HSV-Chunnin Exam Team A Test Part Two

The group moved slowly, with the fog obscuring their sight running off ahead would be futile. As Meiyori took one more step, she froze and looked around. Where they even going in the right way? Part of her felt like they had been walking in circle; except . . . where were the others? She looked around, trying not to panic; but the fog that surrounded her gave her the feeling that she had gotten separated from the others. There was something odd about the fog; it wasn’t like another fog that she had seen It was like, the fog was watching her; hundreds of eyes watching them. She wasn’t the only one who found them self alone in the fog, Rion, their appointed leader, has lost track of the others. “This . . . this isn’t good. They were right behind me. . . I swear they were!” She muttered as she looked frantically around from the others through the fog. They were literally right next to each other just moments ago, but the fog had somehow separated them; almost like it was alive somehow. A short distance away from the girls stood the last member of their team, Ikuya. A yawn escaped the young man, “Ummm, girls? Where’d you go?”  He asked as he looked around, “I can’t see you anymore,” he added, “Too much fog.”

“Rio-Chan? Ikuya-Kun? Was that you? Can you hear me?” Meiyori asked, trying to hide the panic in her voice. What if they never found each other? What if they were stuck here, forever?! She wasn’t the only one who thoughts where plagued by fear, her teammates seem just as scared; even if they didn’t seem to show it. Ikuya let out another yawn, “The grass says they are close. . . . But what does close mean?” he muttered to himself. “Where . . . where are they?” Rion thought as she squinted to see. Here she was the leader yet she had managed to lose her teammates. “Some team leader I am,” she muttered, “I can’t even lead my own team through the fog,” she grumbled. There had to be a way out, but her doubts were getting crushed by her fears. She had to shake this crushing doubt out of her mind. Otherwise she and the others will never make it out! Maybe they should have taken the other way; at least they could see where they were going on that path. That was when an idea came to her; if she could signal to the others, maybe they could find each other! Wither or not the idea would work was unknown, but there was nothing wrong in trying right? Taking a deep breath, she knelt down on the ground; weaving a series of hand signs, she created a small flame in her hand. The fog was low, but not touching the ground. She held her fire close to the ground and watched as the flames licked into the fog, creating a puff of smoke as the heat rose. “Please see the smoke. . . I can’t keep this up for long,” she thought.

Meiyori looked around; all she could see was fog. “There is just too much fog and smoke to see anything,” she muttered, “wait . . . smoke?” she questioned herself, why had she said smoke? Looking around she was able to make out moving fog, but with no wind; the fog shouldn’t be moving. Her eyes light up; Rio-Chan was a fire user! But.... what if this was a trick, a trap? She bit her lip, what was she supposed to do? She still felt like she was being watched, like the fog was waiting for give up and consume her. She was shaken from her thoughts when a hand grabbed her shoulder. “AHHHHHHHH!” Meiyori screamed as she whipped around to see who or what had grabbed her. “Ow! It’s just me, I think you broke my ears,” Ikuya muttered as he placed his heads over his ears. “Sorry Ikuya –kun, you startled me . . . wait, how did you find me?” she asked. “The grass said someone was in this direction, so I walked this way and found you,” he explained. “But, what if it wasn’t me . . . but someone else?” Meiyori questioned. “Does it matter? It was you so who cares?” Ikuya stated, “Now we should find Rion, I’m starving and unless we get out of here, I won’t get it eat,” he noted with a yawn. “Agreed,” Meiyori giggled, “I thought I saw smoke that way,” she stated as she pointed. Ikuya looked over in the direction she was pointed. “The grass says someone is over there, how far they won’t say,” Ikuya muttered. “Well . . . let’s head that way, but . . . we should be careful,” Meiyori stated as she grabbed his hand, ”Don’t let go, we can’t get separated again,” she stated. “Sound good, ladies first,” Ikuya muttered with a yawn. “Ladies first?  You’re not opening a door Ikuya-kun,” Meiyori stated as she started to slowly walk forward, dragging Ikuya with her. “Oh. . . I’ll remember that,” he muttered.

“Almost out,” Rion muttered as she struggled to keep the flame lit. But it soon blotted out; the flame disappearing from her hand. “Well, so much for that.” She muttered. Once again the fog crept back around her, that feeling of being watched return. “If something appears out of the fog, I will so attack,” she muttered as she looked around, waiting.  “Rio-Chan!” Meiyori called as she ran in the direction that Ikuya had pointed her in. Rion looked up, was that really Meiyori? Or was the fog playing a trick on her. Turning her head in the sound of the voice, Rion stood ready for an attack. As the fog in front of her started to fade away, like someone was coming closer; she lowered her guard. “Mei-Chan!” She cried as she ran and hugged the girl. “Now that we’re together again, let’s get out of here,” Ikuya stated with a yawn. “He’s right, let’s find the exit!” Rion smiled. “Give me your hand Rio-Chan, so we don’t get lost again,” Meiyori stated with a smile. “Right! Good idea Meiyori!” Rion stated as she grabbed Meiyori’s hand, “Let’s go team!” she chanted as she led the team through the fog. With some vague help from the grass, the three managed to make their way through foggy path; holding hands kept them together. That feeling of being watched remained, but it didn’t seem to be bothering any of them now that they were together again. “Teamwork always wins!” Rion stated as they grew closer to the exit. “Teamwork and great leadership always wins!” Meiyori corrected. “Amen,” Ikuya stated, “So, when do we get to eat?” he asked with a yawn. “Ikuya!” both girls laughed at the same time. “What? I’m starving,” he muttered.