Wings and Webs 2: Discovery

Yukinaru ~Stranger~ 4

     With Kil and my Uncle gone I do feel a bit more at ease, especially with Haiji back at my side. I glance down at him, his eyes closed and all purrs. As the sun dips low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the landscape, a sense of nostalgia bubbles.
      "So what is the wayward Jester up to?" I question Haiji quietly.
     Curiosity, tinged with concern dances across my gaze as I turn to my pet. The subtle flick of Haiji's tail betrays his disappointment. His vibrant fur shimmers in the fading light, a stark contrast to the murky surroundings.
      "Master," Haiji begins, his voice a low rumble, "He has been doing odd jobs here and there, mainly staying close to the arena. A few times he ventured off with Illumi. Otherwise, nothing of note to speak of."
      I could imagine Hisoka flitting about in the shadows, his chaotic personality blending with the dark atmosphere of the swamp. A sigh escaped my lips as I contemplate the implications of my own thoughts.
      "I see. So it really makes little difference whether I am there or not, it seems." The tension in the air thickened, and I could almost hear the unspoken words hanging on the tip of my tongue.
     "Master," Haiji interjects, his tone softening, "I wouldn't say that. Both of them were relatively a mess when you left with Chrollo originally."
      The concern in his eyes glimmers like distant stars, a reminder of our shared journey and the challenges that lay ahead. I rise to my feet, nudging Haiji playfully with my foot, shaking off the lingering thoughts.
    "Well, I suppose now that I am all recovered, we continue on this adventure of mine." A smile tugged at my lips as I glance back at the resting spot I had shared with Killua.
      The memory warm yet fleeting, before turning towards the foreboding darkening swamps that loom ahead. With determination coursing through my veins, Haiji and I progress in silence, a palpable tension marking each step.
      The marshlands stretched out before us, a vast expanse of despair. The water, if it could even be called that, appears thick and viscous. A grotesque tapestry of colors swirl together like a painter's mistake.
      The stench wafting from it is also unbearable, a pungent reminder of decay that made me instinctively pull away. Keeping me wary of its depths.
Hours trickled by as we trudged through the muck, our senses heightened, each rustle and croak amplifying the anticipation of what hides. Soon, the air begins to change, the heavy humidity giving way to something fresher.
       The shift to the forest is becoming evident, an alluring promise of hazy mist-filled woods waiting just beyond the oppressive marshlands. Excitement ignites within me, propelling us both onward.
       However shortly after crossing into the new biome we hit some invisible wall keeping us from going further eastward. I groan as I try and focus on the source of this barrier. It has to be some sort of ability or even a type of nen ward.
     "Master we should head south, I can feel a large source of energy that way." Haiji tilts his head, his suggestion the best choice we got.
     "Lead the way then." I shrug my shoulders, following behind him.
     The further south we go the less creatures I have dected, it is like something is keeping them away. Or something they fear is now hunting the woods. A shutter rolls through me at the thought of what could be lurking to keep so many predators at bay.

     My boots sink in to the spongy browning moss as I stepped further along the trees. A new sense of unease grows as if we are nearing the heart of this wooded land. The damp air coiling around me like a living thing breathing down my neck.

      Beside me, even Haiji's black fur shimmers with a new ethereal glow as it stands on edge. His darken eyes scanning the twisted, gnarled trees that surrounded us.
      "We must be getting closer Haiji." I whispered, my voice barely audible over the eerie silence that permeated the stilled air. "The cause of why we can't push to the further east must be near here somewhere."
       Haiji's ears perk up, and he turns his head to meet my gaze, a silent understanding passing between us. With a gentle nudge, he urges me onward, his powerful muscles rippling beneath his coat.
       As we press deeper into the misty woods, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The shadows seem to dance and writhe, as if the very trees were alive and aware of my presence.
Instinctively, I reached down to scratch Haiji's head, drawing comfort from his steady presence. Suddenly, he stiffens, his hackles rising.
      "*Master,*" he speaks directly into my mind, his voice tinged with unease. "*I can sense an energy that is distorting the very fabric of this space.*"
      I nodded silently, my hearts pounding as I scan the murky woodland.
     "*Then let's find it,*" I thought with determination lacing my being. "*I need to understand what's preventing us from going further and why.*"
       We contintue to move cautiously, weaving between the twisted roots and grasping branches that threaten to ensnare us. My keen eyes search for any sign of the invisible barrier, but the environment seemlessly blends together in an impenetrable veil of shadows and mist.
       Suddenly, Haiji emits a low growl, a sound that vibrates through the air and sends a shiver down my spine. His muscles coil like a taut spring ready to unleash its power.
      "Master, above us," he warns, his voice a gravelly whisper steeped in urgency.
      I jerk my head upward, my mind racing as I search the sky. Instantly, my mood darkens. There, hovering with a sinister aura, are the silhouettes of the six winged death vultures. Their vast wings spread wide like dark sails against the evening sky.
      I am surprised to even see these creatures out this way, normally they hunt the dry lands to the west. They are not merely birds, they are harbingers of doom. Their elongated bodies, covered in bones of previous kills, slice through the air with a predatory elegance. The sun, now partially obscured, casts their shadows around us like dance.
      They creep across the forest floor like ominous phantoms of despair. The area quiets even more in their presence. The rustle of leaves and chirp of insects silenced by an unseen fear.
       I gaze at the approaching storm of feathers and talons, a sense of dread washes over me, for I know that these creatures are not just a sight to behold but are a sign of peril lurking nearby.
      "Keep moving," I urged Haiji, my voice laced with a rare glimpse of my unease. "We can't afford to draw attention in such a fight."
        Haiji needs no further prompting, he broke into a sprint along side me. Dodging the grasping branches and leaping over twisted roots that threatened to trip me. Haiji bounds forward unchallenged, his powerful legs propelling him with ease.
      The vultures' piercing cries echo dauntingly through the forest, a chilling sound that sends shivers down my spine. I knew we were always going to be hunted, the predatory creatures drawn to our energy. As we run deeper to the source of an ominous presence, I caught a glimpse of something ahead, a shimmering distortion in the air, like a heat mirage.
      "Haiji, there!" I called, pointing towards an anomaly.
        Haiji growled in acknowledgment, his pace quickening as we closed the distance. I could feel the air growing charged, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Then, with a sudden jarring sensation, we pass through an invisible shift.
       The sir around us distorting breifly. I stumble a bit, the abrupt transition disorienting me. Haiji steadied my balance, his eyes scanning our new surroundings with a mix of awe and trepidation.
       The forest on the other side of the distortion is darker, the trees more tangled and clustered. Even the shadows seem to cling to every surface, like a sticky mist. I could feel the weight of the oppressive atmosphere, as if the very air is trying to force me down.
      "We've found it," I spoke in a rush, "The source of the eastward barrier must be very close now."
        Haiji nodded, his gaze drawn to the towering, pitch-black cave that stood before us now, it's cavernous entrance a yawning void that seems to beckon us forward.
     "Master, let's see what lies within." He said with firm confidence lacing his tone.
     With Haiji at my side, I approach the mouth of the cave. The endless shadows swallowing us as we step inside. The sounds of the forest fading behind us and the surrounding air now thick with the scent of damp earth. Even a feeling of ancient energy begins to engulf us and I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and unease.
      As my eyes adjust to the darkness, the sheer size of the cavern we found ourselves in blows me away. The energy crackling and distorting the space around us is nearly visible now too. I reach out my fingers passing through the peculiar sparks of light. A shiver is sent down my spine at contact.
     "Be careful Master," Haiji cautioned, his voice echoing eerily in the cavernous space. "We don't know what forces are at work here."
      I nodded, sweeping my gaze around the cave. "Then let's deal with this then move onto the next area."
       With a deep breath, I press forward, Haiji at my side once more as we delve deeper into the heart of this mystery. Soon we enter another chamber, small light source illuminates from above.
       Below it sits a massive tree of the likes I have never seen before. The bark is blacker then a starless sky and the branches spread out like wayward lightning. There are no leaves on this tree nor none on the ground around it.
      A feeling of deep unease creeps into my bones. This tree must be centuries old with how round the trunk is. Walking around this mysterious tree I notice a person looming near by one of the root like tendrils. It is definitely alive but I can't sense any life around. I motion Haiji to slip into my shadow just incase we need an element of surprise.
     "Hello." I call out to the barely visible outline.
    They move away, swiftly retreating from me. I run harder but no ground is gained. This is the first clue I have come across, this may be my only shot. I flick out my wings and push hard.
      They stop and turn suddenly, a black arm reaching out instantly to catch me. Blacken ooze wraps around my neck, lifting me off the ground. I freeze not sure how to handle this sudden turn of events. I take in this creature's appearance as my hands slip through it's body, trying to free myself.