it. He shudders as they step into the space. Something about this clearing feels off, like Shanirin is treading somewhere sacred and forbidden.

He dutifully follows the Soulbiter though, as it plows across toward the mouth of the cave. Will it kill him in there? Feed on him?

Shanirin hopes not, he hopes there is a greater purpose to all of this. He cannot meet his end yet anyhow. Umi still needs help. He's still somewhere out there.

He follows the beast into the cave in the end, having precious little other choice here, and clings to hope.

His heart trembles in his chest as they venture deeper, the soft cracking of stone from the Soulbiter's tracks burrowing through it echoing around them. Soon, the darkness grows thicker as they keep going yet deeper, and Shanirin feels himself on edge, tensed up.

What awaits him in this darkness he knows not, but he must be braced for it all the same.

However, the Elder does nothing to harm him, merely burrows further by Shanirin's side, and eventually the dark halls of the cave light up with the dim, blue glow of some crystals. Shanirin is relieved to be able to see a bit again, admiring the clusters on the walls. He reaches out and runs his fingertips across their smooth, cool surface.

How wondrous.

He follows the Soulbiter deeper still, until eventually they emerge into a cavernous room entirely lit up by large crystals jutting out from the walls and ceiling.

Shanirin can merely gape at the sight. He hadn't known a place like this exists deep beneath the earth.

He'd known so little prior to losing Umi.

The Elder plows into the room and Shanirin goes to follow when he freezes mid-step as he notices three other Elders already awaiting there.

A cold coil of fear grips him, and he has to force his iced limbs to move closer. He's come this far and will see this through, but standing before four ancient beasts is incredibly unnerving nonetheless.

They regard him for a moment, their hulking forms still and silent, before the one that brought him here speaks, its jagged maw peeling open, "Y-Yourrrr l-lovee is s-safeeee," it rasps.

Shanirin's body crumples to the stone floor as soon as he takes the words in. Oh, Umi is alright. He shudders, a small, pitiful whimper emerging from his throat, his voice laced with such profound relief. All he has wanted to hear for days now had been that Umi is well.

He sits there and breathes, breathes deeper than he's been capable of before now, his body so unburdened he feels as if he will float away. Oh, Umi.

"Where is he?" Shanirin asks, looking up at the Elders, his gaze pleading.

"H-Huntinggg," one of them replies, croaking the words.

Shanirin furrows his brow to this. Hunting? That brings up more questions than it answers, really.

"Hunting for what?" Shanirin asks the most pressing one. He is certain it is not food. Umi has never enjoyed hunting for food, he finds the process of winding each individual arrow with rope so they can pull their prey up into the safety of the trees after the kill tedious.