The Light in Darkness

1:4 - Rising Shadows

Chapter 1.4 - Rising Shadows

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You know... When we first took this job of investigating the Glades. I thought it would be easy. Just a little spooky thing that's running in the night. But when we finally saw that... Thing... I felt like something was wrong. Like something bad... And it's in the forest right now... Flora thought to herself as she gazed upon the clear and open skies. The sounds of the river running beside her and the sweet scent of the forest air, yet something still unsettled her. Grasping her arm softly, the bandages that Izi wrapped it in was not effective in healing, though he said that it was mostly used for covering up the injuries. She said it was fine, that her arm was not really badly hurt. At least that's what she thought, but as they continued walking down the riverside, it started to burn up as they got closer to their destination.

She turned her gaze towards Qui. She was hopping from one rock to another in the middle of the running stream, unaware of the dangers that might lie if she were to slip and fall. But it was Qui. No matter what Flora would say, she would always do it anyway. She loved her like a little sister, even though Flora found her during the winter, cold and helpless. But when she took her into her home in the Swallow's Nest, she knew for a fact that Qui was not as helpless as she once thought. She was very reckless though, often getting them in trouble with everyone and everything.

Then her eyes looked over to the sides where Ori and Akari were walking down the path underneath the shades. Not only were Akari and Ori very similar in appearance, but their personalities don't seem to be too different either. She knows Ori was very concerned about the well being of his siblings, and would even risk his life to save someone he doesn't know. While Akari is always concerned for Flora and Qui's safety, but he would never risk his life for just anyone. In a way, they both have different types of kindness. A soft giggle escaped from Flora's throat as she watched Ori slightly recoil whenever Akari looks at him, whatever he did. It must have scared him so much...

Flora looked back up to the skies as she began to wonder what exactly was this feeling... When Ori's sister came to the Glades, tired and without any kind of bruises. But she was covered with dark marks that seemed to pulse as if they were alive... One has to wonder what kind of creature could have caused something like that. The closest thing that resembled the dark marks that surrounded the little Owl was the same patterns as the ones on the Howlers from last night... She's been a guardian to this forest ever since the Great Storm... But this was the first time she has ever seen anything like this...

Just what is happening...

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I really don't like this... Ruru said that Kuro never came home last night... And what was she talking about...? Who was 'He'? Ori thought to himself as he looked down on the stone path and into the river where Flora and Qui smiled as they enjoyed the peace and quietness. He couldn't shake the thought of his siblings getting hurt. First, it was Aru, now it was Ruru. Both times he was never there to protect them, he felt like he was always so close to them, yet so far to actually do anything to help them... Akari was by his side the entire trip, how long has it been since they left the Glades? Minutes? Hours? They left the Glades when the sun was still on the horizon. But now it was about to set. The trip nearly lasted for an entire day, but they were near the Hollow's Grove at least. The river was about to end soon as the way forward was surrounded by dark trees, only the soft blue light lit the path ahead.

"Ori... Do you have time to talk?" Ori heard a voice as he turned his gaze to Akari. He was still walking as usual, though his eyes seemed to falter with uneasiness.