Chapter 2

"The Shadow"

They entered the realm of darkness. Only a doorway of bright daylight was left behind them as they proceeded further into the forest, no other source of light for miles. The tree branches were incredibly tall and dense. Not far and deeper in did they feel various other presences in the dark forest. Strange shadows were dimly seen around the trees along the small, tight path they walked on. Glowing eyes protruded from the bushes and foliage, instantly striking fear into the hearts of anyone who dared enter this evil lair.

The boys glanced at each other in fear, as if asking the other what the hell they got themselves into.

"How the heck do you suppose we're gonna find that girl in this freaking maze? I can barely even see you!" Max protested, "I think we should just get back… This is impossible."

"No. We can't ignore this. She's somewhere in here, I know it! She's so close for us to back out now! It's important that we find her, or else we'll all be dead! Come on Max, you should know better by now!" Trey attacked him.

"Well excuse me, but in case you haven't noticed, we're in the middle of a giant shoebox waiting to get swallowed whole by some troll, with no way out and nowhere to go! Sorry, but I'd rather save the world with just the two of us instead of none!" Max fought back.

Trey went silent for a while, then finally sighed. "…Sorry… It's just… I don't wanna let this world fall into darkness again, like what happened 18 years ago… After all our dads fought for… We must reunite the Warriors, don't you see that? It all depends on us now… That's why we must find that girl, or die in here trying." he hastened his walking pace.

Max narrowed his eyes, then closed them and hung his head. "I honestly hope you know what you're doing, Trey… Or else you'll just end up getting us killed…" he thought.

Suddenly, Trey shouted and fell to the ground. "What the?"

Max jumped. "What is it?" he helped Trey up.

"I've no idea! Something just knocked me down!"

They both started looking around frantically, strange noises emanating from the bushes around them, shadows flying through the trees.

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Max trembled.

Trey drew his sword out, Max following. They prepared for battle, sighting their surroundings carefully. Out of nowhere, a dark purple shadow flew out of a tree and threw itself at the boys. Trey noticed it and quickly dodged, falling on the ground.

"Whoa!" Max shouted and threw himself on the ground as the shadow flew right past him and dug itself into another tree, "What the hell was that?"

"I have no idea. But this is bad!"

"Gee, ya think? We're gonna get killed by purple shadows, oh what an awesome way to die, even for us!"

"Get a grip, Max! We have to keep moving and get away from those things. Follow me!" he stood up and shot an intense ray of lightning at a nearby tree, the light of the ray clearing out a path for them to walk through.

Through the light, they dimly saw a bunch of strange shadows scattering around the surrounding bushes and trees, as if running away from the intense light.

"Come on!" Trey commanded, running through the clearing as the light faded out.

Max got up and followed him, the branches that were destroyed in the lightning rays merging again, closing the path the boys created.

They ran through the sets of bushes, branches, stumps, trees and tall grass as they kept feeling other presences touching them and bumping into them. They just ran as fast as they could, while he watched them from atop a high branch, then jumped into the air and vanished into the vast darkness.

xxx

Meanwhile…

"Are you absolutely certain they'll succeed, Alex?" a High Priest pondered in the Council Chambers, "We've already seen what they can do, and we have to agree, they don't cut out to be the brave warriors fighting for this world's salvation… Perhaps we made a mistake in letting them hold so much power in their…youthful bodies?"

"We believe they are unprepared for such a serious task." another High Priest added, "Especially your own grandson, Alex… He's extremely careless and sees all this as a joke! We can't have such…children carrying this world's future on their shoulders!"

Alex frowned. "I…know…Holy Ones… But… Please just…give them more time… I'm sure they'll come to their senses…! They already found the third Warrior, so I'm sure they are able to carry out their mission properly, they're just…well…as you said, children… And you know children, they're just not as deliberate as their predecessors…! Their fathers… Which is exactly why I do believe the task is solely up to them to complete. Please, just give it more time… We have no one else to turn to. The fate of the world is in their hands, and I'm certain they are aware of that. I believe in them… And trust me when I say it, they won't let us down."

The Council all glanced at each other in slight irritation.

"…Very well, then. But if they make no sign of progress after a while… And if the G.L.O. keep on doing what they've begun without the boys attempting to stop them… Then we're afraid we'll have no choice but to pass on the Elementals to a new generation…and who knows what might happen from there on."

"…Th… Thank you, Holy Ones. I trust that the boys will come to their senses. Please…do the same." he bowed his head in respect for the Council. "Trey… Max… There is little time… Please hurry…!" his thoughts raced as he left the Council Chambers.