TRA: A God's Sorrow

Chapter 6: Death on Wings

Grall

Gralls gasped and grabbed Sakurako, turning her around and pointing to Cassandra. Sakurako leapt with joy at the sight of Cassandra and began to move towards her, but something felt wrong. Cassandra wasn't looking at them with the recognition she normally used, her soft hazel eyes were now replaced by cold lifeless amber eyes.

Sakurako began to back away, almost out of instinct, tripping over a tree root as she did so. Grall reached out and caught her with one swift motion.

As they watched Cassandra, she turned around, as if to leave. Grall let out a pent up sigh and looked to Sakurako.

"Lets leave for now, she needs tim-" Grall didnt get to finish his sentence.

Cassandra flew above them at such speeds that even Gralls true sight could not keep up with her. As she flew by, orbs of light seemed to fall off of her body, landing on the ground like feathers.

The ground began to heave and overturn on itself, creating a massive tidal wave out of the ground. Grall, without a second look, grabbed Sakurako and began to run for their lives. Dirt flew up under his boots, adding to the now larger mound of moving ground.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Grall shouted as he continued to run, scanning the area for anything they could duck into. Gralls initial thoughts were to jump into the shadow world, but the prison was only meant to house orcs and he didn't know how Sakurako, a being that was obviously not an orc, would fair in the dark depths.

....Prison? Grall thought grimly, his steps slowed for a moment. When did I begin to think of the Shadow World as a prison? As soon as the thought came to mind, it was just as quickly shoved off to the side.

The land mass was closing in on them fast. He had to chance it, if it proves fatal for Sakurako.... will its either die here or there. Grall didn't see how it would matter.

Gritting his teeth, Grall tore open a path to the Shadow World and jumped through with Sakurako in hand.

As soon as Grall was through the path, he turned in time to see the spot they stood seconds before get swallowed up by the land mass. He quickly rose a hand up and closed the opening.

As the path closed, Grall peered down at Sakurako, wondering, hoping, and praying that she was still alive and that the Shadow World wasn't having a negative effect on her. Sakurako huddled close to Gralls chest, her eyes shut tight, dirt covered her frilly pink dress, but no negative side effects.

Grall pondered this for a second before pushing the thoughts off to the side. "Little one," Grall said in a low voice, not wanting to scare her, "you can let go now."

Sakurako opened a single eye, batting the dirt away as she did so, and looked up at Grall. As she peered into Gralls sightless features, she noticed that it had somehow went from day to night in the past few terrifying minutes.

No, Sakurako thought as she started to peer at her surroundings, even the darkess nights have the light of the stars shining through the sky.

Sakurako quickly began to rummage through her belongings and came out, triumphantly with a notebook. She quickly scribbled something on it and held it up for Grall to see.

The notebook read, "Are we in the void?" Grall stiffled a laugh and shook his head.

"No, little one." Grall said once he was sure he wasnt gonna bust into laughter. "This is not the void but a place we orcs call The Shadow World. It is where we go to rest once we pass from the material realm."

Sakurako listened to Grall for a moment then began to scribble something else out on another page and held it up to Grall with a sorrowful face. "So we did die... :("