Possession apocalypse

Seamus, Blink, and Marcus trudged through the winding caverns, their steps echoing faintly in the vast underground. Blink walked a little behind the others, his head down, his thoughts distant. He hadn't spoken much since they left camp, his usual sharp remarks replaced by an unsettling silence. His mind churned, replaying the cryptic words of the ant-like entities: You will bring destruction. The weight of those words clung to him like a shadow, making him feel more distant from the others.
Marcus glanced back at Blink but didn't press him. Instead, he turned to Seamus. "So, how far do you think we are from catching up with the others?" he asked, trying to break the silence.
Seamus adjusted his pack and shrugged. "Hard to say. If I had to guess, they've probably stopped at the Dwarf Kingdom by now."
Marcus frowned in confusion. "The Dwarf Kingdom? Why would they stop there if they're heading to the Fairy Kingdom?"
Seamus slowed his pace and gestured for them to take a break as they approached an abandoned campsite. The remnants of a fire pit and scattered supplies suggested someone had rested there recently. "Let's rest here for a bit," Seamus said, sitting down on a rock before answering Marcus's question.
"The thing is," Seamus began, "there's a vast ocean between here and the Fairy Kingdom. It's called The Abyssal Veil. It's massive and treacherous—impossible to cross without a proper ship. The Dwarfs are master craftsmen, so it makes sense for Gaia and the others to stop there and secure a boat."
Marcus nodded slowly as he processed this information. "Okay, but do you think the Dwarfs will just hand over a boat? I mean..." He hesitated before continuing. "None of us have any money—unless Gaia brought some with her."
Seamus smirked faintly and leaned back against a boulder. "That's a good point. The Dwarfs aren't exactly known for their charity. If Gaia doesn't have something valuable to trade or offer in return, it might be tough."
Marcus sighed and rubbed his temples. "Great... so we're relying on Gaia to negotiate with stubborn Dwarfs while we're stuck back here."
Blink finally spoke up, his voice quiet but steady. "Gaia knows what she's doing." He didn't look up as he spoke, instead staring at the ground in thought.
Marcus raised an eyebrow at Blink's tone but decided not to press further. Instead, he shifted his focus back to Seamus. "Alright then, let's hope she figured something out because I don't fancy swimming across The Abyssal Veil. Although it does sounds like an interesting challenge!"
Seamus chuckled lightly. As they settled into their temporary camp, each taking on a task to prepare for the night. Seamus grabbed his axe and headed toward a patch of dry, brittle trees to gather firewood. Marcus volunteered to scout the perimeter while searching for food, his keen eyes scanning for anything edible in the dim light of the cavern. Blink, quiet as ever, took the water containers and made his way toward the sound of a trickling stream nearby.
Blink walked through the rocky terrain, his footsteps echoing faintly in the stillness. The sound of water grew louder as he approached the stream, but his mind was elsewhere. His hand instinctively went to his chest, brushing over the spot where the ant-like entities had left their mark. He stopped mid-step, staring down at himself as if trying to make sense of it all.
If I make the wrong decision... could it actually be the end of me? The thought sent a chill down his spine. Could I actually die because of this? He clenched his jaw, his fingers pressing harder against the mark. This is all so crazy. What is actually happening? All I really wanted was to find Uzama... but now I'm in this position where every step I take feels like it could be my last.
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if to clear it. How does this make any sense? His reflection in the water stared back at him, distorted by ripples. I have to figure this out... but how do I make sure everything I do is the right step?
Blink sighed and crouched down to fill the containers with water. The cool stream rushed over his hands, grounding him momentarily. He stood up and made his way back to camp, still lost in thought.
When he returned, Seamus was stacking firewood into a neat pile near a freshly dug fire pit. Marcus was sorting through a small collection of mushrooms and roots he had gathered, inspecting each one carefully.
Seamus glanced up as Blink approached. "Hey," he said casually, but there was a note of concern in his voice. "How are you holding up? With everything you've been told... it's a lot to process."
Blink paused for a moment before brushing past him and setting down the water containers near the fire pit. "I'm fine," he said curtly, avoiding eye contact.
Marcus looked up from his foraging and frowned slightly. "I know we haven't known each other very long," he said gently, "but I consider you a friend. If you ever need to talk about anything... you can talk with me."
Blink finally turned to look at him, his expression unreadable. "We're continuing together because we have a mutual goal," he said flatly. "Nothing more."
The air grew tense for a moment before Blink sat down on the edge of camp, staring out into the darkness beyond their small circle of light. Seamus and Marcus exchanged glances but chose not to push further. The crackle of the fire filled the silence as they prepared for another long night underground.