As it got closer to midday in Aurora, it seemed to only get hotter and hotter as the minutes passed by, and Hongjoong felt as if he was drowning in his own sweat. Even San had resorted to riding with Seonghwa because it was too hot to even fly without sweat pouring from him like rain.

"It's hotter here than my Summer" Hongjoong groaned, flopping forward.

"I suddenly wish Yunho came with us. He could have casted a spell to keep us cool" Jongho pouted.

"I don't think we'll have to worry about that" on the horizon, a storm was brewing, "a storm is heading our way. We might have to set up camp again soon. We'll have to be careful though; in this weather, a fire wouldn't last"

Hongjoong is suddenly reminded of the Shades, gulping loudly at the mere prospect of being attacked by things born from his worst nightmares.

After a couple more hours, the storm was closing in, and fast. Hongjoong yelped at a loud clap of thunder, Elya neighing in distress. Seonghwa frowned, halting his horse Freya. From what Hongjoong remembered, Freya and Elya were sister horses. How two different people ended up with sister horses was beyond Hongjoong, but he was snapped out of that thought by a raindrop falling into his nose.

They all looked up, seeing that the storm was now right on top of them. Seonghwa cursed, sighing loudly.

"We won't have time to set up camp; we'll have to ride through the storm, but we have to be fast" Seonghwa instructed, looking back at San, "San, you're gonna have to take over the reigns on Elya"

"I would, but she hates me" San huffed, "I thought you knew this Hwa"

"Right, sorry" Seonghwa chewed on his bottom lip, "well, at the very least Elya tolerates me, so I'll ride her instead" Seonghwa glides off of Freya, quickly walking over to Elya before instructing Hongjoong to move back on the saddle.

Hongjoong moves back as instructed, allowing Seonghwa to hope onto Elya, "now, hold onto me tightly. You don't want to slip from a fast moving horse, that's for sure, and be careful of the Shades. The cats have been known to jump the height of a horse or or more"

Hongjoong shuddered, quickly wrapping his arms tightly around Seonghwa's middle as Elya suddenly neighed and sped up into a gallop. It then began to rain heavily, and the lightning was striking far too close. Overhead, crows flew; their beady red eyes looking down at them as if they were food.

"Uh, please tell me those aren't Shades" Hongjoong whimpered.

"They're not" Jongho suddenly shouted, "but they are" the Banshee motioned behind them.

Hongjoong looked back, and he really wish he hadn't because what he saw would haunt him worse than the nightmare he had. Large, bright yellow cat eyes were beginning to get uncomfortably close in range, the creatures snarling and hissing at them as they chased the four. Lightning struck at the exact right time, and for a split second Hongjoong could fully see them; it was like they were made from the blackest smoke he'd ever seen. Hongjoong then turns his face away from them, burying his face into Seonghwa's back and held on tighter.

The ground suddenly became bumpy and full of potholes, but Seonghwa expertly steered Elya around them. However, it was still bumpy and Hongjoong felt himself sliding around on the saddle. Hongjoong glanced back once again, which proved to be a total mistake as his grip loosened unconsciously and he fell back off Elya.

Seonghwa hadn't noticed until he heard a terrified scream. The Elven Prince turned Elya around.

"Oh no" Seonghwa breathes out, "Hongjoong!"

Hehehehehe 😈