“No sign of anything following us”, Sofia keeping her voice at a whisper.

Whatever found Alia’s group couldn’t possible track us through this fog, I think we are going to be fine on that front. Still, we shouldn’t be overconfident in case it has a similar ability to the Devourers.

How do you know there was another creature, you never told me? Kaden questioning thoughts shaping directly in her mind.

“I don’t know, I normally can’t sense anything even close to that far away. Whatever that creature was I couldn’t sense it, then suddenly I knew exactly where it was.”

Kaden pondered on her words. Should I let the others know that it was something other than the Devourers? If I do, then I would have to introduce them to Sofia.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” her voice was almost loud enough for everyone else to hear. She quickly placed her hands over her mouth having momentarily forgotten to keep her own voice in check. “I don’t want anyone else knowing about me, I don’t like people. I barely like you as it is.”

You like me, he questioned her as a slight smile replacing his previous frown.

She turned a complete shade of red darker before she managed to blurt out, “I said no such thing, and you miss understood. If anything you’re more like a pet I have to feed from time to time. Really Kaden, how could misunderstand something so simple.”

I am happy to know our relationship is improving… and that you like me. His teasing thoughts annoying her to no end.

“You, I already told you that you’re taking my words out of context.” She whispered with a huff.

He took a deep breath after chuckling to himself. Thanks for cheering me up, I never had many friends so losing the ones I finally have is a little tough.

A silence passed between them before Kaden finally broke in. Are we almost there? The fog here seems to be a little denser.

Kaden’s next step forward proved to be unexpectedly more difficult. It was as if a gentle force was pushing against him ever so slightly.

“What is this?” The voice came from another member of his group. “It feels like I’m stepping into a wall made of water.”

“Keep it down, stay in formation”, Gion’s voice commanded with her usual air of authority.

Bloody low-born scum, just be done with it all ready, the thought ringing through his mind.

The group moved forward wading through the dense fog and strange force constantly pushing against them causing many to worry about what lay just ahead...

“Ouch!” Saba caught herself with hands splayed forward. She had suddenly fallen the instant the pressure disappeared.

Shole whistled in amazement. He was the second person of their group that stepped into the area absent of all fog.

“What is that?” Sana putting words to what all of them were thinking as Saba finally looked up.

It stood at the forefront atop a rounded pedestal in a crystal clear pool of water. Greeting them a shrouded weathered stone figure scarred with moss lined cracks that told tales of his many battles with time. His lonely vigil still unbroken since the day he first took watch.

It was an exquisitely carved piece of art, every tiny little detail carefully thought-out and painstakingly engraved. Most wouldn’t notice this, in-fact most really wouldn’t notice much of the statue at all. It almost too easy to overlook the embroidered trim on his hooded robe, or the many months of work it must have taken to produce it. Most would even fail to notice the old stone city that stood tall right behind it. The only two things most would notice however were the long glowing stone sword held ready in one hand and a bright glowing staff raised above his head in the other.

Kaden approached the statue only stopping at the edge of the pool. “The water, is it infused with magic?”

“It is called a mana pool”, Rakhail answered. “There are a few places like this throughout the Jungle although I have never seen one personally. Legend has it that the mother cries tears of joy when father finally comes to visit her.”

“It looks like the statue is drawing its magic from the pool, it must be how the fog is being kept at bay. It must be similar to how the old kingdom weapons work.” Kaden observed the statue carefully.

“I am not so sure”, Padvor interrupted. “This place is completely different from the old kingdom ruins. I think it may actually be far older.”

“Gion wants us to have a closer look at those buildings, perhaps we may not even have to travel as far as Rakan if we can seek shelter here. A city as big as that one surely must have a way to sustain its inhabitants.”

“Gion is thinking of waiting out the Barbarian raid on the cities?” Rakhail questioned.

“It may be our best chance to survive. Even with all we have done it is unlikely we would be able to keep ahead of them for long, especially with a group our size.” Padvor finally starting to relax slightly.

A gentle rain began to fall as the three of them joined with Shole and Sana to explore the old city.

Kill them all, the thought taking shape in her mind.