New year, new setting! Things are starting off looking pretty difficult

The two emerge into the shortcut, confronted with a bright icy blue expanse that throws them forward, forcing them to run. The spots of light remain around them like stars, but now there are also fast-moving specks of multi-colored matter flying at them at high speed. It's almost too bright to see, and the ground doesn't seem solid. Still they run, holding tightly to each other. Akiva leads them, squinting her eyes, one arm bracing around her head against the light.