Their walk was exhausting.
The monsters had never come back that night, and a night of paranoia left them completely drained of all their energy.
Even after each of them gained an extra level, now at levels eight and nine, they still felt tricked out of a good night's sleep.
None of them, for a whole hour, mentioned how tired they were, but it was clear in their faces. Their feet shuffled across the ground, the twigs and vines catching them off guard at every single turn. The Titans were toast, and they knew it.
"Come on, team. We'll stop for water at that stream up ahead," Robin attempted to pep-talk them, referencing his map. "Then maybe we can take a ten minute break."
They didn't reach the stream, though. Instead, they came upon a crossroads in the middle of the woods. Each path was small, only big enough for everyone to walk in a single-file, and the trees around the crossroad clearing were enormous. Robin asked if Starfire could fly above them and see how far it was to the creek on their map. She flew up to check.
"Which way is it?" Cyborg asked.
Robin studied the old-looking sketched map that could have been ripped from The Lord of the Rings, just like the rest of the game.
"Um...west?" He looked up at the paths before them and then at the direction of the sun. "We're standing at the south, so it's to the left. North is forward toward the tower that Raven is in."
Cyborg nodded. "Okay, at least we're getting close. You only need one more level and the rest of us only need two."
Robin nodded. They waited a little while longer before he called up to Starfire to check on her.
"Can you see anything?"
"No," she called back down. "It appears that I am prevented from going any further."
"Um…forward? You know, to Raven?" Beast Boy suggested, pointing forward to the continuation of the path that they had been on for what seemed like an eternity.
"The stream is to the left," Cyborg challenged.
Beast Boy frowned. "We're kind of in a hurry."
"We need the water," Robin interjected.
"And what if the sand runs down?" Starfire asked, nervously, returning to them on the ground. She pointed at Robin's pack which held the hourglass inside. "We cannot afford to, um, 'dawdle' here for too long."
Beast Boy threw his hands up in frustration. "Then, I don't know! Pick one!"
Starfire looked wounded. "Do not shout, Beast Boy," she scolded him. "We can all come to an agreement, soon."
"Or," Robin pointed out. They all turned to look at him. "Maybe we should ask some questions first?"
They followed his gaze and, suddenly, where there wasn't before, an old man appeared in the middle of the crossroads. He was tall, but because of his age his back was stooped low over a warped cane made from white wood. His long white beard nearly touched the ground and he wore a long, blue cloak with a hood that covered his aged face.
"Greetings, Titans," the man said in a raspy voice. "You seek the path to the castle?"
Beast Boy gave him a look that said 'um duh' and nodded. Robin crossed his arms. "Actually we were hoping to resupply at the stream."
"I'm afraid, son, that you cannot resupply anywhere around here. The land will not let you. Though, I can sell you supplies, or trade them."
Robin looked wary. "Why? There's a catch, right?"
The old man nodded. From beneath his cloak he pulled out a huge lantern that glowed blue. He held it out before them and spoke.
"The castle lies down the path straight ahead to the north."
"We know," Beast Boy mumbled.
"However," The old man continued without listening to him, "a journey falls before you. You can resupply here before you undertake your final challenge."
Cyborg raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Only one of you is permitted to go forward to the Castle. One must go right, one left and one back the way you came." He set the lantern on the ground before them and a wave of blue light washed over them. Suddenly, from the path behind them, they were overcome with a whoosh of cold air. When they turned around the path was completely different then when they'd first arrived. It now led down into a large cave, the small dirt path leading underground.
It was now impossible to turn back.
The team looked at one another. "What is the purpose of this?" Starfire chipped in.
"This crossroad is like a challenge of sorts. You'll find that each path has a riddle, and each riddle triggers an opening in a teammate's path. The person headed toward the castle cannot continue until all other three paths are cleared."
"How do we clear the paths?" Beast Boy asked.
"When each path is cleared, the one who triggered it must face a ferocious beast, and so must the one on their way to the castle. One beast per path, except that one." The old man pointed behind him at the forward-facing route, the one that led to the castle. "That one has three beasts."
Robin crossed his arms. "This is the final boss? A riddle and a beast?"
The old man nodded, his eyes shining with wisdom. His next words fell heavily upon them like three feet of ice cold snow.
"To leave this place forever, you must go now, Titans. This dimension is fading, just like your friend. Her cough grows worse, now shifting into a dark flu, and she cannot defy the master for long."
"The master?" Starfire asked.
"He means Malchior," Beast Boy growled.
"Well, y'all," Cyborg pointed out, "whoever goes forward better be able to take out all three big baddies." He shifted the bloodied axe on his shoulder which was spattered from their scuffles with minor monsters earlier. "Anyone willing to volunteer?"
"You seem like you are," Robin said.
"I am the strongest," Starfire pointed out as well. "I should go. Beasts do not frighten me."
"I am a beast," Beast Boy said and crossed his arms. "No biggie."
"No," Robin sighed. "I should go."
"Do you have a real good reason other than that you are the leader?" Cyborg asked.
Robin hesitated.
"Your boosted level means nothing. We're all her friends," Beast Boy answered for him. "I'd like to go."
He raised a hand, officially volunteering.
So did Cyborg.
And then Starfire.
Robin face-palmed and then held out a hand for rock-paper-scissors. A quick tournament took place and it was down to Starfire and Beast Boy. Beast Boy, determined to win, chose rock. He easily smashed Starfire's scissors and then nodded.
"Okay, Good luck, be safe."
He turned to go, but Robin grabbed him.
"Here." He handed him the hourglass with purple sand and said: "good luck to you, too."
Beast Boy thanked him and, taking a deep breath, followed the path ahead of him, prepared to do anything it took to get his friend back.
...
Robin elected to go left, to the west.
Before him was a gravel path that led up and up toward what looked to be an entire mountain emerging from behind the treetops where before it had never been there. It reminded him of the time when he left to go train with a grand master in the mountains several years ago.
Starfire, on the other hand, had turned back the way they'd come before, facing the south. She expected it to be a boring route, as they'd already cleared every monster down this path. Except the path was completely different this time. Instead of winding back through the forest, before her was a large, dark cave. Starfire could smell the moldy dampness and feel a cold breeze and she shivered. Giving her friends one last farewell, she bravely moved forward and disappeared into the dark.
The final path, off to the east, had a pleasant breeze coming from it, and warm sunlight filtered through the trees. Cyborg smelled flowers and tall grasses; everything was dewy and fresh. He smiled a little to himself at how beautiful it was, but did feel a little disappointed that he was getting the easiest path.
Cyborg hoisted the axe further up on his shoulder and sauntered off, confident that this would be a piece of cake.