Earth: The Ruins

The once grand temple of Zeus now lay in ruins, with the charred remains of the wooden pillars and beams scattered across the ground. The cave that lay behind it, which was once a place of worship and refuge for the villagers, was now nothing more than a pile of rubble. The entrance was blocked by a large boulder, which had fallen from the ceiling during the attack.

Felan stood before the ruins, his eyes swollen and filled with tears. The destruction of the temple and the cave was a devastating blow to him and the entire village. The walls of the cave were blackened and charred from the fire, and rocks and boulders were strewn across the ground.

Felan tried to keep himself conscious and think through his options, but exhaustion and hunger had taken their toll on him. He struggled to remain conscious, his body weak and undernourished from weeks of labor. The weight of the situation was taking its toll on him, and he could feel himself losing the fight to stay alive. His mind raced with thoughts of desperation as he considered his options. Should he risk it and hide in the darkness of the cave, or face the army and accept his fate?

But the darkness of the cave seemed like his only sanctuary, but he knew that the soldiers would easily track him if he took refuge there. He felt trapped and helpless, his mind racing as he searched for a way out.

His exhausted body swayed, and he stumbled forward, reaching out to brace himself against the rubble. The sound of the rocks crumbling beneath his touch echoed through the silence. The fire that had consumed his home still burned in the distance, casting an eerie glow over the destruction. Feland's breaths came out in ragged gasps as he tried to hold on to his sanity and consciousness, despite the overwhelming exhaustion.

He swayed on his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. Death seemed inevitable, and Feland knew that he would not make it much longer. The only question was, how would he choose to meet his end?.

------

Felan's hand tightly clasped his daughter's, hoping against hope that she was still alive. The ruins of the cave behind the temple of Zeus loomed before them as they stumbled towards it. The sound of approaching horses grew louder, and Felan's heart raced with panic. He dragged his feet forward, the weight of his exhaustion almost too much to bear.

Feland's feet shuffled across the ground as he stumbled forward, his daughter's hand held tightly in his grasp.

He had to keep moving, no matter how much his body screamed in agony. The darkness of the cave enveloped him, but the sound of horses approaching was getting louder and closer. Every step was a struggle as the sharp black stones beneath his feet cut through his worn-out shoes and sliced into his flesh. Blood trailed behind him, marking every agonizing step. He gritted his teeth and fought through the pain, refusing to let himself collapse.

The darkness of the cave beckoned to them, and Felan dragged his daughter inside, holding her close to his chest. He could feel the weight of his daughter in his arms, and the thought of protecting her was the only thing keeping him going.

The echoes of their footsteps filled the cavern, mingling with the sound of his labored breathing. Every step was agony as sharp black stones cut into his feet, but the pain was secondary to the desperation that pushed him forward. He could feel his body weakening, and the thought of falling and being caught by the soldiers was too much to bear.

Felan's eyes fixated on the lake before him, memories of the Leviathan flashed through his mind. The creature's fangs were etched into his memory, a reminder of how close he had come to death. But he couldn't focus on that now. The Fountain of Etir was his only hope. His desperation had clouded his mind, and despite knowing how futile his options were, he had no choice but to try.

He took a deep breath and plunged into the water, holding his daughter tightly. His limbs felt heavy as he started paddling, his body aching with exhaustion. He could feel his strength fading with each passing moment, and the weight of his daughter only made it worse. He kicked with all his might, but it seemed like he was barely moving. Panic set in as his paddling slowed down, and he struggled to stay afloat. He knew he was in trouble, and he could feel his mind slipping away.

The weight of his exhaustion was too much, and his body started to sink. He fought to keep his head above water, but it was a losing battle. The darkness of the water consumed him, and his mind went blank. He didn't know if he could make it to the other side, and the thought of drowning along with his daughter made him feel like giving up. But he couldn't let that happen. With all the strength he had left, he kicked his legs and paddled with his arms, determined to make it to the other side.