A/N: Ideas seem to be dying with each chapter. To continue this story or to not? –That is the question. Eh, maybe I will. Just for the sake of Eriko not hitting me with a pan. o.O; Now that would hurt me rather immensely. But I can smack her back because she hasn't updated hers in forever. *pokes her* 

Disclaimer: Monkeys rule the world. Pandas sing. Therefore, I own this. No? Fine then, I don't own this. All the characters belong to Garth Nix, the creator of the whole "Seventh Tower" series, and like I said last chapter, Crow's reincarnation is Eriko Myoujin's idea. She needs to copyright this idea of hers before someone takes it. But anyways, I don't know who owns the character pairings. Though I think most of the readers seem to adore the Tal and Milla ones.

Chapter Five- Surrounding Darkness

I eyed Crow as he unsheathed the blade from his side, tensing for an expected attack. But whom would he attack first? Many people were crowded inside the infirmary, yet the nearest to him were Ferek and Tal. Tal was most likely to be the victim, as the Emperor's assassination would inflict more damage to our side.

'Easy now,' thought Sharrakor to himself,' Danir's descendant is already suspicious of our motives. She perceives much that this boy doesn't.'

Smiling innocently, Crow flipped his Sunstone out to warm himself glancing at me. I shook my head and continued to watch him from the corner of my eyes. He could continue his naïve act to throw of all misgivings on his part, but I could not be fooled. Sharrakor's plan was obvious: make us at ease about our lives and then attack when we least expect it. It was almost too easy somehow. There had to be something else.

"So," began Bennem, handing out the sandwiches, "what's this meeting about?"

I looked at Malen. Why had the meeting been set here, where Sharrakor would overhear through Crow's body? We could not discuss our venture this way. "We cannot tell them about the wound just yet, Malen," I murmured softly for only her to hear. She shook her head slightly.

Then, loud enough for the rest to hear, I said, "Crow needs to explain of his return to the Dark World. After all," I looked at him, "we had all assumed him dead."

"I forgot about that," Gill said slowly. "I was too busy worrying if he would be alright that it completely left my thoughts."

We all waited for Crow to speak. He inhaled a rather scratchy breath and said, "It's not too clear for me, really. I recall dropping a large amount of caveroach poison on him, and falling into the swirling winds of the pyre. The entire time, I retained a grip on him to keep the venom on him.

"He howled and struggled to free himself from me, but then we just fell faster. Khamsoul cast us onto the earth after a while, and unconsciousness swept over me. The next thing I remember was waking up with everything gone- the whirlwind, Sharrakor, Tal, Milla, and Malen. I was alone. I wandered in Aenir and finally dropped off to sleep in some desert. When I awoke that time, I was in the Castle. I found you guys afterwards."

"That's it?" asked Clovil incredulously. "You have no idea at all how the shadow's gone, and how you even got here?"

"No idea at all," replied Crow. "It's really strange. My Sunstone was knocked from my hand during my fight with Sharrakor, then all of a sudden, it's with me, and I'm back in the Dark World. I'm positive I did not do anything to bring me back here."

"At least you are safe," Malen responded. "We feared no return from you at all, less so one alive."

"I guess so." Crow did not seem to believe her, yet hid his doubtful expression.

The door creaked open, and everyone turned to eye the intruder. It was merely another Freefolk worker, who looked panicked. "Bennem!" he called. "There's some problems in Cavern 5. Some explosion occurred from one of the workers and their Sunstone. A lot of people are badly injured- you should come quick!"

Bennem abruptly stood and rushed after the Freefolk. Gill, Clovil, and Ferek followed after a brief hesitation, wondering whether to help their friends or to remain with Crow. Crow waved them on, saying, "Go on ahead."

After they had dashed away, I turned to Malen to ask if she could commune with the Crones on the current Freefolk predicament, yet once more, she was one step ahead of me. Her eyes had clouded to a misty gray, and I heard whispering- faint, yet audible enough.

"Three are unconscious in a cellar below Cavern 5 and the others have not found them yet. They may yet live if found soon," intoned Malen in the mass voice of the Crones. "War-Chief, you must go before it is too late."

The foggy hue faded from her eyes and was replaced by the luminous blue. Malen stumbled from the lost of concentration, saved from a near-disastrous collapse from Crow, who caught her. She looked shocked at such close proximity to him, and both turned scarlet. I noticed however, that neither moved from each other.

"Alright then," I interrupted, clapping my hands. "We will leave you two alone to um…continue such lovely rescues." I ducked a flying pillow from Crow. "Come on, Tal." I grabbed his arm and sprinted to Cavern 5.

I began some Rovkir breathing to calm myself. What if I did not get there in time? The people would die, and their deaths would forever leave a black mark in my memory. I doubled my speed, and after three corridors of intense running, Tal said, "Err…Milla? You can let go of my arm now."

A slight pink tinge on my face appeared, and I dropped his arm in an instant. I hid this by turning away from him and quickening my pace. Tal met my speed and faced me, asking, "Should I be flattered by that charming blush, Milla?"

I ignored him and continued running. Of all places in the castle to have to rush to, it just had to be that certain cave. It was nearly five floors down from the infirmary. "Is there a faster way to get to there?" I asked. "At this rate, we will not make it."

His face wrinkled in concentration. "I got it!" he cried. "This way- to the laundry chute!" He veered sharply and ran to the left. He stopped in front of a familiar area. "Ladies first," he said politely. I rolled my eyes and jumped in. He followed a moment later.

As we slid, he started to explain the way, but had to shout to be heard. "When the slide ends, there will be a tunnel to the very right. Run in there, and follow the Sunstones. Cavern 5's entrance will be on the 7th left. The other Freefolk will have left by now to take the injured to the nearest infirmary…" He trailed off as we rounded into a curve. Darkness surrounded us everywhere, so we lit our Sunstones to see. Yet I was too slow in lighting mine, and the light burst forth only in time for me to see what I crashed into.

3 breaths later, Tal collided and fell on top. Very uncomfortable arrangement. I pushed him out of the way and ran in the direction he had indicated. A dim glow illuminated from the Sunstones above, and I mentally counted the entrances to the left. Entrance 3. Entrance 5. Entrance 7! I burst inside. Water dripped from stone stalactites, but that was the only noise reverberating from inside. Rubble filled the vast cave, and fissures were numerous. The remaining three Freefolk could be anywhere.

"Where do you think they could be, Tal?" I asked, moving masses of rock with my Sunstone. "The sooner we find them, the better."

Tal darted forward and powered the Violet Keystone, making the rock fragments soar into the air. Speaking quickly, he said, "The cellar is at the bottom of the eastern wing. Hurry! I cannot hold this too long!"

I did not heed the rest of the directions but immediately took off. It was eerie running through the stone chamber with boulders floating above, yet I promptly located the crushed cellar entry. Inside, I found the sprawling bodies of the Freefolk scattered on the earth floor. Having trained vigorously the past circling, I was able to concentrate on my Sunstone to make a huge Hand of Light to carry the bodies.

As soon as I exited the cellar, Tal yelled, "MILLA! THE CAVE IS COLLAPSING! RUN!!!"

Indeed, the very ground beneath me was shaking, like the Ice whenever Selski fought. I nearly flew towards Tal and the Cavern's way out. Tal focused the Keystone to aid my own Hand of Light, and we frantically searched for another exit through the caverns. Without stopping to think, we merely ran ahead, the area around us splitting at the seams as we continued on relentlessly. "Why are the caves collapsing?" I shouted to Tal.

"I don't know!" he roared over the crumbling stones. "The malfunction in the Freefolk's Sunstone could not have caused the entire ground floor to disintegrate!"

Tal turned back to look at me as he yelled, but words failed him. "What?" I snapped.

"Behind you!" he cried, firing a Red Ray of Destruction.

"Tal, don't! You will further injure the-" I stopped. The Freefolk were not behind me. In fact, no one human was.

"Free shadows from Aenir!" Tal said. "But how?"

I whipped the Talon towards the five looming shapes. One lost a pincer, but the others dodged my attack. "No, Milla!" shouted Tal. "Run!" He tugged on my arm and dragged me away from the battle.

"I do not understand!" I said as I was led away. "How did the Crones not foresee this attack upon us?"

He did not answer, but persisted on searching for a route back to the Castle. "Tal?"

"Hmm?"

"Sharrakor is within Crow's mindset like he was for Sushin. The shadows seek to kill us. Should we not fight?"

"NO, Milla."

"Why not?" I questioned. "Shadows continue to flicker around us. If we do not fight and destroy them while we can, we shall be surrounded."

Tal did not look at me when he answered softly. "Because I do not want to see you hurt again."