The group comes to an abrupt stop in the entryway though when they come face to face with another large demon and this one isn’t distracted by cubs running around. “Papa demon.” Sae whispers under his breath, but no one’s paying him any attention. The group takes a few steps back as white eyes glare back at them. A low rumble builds in the demon’s chest and vibrates the rocks around the cave.

Hona pulls on Sae’s arm so that the younger boy is safely behind him. Even though behind them isn’t exactly safe either, it’s better than what’s standing in front of them. “How many light talismans do you have?” He asks Trae as he begins to pull out his own talismans from their various hiding spots in his sleeves and belt.

“About twenty, you?”

“Aye, same. Gale?”

Gale lets out a small whimper, “I didn’t bring any.” Her clan doesn’t typically use talismans in their cultivation teachings so of course it hadn’t occurred for her to bring any.

Hona shakes his head, “It's fine. What about you Sae?”

Sae edges back nervously, “Big brother said he was going to handle packing so…”

Trae curses under his breath, “You little-! If we survive this I’m seriously going to kill you!”

“It's fine.” Hona repeats, “We all have our swords at least. Light up your talismans first Trae.” Even as he says this the group edges backwards as the demon takes another menacing step forward. “You and Gale focus on this one. Sae and I will watch for the other one.”

“Okay…” Trae mutters as musters up his courage.

Gale swallows down her nerves and tightens her grip on her blade. “We don’t have to kill it.” She points out, “Just hurt it enough so that we can get past.”

“Aye.” Trae agrees. “You ready?” He glances back at the rest of the group who all nod.

Sae looks back and sees a few curious cubs looking at him and his friends while the mama demon aggressively bathes a few of the others. He’s glad that she hasn’t noticed, or just doesn’t care about them yet. Papa demon on the other hand looks ready to eat all of them. His rumbling growl still echoes throughout the cave.

The light talismans in Trae’s hand begin to glow as he activates them. In just a matter of seconds it appears like he’s holding a burning orb of light as bright as the sun. With a sudden shout he launches the bits of paper at the demon. They stick to the monster’s body and cause him to open his mouth wide, revealing a mouth full of sharp looking fangs, as he silently roars in anger.

“Now!” Trae shouts as he launches himself forward and aims his sword into the heart of the beast. Gale clumsily follows his lead and stabs out. Her sword sticks into a leg while Trae’s buries itself into the chest. Both of these do little but enrage the demon further.

Gale manages to pull her sword back and try for another swing, but before Trae can get his sword back the demon flexes and sends a clawed paw aimed at his head. The older boy has no choice but to jump back, abandoning his sword in the process.

Seeing the situation turn out like this Hona quickly pulls on Trae’s robes and sends him sprawling on the floor behind him. With a deft flick of the wrist Hona manages to fend off the attack and then begins to light up his own talismans. He throws the glowing slips of paper and this staves off the large demon for just a moment. The monster writhes and twists, losing its mammal shape and turning more fluid for a moment before it settles back down. Fully enraged now the demon barrels forward causing all of the kids to scramble back in panic.

In a moment of blind inspiration Sae slips past Gale and manages to get his sword wedged in next to his brother’s. He leverages his blade and as the demon turns and lashes out at him Sae manages to free his brother’s sword. It loudly clatters onto the rocky cave floor, shining faintly in the talisman light. Trae doesn’t hesitate to reach for it. He picks it up and in a single movement rolls forward and stabs it again into the demon’s chest. This time he sticks it in even deeper, he can feel the heart of the beast pulsing in his hand now.

The demon’s attention becomes solely focused on Trae who jerks his arm back and tries to get himself clear of the monster before it can lash out with those claws again.

“Over here!” Sae shouts and waves his sword to distract the demon. Trae nearly screams out a few curse words at his brother’s stupid antics, but he’s too busy trying to stay alive.

The demon whips its head around to glare at Sae. It’s white eyes narrowed in disgust and hatred. Sae hacks at it with his sword, but he doesn’t have the same strength as his older brother and he does little more than cause a few scratches.

“No, over here!” Gale shouts as well. She takes the monster’s attention away from Sae and leads it back to her and Hona.

Trae gets himself back on his feet while those two manage to fend off a few more slashes and get a few more licks in themselves. He can see clearly though that they can’t withstand this for much longer. His own legs are shaking and his chest is tight as he struggles to keep moving and to keep attacking.

He glances over at Sae who’s propping himself up against the cave wall. His normally energetic brother looks worn out from the fighting already. With this in his mind Trae hardens his resolve. They’ll definitely be finishing this battle soon! He gives a shout as he launches himself forward, sword raised above his head. With a startling amount of aggression Trae hacks and slashes his way through the demon. His energy bolsters the others as well and they jump into the fray with renewed vigor.

The teens can feel the tides shifting in their favor as the demon’s attacks begin to slow and it takes a few unsteady steps back. Its rumbling growl becomes even more menacing as its form continues to shift and lose shape.

“Almost there!” Gale grunts out as she sees the end of the passage that’ll take them back to main cave tunnels. If they can get the demon to move just a few more feet they’ll be able to run for it. She changes her angle and tries to pin the demon against the wall so they can get past. The others get the same idea and quickly start trying to bully the demon without any reservation for their own safety. With the end in sight all they can think about is getting back to the surface.

Sae goes in for a quick jab to the demon’s face which causes a quick retaliation. The only thing that saves him from getting slashed to ribbons is Gale grabbing his robes and quickly shoving him away. “Run for it!” She shouts as the demon rears its head back and silently bellows out its fury.

Nobody has to be told twice. The teens all get in their final slashes before running towards the tunnel exit. They keep running until they’re so haggard that they simply can’t run anymore. Gale collapses onto the ground in a panting heap, Hona sits next to her in a similar state. Trae is the only one who remains standing as he warily keeps a look out to make sure they’re not being chased. When everything remains silent aside from their panting breaths and pounding hearts does he finally let himself relax and look over the group.

He frowns as he sees Gale and Hona sitting on the ground. “Where's Sae?” He asks. The youngest member of their party is absent.

Hona and Gale’s heads both jerk up as they begin to look around in a panic. Hona digs through his robes and pulls out a crumpled light talisman he’d been saving. The tunnel lights up fully, but Sae is still no where to be seen.

Trae clenches his teeth and without a second thought snatches the light from Hona and begins racing back to the alcove they’d just come from. The other two hurry to their feet and doggedly follow after him. All of their aches and sores are suddenly forgotten as the trio search for their missing friend.

“Sae!” Trae hollers out for his brother, but the name only echoes back hollowly.

Hona huffs and yells out as well, “Sae?”

They make it back to the alcove, but there’s no sign of Sae or of the demons. The tunnel is empty and completely silent.

Trae’s breath hitches as real panic instills itself in his heart, “Sae!” He screams out his brother’s name again, but without any response. He stomps around the cave, but it is truly and completely empty. “Sae!”

Gale’s breath comes out in trembling gasps, “I don’t understand…” she whispers, “What happened? Where’d he go? He was right behind me, I swear he was. Where did he go?”

Hona’s expression is cold as ice as he turns to her, “Go back to the surface, find Master Trudo.” Gale stares back at him numbly until he shouts, “Now!” And then like a startled rabbit she jumps and races off.

Trae grabs a fistful of Hona’s robes, his hands visibly shaking. “Where did he go, Hona?” The fear in his voice causes Hona’s chest to tighten painfully.

He looks around the empty cave where they’d been fighting only just a few minutes before, but now it’s completely silent. “I don’t know.” He answers back hoarsely.