Shadow People: part 1

Nienna grumbled, rummaging through her satchel for the map. "Where's that map?" she muttered, her frustration growing by the second.

Jaxon, still a bit testy from their encounter with the trolls, shot back, "Just search harder, it's a small bag. Where could it be hiding?" He crossed his arms.

Nienna ignored him, her patience wearing thin. She knew he was still smarting from being rescued by her, and she couldn't blame him. If their roles had been reversed, she'd have felt the same way.

With a huff, Nienna knelt down and began to empty the contents of her bag onto the ground. As she sifted through the equipment, her eyes landed on a small, purple bundle. Her face lit up with a warm smile. "Ember!" she exclaimed, scooping up the little lizard and cradling it in her hands.

"Where were you, I thought we lost you?" she cooed, stroking Ember's scaly head. Ember, sensing her distress, nuzzled her gently.

Jaxon snorted, his expression skeptical. "Be realistic, it's a purple lizard. What chance does it stand against those trolls?"

Nienna rolled her eyes, still smiling at Ember. "Oh, don't listen to him, he's just mad he got saved by a girl." Ember, seeming to sense Jaxon's annoyance, hissed at him, making Nienna giggle.

Jaxon clenched his fist, his face darkening, but he didn't respond. Instead, he patted down his pockets, his eyes scanning the ground. Suddenly, he produced the map, neatly folded, from his own pocket.

"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed, unfolding the map and studying it intently. "They took us off course, but if we can swim through this lake, we might just be able to cut to the Valley of Shadows."

Nienna's eyes widened as she took in the map. "Not the Ever Lake," she said, her voice laced with concern.

Jaxon shook his head. "Less magic, less danger. It's actually good." He shrugged, tucking the map back into his pocket.

As they continued on their journey, Nienna rearranged her satchel, tucking Ember safely into her pocket. She glanced over at Jaxon, who was walking ahead of her, his eyes fixed on the path.

"You know, for a storm weaver, you're not very good at navigating," she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Jaxon shot her a wry glance. "Hey, I'm just trying to get us to the Valley of Shadows in one piece. You're the one who's been getting us into trouble."

Nienna rolls her eyes her hands on her hips "and getting us out of it by the looks of it...looks like I wear the pants in this symbiotic relationship" Jaxon ignores her and continues moving, weaving through the branches and bushes.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape, Nienna and Jaxon finally arrived at the lake. The water sparkled like diamonds, inviting them to take a refreshing dip.

Jaxon, wasting no time, began to strip off his shoes and shirt, revealing a chiseled torso that made Nienna's heart skip a beat. She found herself staring, her eyes fixed on the way his muscles rippled beneath his skin as he moved.

Before she could tear her gaze away, Jaxon caught her staring and smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Wipe that drool off your chin, Princess," he teased, his voice low and husky.

Nienna's face flushed with embarrassment as she rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "Shut up," she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant despite the fact that her heart was racing.

She quickly took off her tunic, revealing a fitted white undershirt, and hiked up her leggings, trying to appear nonchalant. Jaxon chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers, and Nienna felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Modest, I see," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm shocked."

Nienna shot him a withering glance. "You're just put off because I'm not ogling you like a piece of meat," she retorted, trying to sound confident.

Jaxon raised an eyebrow, his expression mock-offended. "Ogling you like a piece of meat? Perish the thought," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm a perfect gentleman."

Nienna snorted, laughing despite herself. "Sure you are," she said, shaking her head.

As they stood there, bantering back and forth, Nienna felt a spark of attraction ignite between them. She tried to ignore it, telling herself that she was just being silly, but she couldn't deny the way her heart skipped a beat whenever Jaxon looked at her.

With a sigh, she pushed aside her feelings and focused on the task at hand. "Shall we get moving?" she asked, nodding towards the lake.

Jaxon grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. "After you, Princess," he said, bowing low.

Nienna rolled her eyes, laughing, and together they waded into the cool, clear water of the lake.

As they swam, the silence between them was almost palpable, broken only by the gentle lapping of the water against their skin. Nienna focused on her strokes, trying to maintain a steady pace, while Ember perched atop her head, its tiny claws digging gently into her hair.

Jaxon swam alongside her, his powerful strokes eating up the distance. Nienna couldn't help but sneak glances at him, admiring the way his muscles rippled beneath his skin as he moved. She felt a flutter in her chest, but quickly pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the other side of the lake. Nienna let out a sigh of relief as she emerged from the water, shaking off the excess liquid. She quickly turned her attention to getting dressed, trying to avoid staring at Jaxon as he emerged from the water.

But it was hard to ignore the way the fading light danced across his skin, highlighting the contours of his chest and arms. Nienna felt her face grow warm as she fumbled with the ties on her tunic, trying to appear nonchalant.

Jaxon, seemingly oblivious to her gaze, strode out of the water, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "We should find shelter for the night," he said, his voice low and practical.

Nienna nodded, still trying to compose herself. "There's a small copse of trees just over that hill," she said, pointing to a nearby rise. "We can set up camp there."

"What? Swimming makes you tired?" Jaxon rolled his eyes good-naturedly, his expression amused. "No, it's just...never mind," he said, chuckling. "You wouldn't understand."

Nienna's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she pressed him for an answer. "Try me," she said, her voice teasing.

Jaxon's grin faltered, and he looked away, his eyes scanning the surrounding landscape. "No, have you ever seen your shadow without light?" he asked, his voice low and mysterious.

Nienna's brow furrowed in thought, and she shook her head. "I don't think so...why?"

Jaxon's eyes seemed to gleam with a knowing light. "The Valley of Shadows is found in the day," he said, his voice dripping with an otherworldly intensity.

Nienna's eyes widened, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. She pulled her cloak tightly around her, as if trying to ward off the chill. Jaxon noticed her reaction and raised an eyebrow.

"You're not cold, are you?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. "We can't afford to have you getting sick on me, not out here."

Nienna shook her head, trying to brush off the feeling. "No, I'm fine," she said, but her voice was barely above a whisper.

Jaxon's eyes narrowed, and he stood up, his movements fluid and graceful. "Where are you going?" Nienna asked, her voice a little stronger now.

Jaxon nodded towards the surrounding trees. "To get wood for a fire," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "We need to keep warm, and we can't risk being seen by...others."

Nienna's eyes locked onto his, and she felt a jolt of understanding.

The next day dawned bright and early, with a promise of progress and possibility. Nienna's heart was racing with excitement as she emerged from the tent, her eyes scanning the surrounding landscape. Today was the day she would finally get her hands on the map to the lost city of Tamarang, the key to unlocking the secrets of her destiny.

She took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, her gaze fell on Jaxon, who was already up and about, his eyes fixed intently on the surrounding landscape. He looked like he hadn't slept at all, his eyes sunken and his jawline tense. A faint shadow of stubble lined his jaw, giving him a rugged, rough-around-the-edges look that made Nienna's heart skip a beat.

"Ah, sleeping beauty is finally awake," Jaxon said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he caught her staring at him.

Nienna's eyes sparkled with amusement as she teased, "You think I'm pretty?"

Jaxon's expression faltered, and for a moment, he looked like he'd been punched in the gut. Then, he let out a loud sigh and shook his head. "Walked right into that one, didn't I?" he muttered, his eyes glinting with annoyance.

Nienna's grin widened as she got up, her movements fluid and carefree. "Yep," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Jaxon's eyes narrowed, and he looked away, his jawline tense. Nienna felt a pang of guilt for teasing him, but she pushed it aside, telling herself that she was just trying to lighten the mood.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers as they walked, the sun shining brightly overhead. Nienna felt a sense of hope rising up within her, a sense that today was going to be a good day, a day that would bring her one step closer to unlocking the secrets of her destiny.

As they approached the town, a sense of confusion and disorientation settled over them. The buildings seemed to fade away, leaving only a vast, empty expanse that stretched out before them like an endless sea. The gate that led to the Valley loomed before them, its imposing presence a stark contrast to the desolate landscape.

Jaxon's face darkened as he consulted the map, his fingers tracing the lines with growing frustration. "This is what it said," he muttered, his voice low and angry. "Why isn't it here?" He crumpled the map in his hand, his eyes blazing with frustration.

Nienna, on the other hand, was drawn to the inscription on the gate, her eyes fixed on the bold, draconic letters that seemed to leap out at her. SОLЦМ МОГТЦI РОSSЦПТ МОГТОЦS VIĎЕГЕ. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she translated the words in her mind. "Only the dead can see the dead."

Jaxon's voice cut through her reverie, his tone sharp with irritation. "What?" he snapped, his eyes glaring at her.

But as he followed her gaze to the inscription on the gate, his expression changed. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched, as if he was gritting his teeth. For a moment, he just stared at the inscription, his face grim and unyielding.

Nienna's voice was barely above a whisper as she murmured, "Only the dead can see the dead." She looked at Jaxon, her eyes searching for some sign of understanding, some glimmer of what they were up against.

Jaxon's eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The air was thick with tension, and Nienna could feel the weight of the inscription bearing down on them.

"No wonder the rumors say people don't come out here alive," Nienna said, her voice grim and foreboding.

Nienna slumped against the ground in despair, her shoulders sagging beneath the weight of her disappointment. Ember, sensing her distress, nudged its head against her hand in comfort, its soft fur a gentle balm to her frazzled nerves.

"It's over... all is lost," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes felt dry and gritty, as if she'd been crying for hours, though she knew she hadn't shed a single tear.

Jaxon rolled his eyes, turning to her with a look of exasperation. "You're exaggerating, drama queen," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "There's obviously a way."

Nienna's eye twitched as she looked up at him, her gaze flashing with irritation. "Yeah, and the obvious way is to die, right!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in a crescendo of frustration. "Yeah, it's so easy, if we die, who's gonna defeat my uncle, smart guy!"

Jaxon bristled at the tone of her voice, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. "Of course, we aren't going to die," he said, his voice even and measured. "We just need to... die, without actually dying."

Nienna stared at him like he'd grown a second head, her eyes wide with incredulity. "That's it... you've officially lost it," she sighed in exasperation, throwing her arms up in the air. "What are you even talking about? You're not making any sense!"

Jaxon's face darkened, his jaw clenched in frustration. "You're not listening," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "I'm saying we need to find a way to... cheat death, I suppose. To cross over into the realm of the dead without actually dying."

Nienna's eyes widened in horror as she realized what Jaxon was suggesting. "You can't be serious," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear. "That's... that's impossible. And even if it were possible, it would be madness to try!"

His mind starts to race with possibilities, trying to think up a solution. Nienna, on the other hand, was growing increasingly frantic, her voice rising in a desperate bid to snap Jaxon out of his reverie.

"Jaxon...Jaxon, I'm sure there are other places to get the map," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. But Jaxon just continued to ignore her, his eyes fixed on some distant memory.

Nienna's panic began to set in, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're not actually thinking of killing us, are you?" she asked, her eyes wide with dread.

Jaxon rolled his eyes, his expression exasperated. "Oh stop your incessant whining," he scoffed. "I wouldn't deliberately put myself in harm's way. I love myself far too much for that."

Nienna scoffed, but the thought did calm her down a little. She muttered under her breath, "Self-absorbed much."

But Jaxon's expression had changed, a look of excitement and realization crossing his face. Suddenly, it clicked, and he remembered the dreamthorn. Yes, he had used it as a kid, trying to get out of going to school. The problem was that the leaf wasn't common and only grew around...graves.

Jaxon's eyes lit up, and he sprang to his feet, his movements fluid and energetic. He scanned the area, his eyes searching for a gravestone. Nienna watched him, her confusion and fear growing with each passing moment.

The people of the Valley of Shadows sometimes buried those who died young, believing that with that, the person could reach the land of the living if they still had unfinished business. Jaxon's eyes landed on a couple of graves covered in shrubbery, with dreamthorns growing all over them.

He started walking towards them, his movements purposeful and determined. Nienna followed him, her heart pounding in her chest. She was wary, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of curiosity.

As they stopped at the grave, Jaxon turned to Nienna, a smirk playing on his lips. "Ready to die?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

Nienna's eyes widened in alarm, and she exclaimed, "Don't joke about that!" She hit the back of his head, her hand connecting with a soft thud.

Jaxon rubbed the back of his head, his expression mock-injured. "Okay, okay, easy," he said, holding up his hands in surrender. "This is how it works, we prick our finger on the dreamthorn, and for 2 hours, we're temporarily dead."

Nienna's eyes were fixed on the thorn, her mind racing with the implications. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "What-what happens after 2 hours?"

Jaxon's expression darkened, and he stared back at the thorn, his eyes seeming to bore into its very soul. "It becomes permanent," he said, his voice low and ominous.

The air seemed to grow colder, the shadows deepening around them. Nienna felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized the true extent of Jaxon's plan. They were going to die, temporarily, but still...die. And if they didn't make it back within the 2-hour time frame...Nienna's mind recoiled at the thought, her heart pounding in her chest.