Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Illyria

 The dense jungle of the Shadowgrove seemed to provide concealment against the pursuing Reavers, but they still rushed through the undergrowth west as fast as they could.

"They can't run that fast, can they?" asked Illyria.

"They wouldn't be something to be afraid of if they couldn't," Ser Arthur answered.

"Up ahead!" Julien shouted. The four jumped over a ridge, and hid under its overhang, held up by the root of a jungle tree.

"How will this help?" Trevor whispered.

"Shh," Arthur hushed. They could hear footsteps from behind drawing ever closer. Illyria's heart raced as the Reavers jumped down in front of them, and then vanished as they raced into the undergrowth. The four let out sighs of relief when they saw that they were gone.

"That could have been worse," Julien whispered.

"Yes, Julien, it could have been a lot worse," agreed Illyria. "Do you think they're dumb enough to keep chasing in the direction they think we're running?"

"They'll notice something's wrong eventually," said Arthur. "We need to move."

"Problem," Trevor reminded. "Those Reavers are heading in the same direction we are."

"Maybe we can go around the jungle?" Illyria suggested.

"The Shadowgrove is big, Illyria," said Trevor. "We can either go two hundred miles south or twice that distance north."

"Not to mention the basilisks," Julien shuddered.

"We could follow the Epsilon road," Arthur suggested, looking to a shining, silver path at the bottom of a shallow ravine.

"I don't know if the Epsilon here are like the rest of their kind across the rest of Zenartha, Arthur," said Julien. "They're less wise, and a lot more dangerous."

"We'll do our best to avoid them, then," said Illyria. "It's still the fastest way through here, isn't it?"

"Sure," agreed Arthur. "If the Jungle Epsilon don't catch us." Illyria had heard of the dreaded Shadowgrove warriors. They were Epsilon warriors that haunted the brush of the Shadowgrove, preying on travelers unlucky enough to be found by them. They may not be aura-sensitive, like the Abyss Watchers and Silver Hawks, but their skill with a bow is unmatched.

"Nowhere else to go," said Illyria. "We might as well." They began down the silver path in the ravine, keeping their weapons out, and looking into the jungle for danger. Illyria kept her shurikens between her fingers, just in case. Epsilon warriors weren't the only things that haunted the Shadowgrove. The path they were walking on may have been meant to guide travelers, but it was far from safe. Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes could be heard.

"Do you hear that?" Trevor whispered, igniting his lightsword. A long hiss followed the crushing of the brush. What came onto the path in front of them was an enormous snake that must have been thirty feet long, with horns above its eyes. It was as wide as the entire path, with two huge fangs in its gaping maw.

"That would be a basilisk," said Julien. The creature slithered along the path, but it suddenly dropped its head when something struck its eye.

"The hell?" Arthur cursed. Illyria stepped closer to the dead basilisk and yanked the arrow from its eye. The tip had a distinctive spike on the edge of it, made from Epsilon steel. Suddenly, another arrow struck the same spot where the first one struck, right in the dead center of the basilisk's eye. Illyria quickly threw her stars in the same direction where the arrow came, but they only stuck in a jungle tree. Another arrow flew from the jungle, bouncing off of Julien's armor. Illyria, Trevor, Arthur, and Julien came together as a dozen silver-eyed Epsilon emerged from the brush. They all wore dark tunics with green sleeves, dark gloves and boots, and pointed bows with the same Epsilon arrows, as well as swords with curved tips at them. One of them, a tall one with short, ginger hair, approached them with his weapons down.