5 The Spiders Forest

-Yunlan-

They walked for countless miles for three days straight in those empty barren lands. They rested, have something to eat and keep moving while having a better understanding of each other. The first day of walk, Yunlan make sure to talk with all the members of their group and keep them in good spirit. It was very important that they develop a friendship during their journey and know about the good and bad points of all members.

If they were to trust their lives to others, they needed to know their strengths and weakness alike. There was no time to think about consequences once back, because staying alive was their priority and they already had a goddess blessing to start anew. He listen carefully to all the complains about some things bothering their Clans internally and added his own. He specially listen to Shen Wei's every word, enjoying knowing more about him as they walked closer to the spiders territory.

By the second day, they were more in tune and relaxed among themselves. At night, just like before, he waited for Shen Wei to fall asleep first, to cuddle him in his arms and have a taste of his welcoming warmth during the cold night and in the morning, he teased the Prince long enough to make him blush, then concentrate in leading the group. In the third day, they were close to their first obstacle and the scenery changed considerably.

Once they leaved the valley and crossed a narrow path between two mountains, they could see trees, grass and Zhao could even sense the river, still miles away, but the sudden forest was not a common one. It was darker and there were spider cobwebs everywhere from above in the top of very long trees all the way down to the ground. As they walked through the unknown territory, they became more alert.

Chu even used the spiders cobwebs to sense their location, which help them change directions when he sensed a lot of movement in a specific way and round the nest, then go back on track. However, a few hours after midday, they were quite deep in the spiders territory and it was becoming harder to avoid them, so the tension raised. Zhao called to move slower, even if it meant to spend more time in their territory, because the fight was unavoidable at some point and they needed to proceed as carefully as possible.

"Stop, they are up ahead... a good number of them." Chu whisper, as one of the spider threads he took control over, give him access to the rest of the webs ahead of them.

"Can we avoid it?" Zhao asked in a low tone.

"Not this time. How far is the river from here?" Chu asked in return.

"Far... probably some four or five more hours away, if we hurry." Zhao answer.

"Then we fight." Shen Wei added as he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

"Wang, can you defend yourself?" Zhao asked. He had force Sang to train with him, but he didn't know if the fire healer had the proper training for that kind of dangers.

"I may be a woman, but I assure you I can pull my weight in any fight. The Prince had seen to that." She whisper and Zhao glanced at Wei, winking at him, who blushed despite himself.

"Good thinking, my Prince, you value women lives, better than my father." Yunlan said in approval. His father was not a kind of man who trained women for combat. They were more suited for healing in his mind and only very few of them knew had to fight if the opportunity raised.

"You can change things when you become the head of your Clan. War affect us all, after all. We had several training grounds for all those who wish to learn, no matter the gender." Shen whisper.

"Yeah, yeah, that's quite reassuring for the Water Clan women when he inherit the Clan, but we had a critical situation in front of us right now, do we really fight?" Da Qing asked.

"Of course. Chu, what can we expect from spiders? How their threads work?" Zhao asked.

"Spiders will fall from above or try trap you in their web. I can nullify the dark magic used in the cobwebs, but try not to get too caught in them. Go for their legs or eyes and keep moving forward. If you stop in place for long, they will trap you. Slash and move, that's the key to pass this threat." Chu said.

"They are poisonous too, try not to get injured." Zhu added.

"About that... here. Take one pill each, it will help with in case you are poison." Wang said as she passed a big medicinal pill.

"I see the Oracle get you well supplied." Zhu whisper, swallowing her pill.

"He knows our dangers." Wang said.

"Alright. We move, in a single line and use whatever magic we have and keep moving as soon as possible, but..." He looked at the group one by one. "No one stay behind, you got it?" Zhao asked, glad that they all agree with a simple nod.

They moved in a single line, with their weapons ready, with Chu telling them where to go. A few minutes of walking and the first hazard came. Chu warned them to intercept the first wave of huge spiders from above. His bluish threads shredding dozens of spiders, before they could reach them and they begin running.

Guo used light to blind those who came from the sides and Shen burned a few in front and keep running until there were too many spiders to keep moving forward. They use their swords to slash the nearest spiders, avoiding their legs and web shoots. Zhu, Wang and Sang use paralyzing needles with mastery, keeping an eye on the rest of the group for sudden attacks.

But as they fight, one spider sent both Chu and Shen against a tree trunk and as they try to get up, a few spiders came from above their tree, ready to use the web shoot on both, but instinctively, Shen and Chu used a lethal combination. Wei used Chu's own threads connection to those of the spiders to set them in fire, then Zhao used a wall of water to throw them away several yards, then help Shen and Chu up, so they could keep moving.

Still, more spiders came in waves. Then Da Qing raised a narrow tunnel from the earth, illuminate by Shen's fire birds flying at a fast speed, just a short distance ahead of them and they ran as fast as they could using the tunnel, the master of earth was creating out of nowhere. However their safe pass didn't last too long, as spiders came from above and broke the tunnel in different parts, some pieces hitting a few members of the group. Then Lin used his wind in a strong gushes, throwing more spiders away one time after another, as they struggle to get away from their cobwebs.

"Just keep moving!" Zhao urged as he summon numerous ice shards, sending them in all directions, hitting several spiders at once. And so, once he had gather enough energy, Gou summon a shield made of dozens of white swords, that common people believed where divine ones and they pierced more spiders as they run, moving on their own, controlled by the will of their master and with their combination of magic they were able to escape the spiders nest, to a more open area. They keep up running for a bit more time, just to have a safe distance away from the infested forest. Then they came to halt to have some rest and cure their injuries.

Despite his tiredness, Zhao approached Wei who was lying on his back completely in the ground, breathing hard and sat at his side. He took the Fire Prince face on one of his hands and gently caress it at the same time he healed a bloody scratch form his cheek.

"Are you okay, Shen Wei? You were not poison, right?" Zhao asked, with concern. He had watch him hit a tree and he knew he most be in pain at the very least.

"No... I'm just tired... for all the running." Shen whisper while closing his eyes. Zhao's hand was cool and he was quite hot for using his internal fire and running. His touch was heaven for him as well as his healing soothing his pain. His back was aching, but he keep quiet.

"We did quite well... a shame we cant's rest for long." Shen open his eyes and smiled at Yunlan, which was healing another scratch close to his neck.

"Thank you, Yunlan... I appreciate your concern and help." He whisper.

"You are welcome, my Wei... any other place that needs to be healed? Perhaps a bit more down?" Shen was startle for a second before he realize his implication, then he laughed. Zhao stared at him, a bit surprise that his joke had such a reaction. Shen Wei was always so serious, but he was pleased to find out he also has humor. The others stared at him too, wondering if the Fire Prince had gone mad or poisoned.

"You shameless man... keep your curios hands up..." Shen whisper, looking at him, as his eyes sparkle with internal fire.

To be honest with himself, he was getting used to Yunlan's teasing, care and proximity. During the last two nights, he had wake up when Yunlan had hug him, but he relaxed under his soft hold and liked how his cooler body soothed his inner fire.

"He lost it..." Lin whisper a bit further from the pair.

"Nah, he is releasing stress. We manage to come out of a very dangerous fight." Wang said as she tended the other wounds along with Sang who was healing Chu's back.

"I don't know what you think, but they kind of look made for each other..." Zhu added. She feelt a hint of envy of their closeness and Guo blushed as he watch them from afar. Old Chu was sat close to him and he had the feeling he was staring his way, provably impressed with his sword shield. He looked quite ordinary if not for his white hair, but he had train hard to attain the white shield that only a few could in his Clan, for which he was the appointed successor instead of others, older and with more experience than him.

"Zhao Yunlan is a good leader and so does Shen Wei... a shame they can't stay together." Wang added, glancing at Sang.

"I don't think they will let themselves be separate by the end of this journey." Guo shyly said.

"Who knows, honestly... even though he didn't train for it, he still had the gift of the stars and there is very little any Clan leader can do to fight that. The Oracle rules over all Clans, hell, he was the one who create them in the first place. I think Yunlan will rule us too..." Da Qing said and the other ponder on the idea as Shen, sat with Zhao's help.

Expert hands, moved Wei's long hair away with care, putting the dark waterfall of silk hair over his left shoulder, then putting a healing hand over his middle back. Zhao sensed the swollen area and felt Shen wince in pain for the first time since they begin fighting, which make him smile. His Prince was a very brave one and he was proud of him.

"How far from the river now?" Shen asked as Zhao worked on his sore back. He was not going to mention it, but Yunlan didn't forgot about hitting that tree and insisted in having a look at his back.

"We are closer, just a few more hours... if we don't meet with more spiders." Shen closed his eyes again, Yunlan's touch was too good not to enjoy it. He almost moan as Zhao's hand travel a bit down in his spine over his traveling robes, but only a few more inches, yet it make him shiver with a tingling sensation and of course, Zhao took notice of it. His Prince had weak spots and he will memorize them all.

"Then we may reach it before nightfall." Shen said, to distract himself as Yunlan worked wonders, soon taking away all pains.

"Probably... how is it now? Better?" Zhao asked.

"Yes, but what about you? Do I call Sang to help you with yours?" Shen asked, looking back at him.

"No, once in the river I will heal myself. I'm not as hurt as you... just some scratches."

"Yunlan, that's..." Shen was interrupted as Zhao pull him to him and hug him from behind, slightly kissing his neck, which make his face go on fire.

"You were awesome, my Wei... but reckless as well. Stay safe... you can't die on me no matter what we face. I will not allow it."

"Then what about you? You are our leader and strength... you can't die either." Shen whisper, unable to pull himself away from that wide chest and arms that held him captive, even when his hold on him was quite soft.

"Just because I am the leader?" Zhao asked in Wei's ear, making him blush even further. There was a hint of disappointment in his voice and Shen couldn't help himself but add...

"You know better than that, Yunlan... and you can interpret my words as you like, because the are probably not too far from what you think. It's becoming plain to see now." Wei whisper back, then remove himself from his grasp and stood up. Zhao looked at him walk toward Wang and smiled. His caring was beginning to payoff. One step at the time it was all he need and he already had more than he expected.

AN: Thanks for reading. Shen Wei is getting softer, so Yunlan may completely woo him soon. Hope you like this first journey, I know most readers prefers the teasing more than the adventure, but it's also part of the fantasy.