And I'm not ready to die. Not yet. Not when there's still a chance, no matter how slim, that we can find a way out of this nightmare. Not when Alden is still fighting, still sacrificing himself for me.
So I fly, my wings beating furiously against the air, my heart pounding in my chest. The wind whips past me, a relentless force that threatens to tear me from the sky, but I hold firm, my dragon magic surging through me like a river of fire. Below me, Alden's shell glows like a beacon, a reminder that we're in this together, that we'll face whatever comes next, side by side.
The bayou stretches out before us, an endless expanse of danger and uncertainty. The trees loom like silent sentinels, their branches reaching out as if to snatch us from the sky. The water below is dark and still, a mirror reflecting the chaos above. But we're not alone. We have each other.
And as long as we do, there's hope.
Hope that we'll find a way out of this nightmare. Hope that we'll survive, that we'll make it to another day. Hope that the bond between us, forged in fire and blood, will be enough to carry us through.
The question is, will it be enough?
Only time will tell.
For now, we fly. We fight. We survive.
Because that's all we can do.
And in this moment, it's enough.
The Syndicate and Council are hot on our trail again. We had to split up as we were ambushed by some shapeshifters. With a deep breath, I turn and begin to make my way back through the forest, my feet carrying me towards the last place I saw Alden. I don't know what I'll find, I just know I have to try, to do everything in my power to protect my friend.
The forest is quiet, the only sound the distant call of a bird as I push through the underbrush. I keep my eyes fixed on the path ahead, my mind racing as I try to come up with a plan.
And then, suddenly, I hear a sound that stops me in my tracks. It's a low, pained moan, a sound that sends shivers down my spine. I freeze, my eyes scanning the shadows as I try to locate the source of the noise.
My heart skips a beat as I realize the sound is coming from Alden. I push through the underbrush, my feet carrying me towards the source of the noise as I call out his name.
"Alden!" I shout, my voice echoing through the forest. "Where are you?"
The moan comes again, louder this time, closer. I follow the sound, my feet carrying me through the trees as I push aside branches and vines.
And then, suddenly, I see him. Alden lies on the ground, his body limp and still as he clutches his side. His eyes are closed, his face pale and clammy as he struggles to catch his breath.
Panic surges through me, a cold rush of adrenaline that sends my heart racing. I drop to my knees beside him, my hands hovering over his body as I try to assess his injuries. I bandage him the best I can with pieces of my dress. I have him shift into his snail form so that I can carry him in my bra. We can use our mind link to talk. Alden lies nestled against my skin, his warmth a stark contrast to the chill that seeps through my clothes. His breathing is shallow, each rasp a reminder of the injuries he sustained in our last encounter with the Syndicate. I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, his amber eyes burning with a mixture of concern and determination.
"We can't stay here. They'll find us if we don't keep moving."
"I know. But we need to rest, just for a moment. I can't go on like this," he replies.
I glance around, my eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The forest is eerily quiet, the only sound the distant call of a bird. But I know better than to let my guard down. The Syndicate is relentless, and their reach is long. We've been running for what feels like an eternity, our magic drained from the constant need to evade capture.
"I can manage. I don't want to be a burden. I can't exhaust you. I will walk, just let me rest for a bit more," he urges.
I smile, a small, sad twist of my lips. "You're not a burden, Alden. You're my friend, my mentor. I won't leave you behind. I can do this for a few hours. Rest." I tuck him deeper into my bra, his small frame fitting snugly against my chest. The fabric is damp with sweat, but I barely notice as I begin to move, my feet carrying us deeper into the forest.
The trees grow taller here, their branches twisting and turning in a macabre dance. The air is heavy with the scent of moss and fungi, a reminder of the decay that lurks just beneath the surface. I keep my eyes fixed on the path ahead, my mind racing as I try to come up with a plan. We can't keep running forever, but the thought of stopping, of being captured, is too terrifying to contemplate.
As I walk, the silence grows. The only noise is my footsteps. I talk with Alden in my mind. "What are you thinking?" He asks.
I hesitate. "I'm thinking about what we're going to do next," I reply, ignoring the turmoil in my soul. "We can't keep running, not like this. We need a plan, a way to fight back."