138 The Mist: Test 1

Both men looked at each other before turning their gaze back at Lieutenant Flynn.  "Something big is happening in the forest, Cleon."

"No time to waste then, we must continue on our journey." Cleon announced. 

As if on queue, all of then resumed their journey and chased after her. 

********

Astrid walked through the mist in search of the little white tiger-phoenix beast but still couldn't find it. She was getting tired with the incessant headache she was having, irrespective of that, she went on with what she was doing, searching for little White-Fire.

"Come on, where are you? We must leave before that bad woman comes back. Little White-Fire!"

No response.

"Little White-Fire!"

Nothing,

"Why yes, why haven't I thought about this before. Let me try and connect with it, that way I would find it very easily."

The moment she closed her eyes to reach out to the beast…

She heard something whining and opened her eyes."What was that?"

She listened close again, hoping she heard right, she heard the same sounds again, like a beast whining, feeling sad. It touched her and with a new found hope she called out.

"Little White?!"

The moment she mentioned its name, something rushed towards her almost instantly. She couldn't believe her eyes when the little White Tiger rushed towards her, her hearts brimmed full with joy as she bent down and let it run into her embrace.

"Oh! I missed you, I was so scared something bad happened. You're unhurt. Were you sad I wasn't with you?"

She couldn't stop talking; she had a lot of things to tell the little beast. In this few days they had come to know, it felt as though she had known it all her life. To Astrid, it was a pet she never wanted to lose, her little companion. Too bad she had to leave it in the forest when she leaves.

"Come on; let's go find your mother and Jareth."

The moment she said his name, she wished she hadn't. Her expression changed, the joy she thought she just found quickly dwindled. All that was left was sadness and pain. There was a prickling sensation in her heart at the thought of him.

They ventured further in search of the big White Tiger and the dashing Elf, with the little cub in front, hopping happily away.

"Be careful Little White-Fire, don't go too far!" She called after it and quickened her pace.

"Jareth please be safe. White-Fire, I am coming. We would put an end to those beast attacks soon."

She finished talking and looked forward, the little beast was nowhere in sight. Unfortunately, as she was busy thinking, she stopped walking and lost track of the little beast.

"Oh no, what have I done?" She placed both hands at the side of her mouth and shouted, "Little White-Fire! Where are you?"

Through the unclear path, she saw someone coming from afar, as if on instincts, she squinted and readied herself. With both hands raised at her side and with the right stance, she was ready to attack if it was a foe.

The figure came closer, she could make the outline of the person; her hands slightly dropped but she still maintained her guard. When the figure came into her line of sight, her mouth hung open as she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Jareth!"

'Astrid." 

He stopped in his tracks and looked at her; his eyes roamed her body from head to toe. None of them moved, she was speechless, he was shocked and happy. A tear slid down her face as she took him all in. He was okay.

They took a step the same time and ran into each other's embrace. 

"You're alive. You're alive and sound. I was scared."

"Jareth."

******

Jareth and the beast stood in front of the mist, looking for every possible solution to help save Astrid.

ACHOO!

This was the second time he was sneezing, White-Fire and the little beast both turned their heads to look at him.

"What is wrong?" The big beast asked, feeling concerned about him.

"Nothing, perhaps the dust is getting to me."

White-Fire arched her brows at him. "The dust, really?"

"Perhaps, I'm not really sure. Don't look at me like that."

"Why are you feeling so defensive?"

"I am not, now back to the situation at hand, Astrid. Can you try and reach out to her, like she did to you?"

"Yes. I have done it to her before."

"Really? When?"

White-Fire smiled through the mind communication link. It felt kind of creepy since Jareth was witnessing everything in his head.

"When you were busy trying to steal a kiss, your girlfriend was going, losing to her mental demons."

"What! You saw that? I never knew she was… That is not the problem now. Try and reach out to her."

White-Fire closed its eyes and after some minutes of trying couldn't feel anything. It opened its eyes back and looked at Jareth with a disappointed expression.

"What is wrong?"

"I can't, I am being locked out."

"It has got to be the mist. Speaking of which, it wasn't always here right?" 

"Yes, it is the forest defensive mechanism against intruders. It tests one to see if you have pure intentions, if she can pass the test and find the loop hole in what she sees, then it would free her and this whole mist would be cleared."

"Astrid!" 

He put his palm into the mist, but he wasn't sucked right in, he withdrew his hand and looked at White-Fire. 

"I said intruders, meaning non elves and since she came, they have chased after her, so it defended itself, because once we pass here, it is the forest peak, of which is home to other celestial beasts."

"She would pass right? What would the test show?"

"The one you trust the most would be used to test you."

*****

Astrid pulled away from his embrace and looked into his green eyes. Yes, she had missed him and she was happy he was safe. A sudden realization struck at her mind, something was missing.

"Jareth, Little White-Fire, it ran off."

"I know."

"You know!" She was shocked by what he said, he took her palm and gently caressed it. "I know because the little White Tiger found us."

"It did? Then why isn't White-Fire with you? Where are they?"

Her brows furrowed as she shook her head and pulled her hand from his. Where were they? She needed to know.