Chapter 8: The Thundering Approach
Meanwhile, Elara and Ariella, still trying to make sense of the smoke, felt the ground beneath them tremble.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It was rhythmic, heavy—as if something enormous was approaching. The earth itself began to shake.
They stumbled and quickly grasped each other's hands to stay balanced.
"Do you feel that?" Ariella asked, eyes wide.
"Feel what?" Elara replied.
"Like the thumping… it's heading our way."
Elara paused, listening. Her face grew pale. "Yeah… I feel it too. It's definitely coming toward us. But what could be strong enough to shake the ground like this?"
She turned, staring toward the mountains in the distance. "There! Do you see it?" she pointed.
Ariella squinted. Something was moving far off—but they couldn't make it out.
"Uhmm… Ari, I think we should run," Elara suggested, tugging at her friend's arm. "Let's get out of here before whatever that is gets to us."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Ariella said, standing firm. "Something's telling me we should stay. If we run, we might regret it."
Minutes passed. The image became clearer: beasts in formation, two perfect lines, leaving a path between them. In the center, a monstrous two-headed creature appeared—with a figure on top.
Elara and Ariella gasped in unison.
"It's him…" they whispered together.
The Shrouded One.
"Hahaha… I didn't expect children. No wonder the aura felt so different," the Shrouded One's voice echoed. "So the elderlies sent little girls instead. Cowards."