By The Will of the Gods

Into The Mist

Looking back, Si Yin and Liang froze in horror at what had just happened.  They could still hear Qing Cang screaming, but over the top of his voice was a multitude of others, along with the sound of running feet.

"What did we just do?" Si in whispered.  Her eyes were wide and terror had taken immediate hold of her as her head spun in every direction.  She already knew, but was hoping desperately that it wasn't so.

Turning towards her, Liangs Senior position as her protector and guide, quickly kicked in as he took hold of her shoulders and dragged her small body towards him.  He was terrified, because he too knew what had happened and for them both, the punishment would be severe, but he had to get them out of a world they were never meant to enter, let alone free.

"The barrier to the lower deities realm has collapsed Seventeen.  We need to get out of here." he replied as his head spun in search of the way back out.  

Directly behind him was Qing Cang and his men, and in front of him was movement coming from their world.  It was murky movement because they were completely engulfed in a thick mist, which he remembered Shifu telling him about.  Their world did not get sunlight, it was always gray in colour and the mists were very much a reason for it, because it never lifted. It was also cold and damp and the trembling boy in his arms had him making a very quick decision.

"Regardless of what we have done, we still need to leave.  This is not our world and if Qing Cang reraises thebarrier, we will get caught in here." he said softly as the murky movement drew closer.

"This is the Trolls world?" she asked petrified, because everything she had ever read of them suggested they were not nice folks and according to the lessons she remembered, they were exceptionally dangerous creatures who thrived on the weak and fearful.  They also hated her kind, because they saw the Immortals as their number one enemy having been the ones who had enslaved them behind the barrier and throwing them all into a permanent world of darkness.  Shivering in fear and so close to tears, she clung to Liang with every intention of leaving.

"Yes, let's go." he ordered before dragging her back in the direction of Qing Cangs voice.

Suddenly and without warning, a hand reached out through the mist to snatch at both Si Yin and Liang.

"Leaving so soon, but you just arrived." a deep slurring wheeze of a voice thudded through the mist and before Liang could prevent it, Si Yin was ripped from his grip as the sound of running feet shot past them.

In horror, his eyes skimmed his surroundings as creatures he had only ever read about, ran around him to escape.  Not only were the Trolls fleeing into his own own Realm, but Si Yin was fast disappearing into theirs.  He was just a few steps away from returning, he could see the sunlight through the gap they had created, and he could also clearly see the mountains and for a split second, he pondered on leaving her there, having no desire to remain a second longer.  But cowardice was not in his nature, and despite his juniors annoying bratty behaviour, he was a brother that he cared about regardless.  So instead he turned back to give chase.

Even though he could barely see her, he could certainly hear her.  Screaming in terror, Liang never thought he would ever be able to forget that sound.  It sent ice cold shivers down his spine, but what had his feet moving faster was the look of terror in her eyes.  They burned into him so deeply, that he could not hold back the tears as his feet sped him through the murky mist that seemed to be getting thicker the deeper into their world that he went.

But he kept his eyes on her as the creature raced her to a destination he dared not think about.  And all around him there was movement.  He caught snatches of a face, a powerful form, a look of confusion and snatches of raised voices as they bolted towards his own world, and though they too were looking at him just as terrified, he never once took his sight off his junior.  Though he was surprised at their size.  They were far smaller than he had imagined.  For some reason he'd thought them to be giants, but the one who had his Seventeenth junior was not much taller than her, though he thought it might be male.  It moved surprisingly fast considering its muscular form, but eventually he noticed a dim light up ahead and within a few seconds he was passing though an entrance and into what he assumed was a grand Hall of sorts which was not only filled with their kind, but the noise was horrendous.