The crow went above and beyond, scanning his surroundings.
Momentarily, he caught a glimpse of the moon. Its face glowing like a polished mirror in the sky, unobstructed by clouds.
Everything felt still.
No one looked up, except the crow.
Then,
A branch snapped.
He reacted instantly, heading toward the sound.
As soon as he landed, he looked down.
Debris scattered beneath the tree.
No sign of what caused it.
He took off again.
Another branch nearby, nearly snapped. Then another.
And another.
A pattern, stretching north.
Without hesitation, he left the scene, heading toward a small cave hidden behind a thick forest. He vanished into darkness until a dim light came into view. Within it, a group of three young adults on the run, each carrying a child on their backs. They stopped after noticing its presence. Then it gently landed on a woman's forehead.
She inhaled slowly, absorbing everything it had seen.
Then she opened her eyes, turning to one of the men. "They're headed for the gates."
"Good. They don't suspect we're here." He speaks, voice steady.
"Should we proceed, Lord Isaac?" asked the second man.
Before a response could be made, a light whimper reached them. Their attention now focused on the two-year-old boy on the woman's back.
"Mom... where are we?"
"It's okay," she cooed. "We're going to be alright, sweetie."
His cries softened, but didn't stop.
Meanwhile, the second man turned to Isaac. "Do you think he'll be OK?"
Without hesitation, Isaac spoke. "He's my son. I'm sure he will."
The man's focus shifted to the seven-year-old girl on Isaac's back. "What about..."
"I think we should leave." Isaac cut in.
The man nods. "I understand," he then approached the woman. "Sorry to ruin the moment, but we need to leave, now."
She nodded, and looked back at Tyler. "Wipe those tears for mommy, okay?"
Tyler nodded and wiped his face with his palms.
Without hesitation, they ran at top speed.
Each step: light, controlled, precise.
Eventually, they halted again, stopping at a fork in the tunnel. Everyone turned to Isaac, eyes full of questions.
"What now?" the woman asked.
"I remember father pointing at one these paths," he scanned each tunnel, mind racing. "... but which one?"
"Think harder," urged his brother.
"Quiet." he whispered, and closed his eyes to recollect it from memory.
When they opened again, he commanded. "Follow me,"
Without delay, he rushed forward, the others trailing closely behind him.
They ran further, and further, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Then, Isaac's eyes scanned the background cautiously.
Noticing Isaac's uneasiness, the man asked. "Is something wrong?"
"We're being followed," declared Isaac.
"Impossible," said the woman. "my crow can't have missed that."
"I know," Isaac said, stopping.
The others followed suit, and he spoke again. "There's something we're..."
"COME OUT!" the girl on his back interrupted, impatiently.
"Kyra," snapped the woman.
Kyra insisted. "I'm want to help."
"I know, dear." said the woman. "But let us handle this, okay."
"but mom, I..."
She cut in staring into Kyra's eyes. "Protect your brothers, okay?"
She responded, reluctantly. "I promise."
Then,
They emerged from the shadows. Masked and armed.
Isaac and his group didn't flinch, but their guard rose instantly.
One of the men stepped forward. "We were sent here with the intended purpose of your..."
Before he could finish, the woman raised her hand. "Spare us the boring explanation."
The men bistled.
Before they could react, she spoke again, this time to Isaac. "I want you to continue searching for the gate, while I handle them."
"No, don't go." Tyler head jerked, eyes welling up.
Isaac hesitated. "I can't do that."
She didn't turn, her voice now tighter. "Do you not trust me?"
"I do." said Isaac. "I'm just... not sure about splitting up."
"Don't worry," her voice softened. "I'll catch up soon."
"... I'll see you soon," Isaac said.
The man stepped in, pulling Tyler from her back, despite his resistance. "Come on kid, let's go."
Then, they left.
The leader barked. "We can't allow them to leave."
Six of them ran past her, chasing after Isaac's group.
She stood still as they went, then exhaled, disappointed.
Two fingers curled, and a sudden gust slammed into the fleeing men, throwing them back, and landing at their comrades feet.
"I don't remember telling you to leave." She smiled, devilishly.
"I was hoping to settle this quickly... but it seems my sister failed to teach you basics like, never turning your back on an enemy,"
Her smile widened. "We're going to have fun."
Tyler's cries echoed in the tunnel. For a moment, she hesitated.
Exactly what they needed. Two men lunged.
The first blade shot dangerously close to her chest.
She twisted, barely dodging it.
And, the second blade came from her blind side, wrapped in flames.
She stepped back, although too late.
The men flickered off the woman's blood, off his blade.
She stared silently at her now mutilated hand, the fingers she had curled earlier, missing. Drops of blood, covering the ground beneath her.
The leader of the group chuckled. "What was that now? turning your back on an enemy." he then barked at her. "Don't make me laugh women!"
She lifted her head, with a cold expression. "Elijah," she said to crow. "Let's show this corrupt system what we're made of."
A jet black figure swooshed past her shoulders. Their leader fell hard on the ground, now painted red.
Meanwhile, Tyler couldn't help but look back as the darkness swallowed the path behind them. The sounds of battle faded, growing quieter with each step.
Soon enough all he could see was the dim light ahead. The people within it, and the echo of their footsteps.
His sobs died down.
Eventually, he fell asleep.
After a long run, Isaac and his brother came to an abrupt stop, gasping for air.
"Isaac, she's been gone for a while." his brother pointed out. "Do you think we should go back?"
Kyra snapped at him, sharply. "That's my mom. Don't insult her."
Isaac exhaled. "We'll wait, I'm sure she will catch up soon."
"Yeah, you're right." and his brother.
Isaac lowered Kyra.
His brother gently placed Tyler and Tyrel on the ground, careful not to wake them.
Then they waited.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
Tyler stirred awake. "Mom... where mommy?"
His small fists clenched tightly, eyes welling up.
"Can you stop crying for once." snapped Kyra.
She made it worse.
"That's enough." Isaac said. "He's worried. Just like the rest of..."
His eyes landed on the tunnel wall.
They widened.
It's material, different.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Kyra and bolted, toward his wife.
"What now?" he brother shouting, chasing after him.
No response.
He surged foward, faster.
Each step crackling with faint blue energy.
After spotting the fork, his pace lowered a bit.
His eyes widened.
No sign of a recent skirmish, anywhere.
No sign of his wife.
After passing it, he surged again, this time faster.
Kyra clung to him tightly.
"Daddy, where's mom?"
Unfortunately, her voice couldn't reach him.
The expression on his face steady, but the thoughts that filled his mind heavy.
"Daddy answer me! Where's mom?" this time her cries reached him.
"... I...I don't know."
Drops of tears landed on his back, her hands shaking.
Her face froze as she sniffled.
Soon enough, a faint light appeared, growing brighter and bigger.
Then, they were outside.
The light swallowed them, blurring their vision.
Isaac raised a hand, shielding his eyes.
Something was wrong... different.
The air.
The silence.
The sky.
Slowly, his vision adjusted.
The trees were... different.
Some missing. Some out of place.
A valley stretched where none had existed before.
A mountain pass, nearby.
Never before seen mountains loomed in the distance.
Everything, wrong.
He froze. "No..."
He and looked around once more, searching for anything familiar.
Nothing, but a cheap imitation of the cave of the cave he knew.
Afterwards, he lowered Kyra, who was as shocked as he was.
His fell to his knees, feeling the soil below him.
His brother arrived moments later, stopping besides him.
"... brother," he said quietly, placing his hand on his shoulder.
"We left her..." His voice cracked, his hands trembling uncontrollably. "And..."
No response.
"THE SKY IS BLUE!" His scream tore through the mountain, sending birds scattering in different directions.