Collab Part 8: Gone

Sanj sat quietly, considering the events that would surely change her life forever.  Possible courses of action flitted through her mind, and she let them pass uninterrupted.  The guard Eyvindur knew little, but she didn’t expect him to.  He maintained what she saw as a kind of smiling introspection, he was a kind man but his smile told nothing of his inner thoughts and feelings.  

She stood now at the edge of the massive pit that had, days ago, been the growing city of Maiden’s Cross.  A loose stone suddenly broke off and slid down to the bottom, carrying with it small bits of clay.  It came to rest near what had probably been a small well.  As she watched, the ground began to give, little by little, until the stone disappeared suddenly into the unknown.  

Intrigued, Sanj took a deep breath and let it out slowly before stepping over the edge and sliding down the steep incline until it leveled out and she came to a stop.  Slowly, carefully, she moved over towards where the stone had broken through.

The ground seemed solid enough and she figured the stone must have landed on a weak spot, probably over some kind of cave.  But as she got closer, she saw that the hole was not quite normal.  It was inky black, and though it was a sunny day, no light shone down into that void.  Edging even closer, she unsheathed her sword and knelt, letting the blade down into the hole.  As she did so, she realized the foolishness of this action, remembering that she had heard no sound after the stone had fallen.  

A cloud moved over the sun and chills shot up her spine.  She stood up quickly, and would have laughed at herself for being so easily spooked, but as she continued to gaze into the blackness, she began to sense that something was moving in the dark pit.  She began to back away, wanting more and more to be out of the massive crater and back up on green grass.  She sheathed her sword and was about to turn when a silver blade emerged from the darkness, immediately followed by a creature who’s form was shadow.  It seemed to move in defiance of gravity, and it seemed to be staring at her.  

For the second time she unsheathed her sword and it was immediately met, forcing her to retreat and defend unexpectedly.  The creature seemed to only be testing her, moving the blade with ease.  Without warning the creature slashed viciously and she was forced to step to the right, but she found the cruel sword already waiting for her.  The creature sliced across from the left, and it was all Sanj could do to remain on her feat, though she knew that the fight was over.  As she stumbled back, her sword was knocked away and though she quickly regained her balance, consciousness was stolen from her.  A second blade struck her from behind, and she was out before she hit the ground.


Having only seconds before realized that Sanj was no longer in sight, Eyvindur peered over the edge of the crater just in time to see Sanj defeated by creatures he could not comprehend.  Into the pit they went, taking Sanj with them, they left no trace that they had ever existed
Eyvindur stepped back, stunned, and knew what he had to do, but most certainly not looking forward to it.  Frustrated by his self-imposed lack of options, he frowned and grumbled, “What now…”