Chapter 3

As they trudged towards the other path, the two found comfort in one another while they tried to shift their focus from their current situation.

"Aly how do you feel, you were already drenched wet and now..."

Adanna didn't need to say anything more, she herself was all wet and her dress sticking to her body. Her straight hair had become curly and shrunk quite a bit. This was caused after spending so much time in water. Some of her hair strands fell on her neck resulting in a tickly sensation. The constant stickiness of their wet clothes was so irritating but they couldn't walk naked in a place they didn't know. Even if It was a place they knew, it was improper to wander about not wearing a single thing.

Alyssa looked at her skirt and sighed as she removed the dirt. "Adanna what do you think is the reason I didn't receive my power." She had been thinking of this question for a while now.

"Was I the cause of that storm." She continued to let it all out. "On my coronation it seemed that I killed all of my people. Even those little children. They had great futures and here I was all eager to get that power. I have failed granny."

Adanna listened to her as she pat her shoulder not wanting to interrupt her. She would chirp in some reassuring words as they kept on walking to the unknown.

Something streaked bright in front of them. "Can it be light coming from an opening." Alyssa asked hoping for it to be the case. She could not stay yet another second in this cave. After being told night stories by her grandma she didn't really feel safe wandering in the dark, there might be dangerous creatures hidding within the cave waiting for a chance to attack. She couldn't take the risk.

They increased their pace eager to see what it was. Though they were in the dark the excitement made them walk hurriedly without coming in any contact with the ground. As they moved forward, they could see the light getting plenty and adrenaline peaked as they got closer and closer.

They were not entirely disappointed after seeing that it wasn't what they expected but rather surprised as they looked at the narrow pathway with little gems shinning on top of the ceiling. "Fascinating," they praised at the same time and smiled at one another before looking back at it. There were sapphire gems glowing as it lit up this part of the cave. It was clear enough compared to that darkness where they had come from. They could see some ants moving about on the soil.

Looking ahead, more gems lighted the way, it seemed to be a fairy tale. At least they could finally find a good place. That was what they thought as they continued on with the illuminated path. They looked up at the gems and wondered who had put them there. Each randomly studded on the cave's ceiling.

"Can you guess where we might be heading to." Adanna asked as she went in front of Alyssa facing her. She walked with her back facing where her feet advanced lightly touching the little soil.

"A village maybe. Like those fairy tales, we might be heading to a place so bright like this with food and water. And fire to keep us warm. This has been a long day. I can't wait to look for some place comfortable to sleep. Do you think the people would be nice?" She looked at her friend waiting for a response.

"Let's hope to find kind people. They can't just leave two drenched cute teenagers with nowhere to go. Just like when you see a drenched cat, you have that attachment to keep that cute little thing."

"Hahaha.." Alyssa laughed.

"You've finally loosened up quite a bit." Adanna told her as she smiled at the other.

"Sorry."

"For what Alyssa you were going through a lot. I know how much you have been preparing for this day and it suddenly went hay wire. I saw you look at the moon expecting some kind of power. It isn't easy for you, people turning against you as if you're the one who chose for it to rain. It wasn't your fault stop blaming yourself okay. We will figure out something and then we can go back and bury the deceased and check if there wasn't any lucky survivor. Okay, so don't say sorry or blame yourself."

"Thank you for always being there for me when I needed you the most. Thanks for all those times as well. Thank you...."

"Aly you don't have to thank me we are friends after all. Just make sure you don't keep things that hurts from me. Confide in me when it gets too unbearable ok." She nodded as a tiny smile crept up feeling a little better.

Alyssa felt so happy that Adanna was still with her. She didn't know what she would have done without her friend of sixteen years.

They were born on the same month and their mothers were really close. So they spent most of the time together, playing and doing all kinds of activities. They were considered sisters, when the two were in the village, they were always together. If their parents looked for them, they searched for one of the two and in the end they found them at one place.

Even when they have grown they are still so close. They helped each other to look after the village. Adanna supported her through the process of learning the tradition and culture of Zimicah clan. When Alyssa was about to give up, she was their to help her stand strong.

They were each a pair meant to cooperate together.

The two walked for some time as they proceeded with the path, a little bit confident that they would find some place to stay. The path was getting a little dim as they kept on heading onwards.

It wasn't long as they were once again greeted by the dark. Moving closer they ran into a solid wall.

'Is this a dead end?'