The Parallel Paths

It'll Go Down In Flames

The rustling only grew louder, as if a crowd or just something large were creeping up behind. Zack slowly stared to crawl towards the edge of the tent, his fingers carefully pulling the thin door back slightly to get a peek of outside. At first he saw nothing, only darkness and endless trees—

until..

A mysterious black figure ran across the entrance of the tent, its eyes lingering on the tent, locked on its prey.

Zack quickly pulled the tent shut and moved away from the door, placing a hand on his chest that was heaving heavily.

"What the hell.." He muttered to himself, panting out of fear.

He immediately started shaking Elara vigorously to wake up, his eyes glancing over to the door every now and then to see if the shadow being had gotten in or was nearing.

That sea monster definitely traumatized him.

Elara eventually woke up from the shaking, groaning in annoyance before swatting his hand away.

Zack stumbled back a little, frowning but pushing
it off. He couldn't deny he did shake her a little too harshly.

"The fuck Zack.." She groaned, a deep frown forming into her face with her eyes all scrunched and lips pouted.

"Something is outside!" He whispered roughly, pointing over to the door. The fear was just written all over him no matter how hard he tried hiding it.

"It's probably the wind, idiot. Don't wake me up like that again." She muttered coldly in a sleepy groggy voice, flashing a tired yet annoyed glare to Zack before flopping and turning back to lay down .

Though, she instantly sat upward, as if an uncomfortable sensation stabbed at her.

Zack was visibly confused, his eyes locking onto her now trembling figure. She placed a hand tightly on her shoulder which seemed it be in pain, moving next to Zack now.

"The ground.. it's burning hot!" She exclaimed, rubbing her shoulder to ease the burning sensation.

"It wasn't me!!" Zack exclaimed, quickly putting his hands up in defense. Elara only shot a silent glare of annoyance over to him.

The ground started growing hotter beneath their knees, the heat growing so unbearably hot to the point they had to flee the tent.

They now stood outside in the cold, a faint heat radiating from the tent. Soon a bright glowing orange started fading into the tent, most likely fire.

They stood in the cold, the wind a mocking howl as they remained without a tent. The fire, trying to comfort them with warmth one last time as it burned in flames.

"Why is our tent on fire Zack?" Elara slowly muttered, her voice threatening yet masked with kindness. She even forced a sweet smile onto her face.

Zack grumbled, he wasn't too fond of being accused.

"I didn't do shit." He grumbled back, his arms folding across his chest as they both stared down at the tent now slowly fading into bright orange flames.

"Maybe it's because we're close to the fire kingdom." Zack suggested, glancing down to the tent then looking over to Elara except-

She wasn't there.

Panic rushed over the boy as he now remained in the wilderness alone, searching for the blonde seemingly impossible in the dim lighting. He turned his body, darted his eyes to a crunch, his senses on high alert now.

A rustling sound came from the bushes, he instantly turned his head and held his hand out ready to attack—

even if it meant this whole forest would burn.