The Great Flood V

Samael hovered in the air, concealed within a transparent bubble that protected his gold curls and the silken robe he wore from the dust. He was leading the row of Shadows across the valley nestled in the mountain ridge. It was their second day of travel, and at their current pace, it would take about two weeks to reach their destination. In the distance, a small forest appeared, its lush green a stark contrast to the dusty beige terrain behind them, framed by rocky ground on two sides.

Twilight had descended, and the long shadows of the ridge cast grotesque shapes on the ground. The air was hot and humid, but there was a refreshing hint of pine. As they reached the edge of the forest, Samael inhaled deeply, savouring the scent of earth, moss, and fresh wood.

Beelzebub stood beside him, observing the forest. When the heat pressed down on the earth, they typically stopped to rest, the Shadows gathering under canopies to meditate during the day before resuming their journey in the early evening, walking through the night. Occasionally, they paused to examine ruins, Nephilim skeletons, or unknown creatures, sometimes losing hours or even an entire day.

"Shall we continue or set up camp here?" Beelzebub asked.

Samael frowned. He enjoyed forests, particularly their lush green and fresh smell—but not in the dark. "Forests are scary at night."

The bird-like creature beside Beelzebub blinked, glancing first at the forest, then at Samael.

"Very scary," Samael added.

The creature blinked again. "My lord, you're the most powerful being in Inferno and Reformatory. You stopped the fight between Shadows just by stomping your foot."

Samael blinked in return. "I don't see the connection."

There was a moment of awkward silence in which Beelzebub and the bird exchanged glances, before the bird said, "But my lord—"

"We'll set up camp and continue tomorrow, my lord," Beelzebub said, cutting off the discussion.

"Very well." Samael nodded, watching as the bird-like creature cautiously stepped into the forest. When he returned a few minutes later, the tents and canopies were already set. The creature murmured to himself, "Forests really are scary at night."

Samael overheard. He was standing by his tent. He commented, "I told him."

Beelzebub, who had until now been quietly talking with the other Shadows, walked to Samael. "My lord, the Shadows have been talking. With your permission, they would like to cut down some of the trees. They know how to make furniture out of them."

"We don't agree, my lord." Two bushes and a creature with bark-like skin followed Beelzebub close behind.

"Whatever you Shadows decide among yourselves is fine with me," Samael said. "If you choose to take down trees, only take a few at the edge and don't cause any disturbance. Humans are living deeper in the forest, in the caves. Better not to disturb them—who knows what they might do if they're startled." He started sensing them after they stopped at the edge of the forest. "In the morning, we won't go through the forest, but follow the edge of it. There would be some climbing, I'm afraid."

Samael suspected the Shadows wouldn't be good climbers, but he didn't expect them to slip and fall while following the narrow trail weaving across the rocks. A few of them even rolled down and into the forest.

Samael shook his head, sighing. He suspected that as before, they would have climbed up in a few moments, but they didn't. He was already planning to send Beelzebub to find them when he heard a roaring sound and saw them appear at the edge of the forest, dragging a furry creature behind them.

"My lord, my lord!" A Shadow, with the lower body of a bull, clumsily climbed up. "We found you a transportation."

Samael glanced down at the animal that the Shadows were pushing up. Their robes were in tatters and soiled by the blood dripping from the wounds caused by the animal.

Panthera Spelaea—the divinity told him the name of the animal.

He had wings and the ability to cast small miracles. Why would he need transportation? "Really?"

"Yes, yes." The Shadow nodded, and when he looked at the other three, they all had excited expressions on their faces, and their eyes were full of pride.

"If I must," he whispered to himself. The things he did for his underlings. They were eager, loyal, and so very proud of their accomplishments, and he wanted to show them his appreciation. He waved to them. "Come on, let's see it."

The animal was wild, but under the pressure of his hand, it became as docile and eager to please as a Shadow. It still snapped at the Shadows, though.

"It looks a little small," Samael commented. But when he sat on it sideways and it started to trail across the path, it turned out to be quite a good ride. He told that to the Shadows, who at his words beamed with pride.

After they left the mountain trail and walked into the woods, into the shadows of trees, the air grew cooler, thick with the earthy scent of damp soil and decaying leaves. The soft rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds accompanied them as they moved past bushes and trees. Shadows found another Panthera, this one a smaller one and wilder.

"To carry the tools and equipment," they said. They needed Samael's help in subduing it, though, since the beast refused to cooperate with them, breaking the branches and lifting the undergrowth, thickening the scent of earth.

"I will do it, just this once," Samael told them as he hopped from the Pan, as he named the beast he was riding. "I sense humans nearby, so no more harassment of the poor forest animals, okay? It makes too much noise."

"We found them at the edge of the forest. I don't believe these are forest animals," the bird commented, standing beside Pan with Beelzebub.

"Small details," Samael waved his hand. He walked to the smaller beast surrounded by Shadows and tied by long, thick ropes. "Listen carefully, all of you. There are humans a small distance away. Since we are not creatures of the Fifth Heaven, there should be no contact between us." He could cloak them, but to hide such a large group from human eyes, he would need a large amount of energy, even if it was only a low cloaking, and he would only be able to hide them for an hour at most. No, it's better to save that option for an emergency.

"Beelzebub." He turned to his aide. "We'll continue to walk in a row. With the ones with human appearance in the outside of the group, while the ones with the most animalistic features inside."

"Yes, my lord."

"Now, bring that beast to me." He gestured to the Shadows. When they did, he needed to only put his hand on the top of the beast's head and it started to purr. "Keep it close behind me, just in case," he ordered. "Now, let's continue with our journey. No more catching animals, okay?"

They didn't listen to him, though. When they encounter a pack of black and brown beasts with pointed ears, they happily catch them all. The divinity told him the beasts were called Canis Dirus.

"But they came to us, not the other way around." They excused their actions while still requesting Samael's help in subduing them, which he, of course, couldn't refuse. Not when, in the millennia that had passed, he had done so little to reward them for all the work they had done in Inferno and the Reformatory. So, when they left the small forest, they had two Panthera and six Canises, the Shadows beaming with pride at their new companions.

They did encounter humans, but only from a distance. Samael could see their heads as they popped up from behind trees as they were closely observing their procession.

He didn't draw the Shadows' attention to them, but he closely observed them, trying to judge if they posed any risk. They could not endanger them, but they could cause them problems. A sudden chill ripped through the air.

His attention shifted. His eyes narrowed at the faint shimmer in the distance before them.

Beelzebub ran to him. "My lord, a portal! It must be Gaap."

The shimmer widened, tearing open the air itself, exposing the red-lit darkness as Gaap stepped through it.

Beelzebub shielded his face with his hand as he gazed at Gaap and the two Shadows who walked out of the portal behind him. "They must have news from Inferno."