Going Down

Hao Xuan and Tasgall walked out of the cave and into the forest. The illusion formation that was protecting the entrance reset after they left and the cave's entrance disappeared once again.

The few strands of orange and red light that were still falling through the thick canopy signaled the setting of the sun over the neverending forest.

Hao Xuan closed his eyes for a few seconds and basked in what little light was left before it would disappear for the next 15 hours or so, just like it had done for the last 10 months. He could not help but recall the many hardships they had endured to get here.

The first few days after they found out that it would be a while before they could return brought an expected anxiousness and a dislike for Hao Xuan that was the main reason they were here. Even though Burak tried his best to explain and reason with them, many of them did not see it that way.