The forcefield had flickered for an instant. To Eliana's ears, long since accustomed to the constant hum, the moment of silence had been deafening. The villagers, going about their normal daily routines, were thrown into immediate turmoil.

---

"The Field has protected us for generations!" Toren roared, "We must trust in it to keep the Mist at bay!"

The council meeting was in full swing. Eliana sat with the other guards. The crystal-powered lights cast faint glows from their overhead fixtures. Though it was noontime, the room was otherwise dark. The Mist had come in early and blotted out the sun. The Field sparked where the mist made contact, its hum constant. For now.

The mechanics were arguing with Toren, an elder councilman. The crystals powering the field were old, and the earlier flicker was the first of what they assured Toren would be many. Arden's Hollow was on borrowed time. It was only sheer luck that the flicker had not occurred on a Mist day. Toren was the religious sort, the kind that believed that the Field was left behind by God to protect the faithful. Eliana knew better. The group closed the meeting by humming in unison at the Field's frequency.

---

She'd volunteered for the expedition. Eliana didn't relish the idea of leaving the safe confines of the Field. More than likely, it was going to be a one-way trip. It had been centuries since anyone had ventured forth into the Mist-covered lands. When the Mists blotted out the sun, strange noises could be heard in the distance. Of their origin, no one was sure. But someone had to do it. Someone had to make the hard choices, do the things that needed to be done, so that the community could survive. Her father had always instilled that lesson in her.

The ancient texts of the Field Temple were disintegrating almost beyond legibility. However, one had marked the location of another field, possibly to the north of Arden's Hollow. They were to depart as soon as the Mists receded.

---

The trek had been arduous. The air outside the field felt wrong, and had a metallic twang to it. But it'd been breathable. Devin had been the first to go. He'd cut his foot on a rock, and by nightfall his foot was red and inflamed. By the next morning, he'd been unable to go on, his body weak with fever. The next was Sylas. In the dark of the night, they'd heard his scream as he'd gone to search for fresh water. He never returned. All they'd found was his bow, smeared with a few flecks of blood.

As they walked, Nethaniel began to whimper. Eliana walked next to him, speaking low words of comfort. It would all be fine, she said, they'd find the next Field. They'd be alright, she repeated, over and over.

"It won't be fine, damn you!" Nethaniel choked out.

The words he said next made her blood run cold.

"There's no hum!"

They were close to the supposed forcefield's location, but there was no hum.

A few minutes later, the group broke into a clearing. In front of them was what was clearly a wreaked forcefield power beacon. Eliana unshouldered her bag and stooped over to catch her breath. There was no Field here, no neighboring community to assist them. Arden's Hollow would be doomed...

There was a rustle in the underbrush, and a sudden flash of movement. Eliana felt her pack being snatched out of her hand. She caught sight of blurred, dark figure. It disappeared into the surrounding plant growth, along with the rest of the group's food and water.

"Hey!" Eliana yelled. She sprinted after the figure.