Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Gray
The next few days passed by in a haze. The earth Elementals constantly switched with one another to maintain a clear path.
When we entered the patches of poisoned Arcadia, our pace slowed, everyone cautious not to touch any limbs or branches.
So far, we’d been lucky not to run into any creatures from Arcadia yet, but the foreboding quietude of the forest made me fear that our luck would soon run out.
We had enough food to last us another two weeks. If that.
Three days ago, Slate had cracked a code signaling where and when the next scorse would pop up.
We didn’t see much of a way to bargain with the most depraved humans running those rings, especially not when we had such a large group of Elementals belonging to the most wanted Hollow in the world.
We didn’t have time to enter a match, and even if we did, we wouldn’t be able to win enough food or supplies for half of the Hollow.
The only solution? To kill them all and take what we needed.
The victims captured and held as slaves by these egregious monsters would then be freed.
It was risky. We didn’t want to lose any more lives than we already had back home, but we had the advantage of our magic and combat skills.
The highest risk? These individuals no doubt had bullets designed to kill us.
We had to plan accordingly with the best of our knowledge.
As I took a drink of water, a wicked energy approached, brushing against my aura and threatening to taint it.
“You sense that?” I asked Slate under my breath, the heaviness in the air pressing down on my neck as the stillness prickled the small hairs all over my body.
Slate walked close to me, his eyes never ceasing to search our vicinity. With a nod, he slowly reached over his shoulder, grabbing his sword. I quickly followed suit. And seconds later, the sound of multiple blades scraping free from their holsters echoed around us. “What is it?” I asked.
Slate halted, his head held high and going preternaturally still. Sweat beaded on his brow, tanned from days of relentless exposure to the sun. “You’re not gonna like it. This isn’t like the bear that you and Chrome faced,” he said in a low tone.
I shot him a glare. “You witnessed that, too?” I hissed.
Slate shrugged. “She just wanted to go home. Be glad you didn’t kill it. The ceraber—as it’s called in Arcadia—is a regal creature. Highly regarded and respected,” he muttered absentmindedly as he continued to scan the woods, adjusting his stance.
A high-pitched screech pierced the sky, like a hawk’s cry, but louder and more vicious. At once, everyone dropped into defensive stances, searching above us.
“Slate?” The bird’s cry lanced through the silence again. “What is that?”
Once, Slate bore a naturally kind expression.
His eyes, no matter how serious or focused, always told the story of his gentle soul, untainted by the horrors that life had to offer.
Now, his eyes reflected a much different story as he glared at the sky, braced for attack.
Whatever he’d been through in the past few years had changed him. “A griffin. But Endarkened.”
“A griffin? As in—”
“Half bird and half lion? Yes,” Slate said. “They’re fierce creatures under normal circumstances, but as Endarkened, they’re volatile and vicious. Get ready.”
I turned around, facing our caravan of Elementals.
Scanning the crowd, I searched for those I trusted most. Onyx’s taut amber eyes met me first, before I found the others dispersed throughout the crowd.
Kodiak stood hulking above the rest near the back, no doubt responsible for giving us such a wide berth by splitting a gaping path for our group.
Void stood beside River in the middle of the pack, and I suspected that the reason no one had tripped over roots or stones was due to him.
All the earth Elementals were constantly using their magic, but thankfully, we’re all equipped to prevent ourselves from diminishing our reserves too quickly.
“An Endarkened griffin has sensed us,” I announced to everyone. “A beast with a lion’s body and a bird’s head and wings. It’s vicious, and from the sounds of it”—as if on cue, the creature cried out again, this time much closer than the last—“it’s large. So beware.”
My people shifted on their feet, looking to the sky in anticipation.
Low, nervous murmurs broke out among them.
We were warriors, but did that matter if we faced a foe we didn’t know anything about?
Would we be outmatched? None of us had a clue, except for Slate.
And judging by his demeanor, he didn’t like the odds we were about to confront.
Beside me, Slate spun around, turning his attention on the Elementals before us, transitioning into the general’s son and the garrison commander that he’d been before he faked his death.
“Because it’s a creature of Arcadia, our blades won’t work on it.
We can wound it, but if its blood makes contact with your skin, you run the risk of being poisoned like everything else that has been cursed in the world.
Griffins are fast and massive. Their claws will gut you if they make purchase.
And if they don’t, they’re most likely oozing with the poison, as well.
So be ready. Be smart. Use your elements.
If we all work together, we can put it down without anyone dying. ”
“What about the forest? How are we supposed to fight this thing if earth wielders are busy keeping the forest split open for us?” someone cried out from the back.
A slow whooshing sound closed in on us, reminding me of sheets being shaken out. The griffin shrieked again, and a massive shadow moved above us.
Slate ground his teeth, glancing to the sky, our time to plan running out.
“Earth wielders will stay focused on the forest. Don’t expend your energy fighting unless you must. Air wielders: focus on suffocating the griffin and throwing it off flight with wind.
Water elementals: drown it, blind it, whatever means necessary.
And fire wielders: set the wings on fire to ground it.
Those not on the offense, protect the earth wielders from any attacks, since they’re going to be essentially defenseless. ”
Armed with knowledge and guidance, my people stood taller and bore determined masks. They split up, the griffin’s silhouette casting out the sunlight with another ear-splitting screech.
Shadow broke away from Cardinal and sidled up to me. We both gawked as the enormous creature with an eagle's head and upper body dive-bombed the group of Elementals from the sky. Its beak extended longer than my arm, while its wings expanded to the length of a car.
“Fuck,” I whispered as the griffin’s beady eyes seemed to narrow in on me.
“Shall I keep our shield up?” Shadow asked, dumbfounded as he, too, stood in horrified awe of the creature who possessed the clear intent to kill us all.
I nodded, unable to form words. Even with Slate’s warnings and description, nothing could’ve prepared any of us to witness something that possessed eagle talons for front feet and lion paws for its rear. Aside from Slate, everyone seemed to be momentarily stuck staring in shock.
“Gray!” Slate shouted, shaking me from my paralysis. “It’s coming for you! Move!”
Jarred from my stupor, I dove to the side at the same time as Shadow, just as a glistening black claw with obsidian liquid dripping from its razor-pointed tips struck out.
I didn’t even get the chance to roll over before someone jerked me to the side, snatching me inches away from a ferocious swipe that would’ve ripped me in two.
Slate yanked me to my feet. “Summon your air. Now! I can’t do much with my magic in this fight, but I’ll try.”
At his demand, I summoned my element just before sending a gust of wind directed at the griffin.
The griffin flapped its wings, keeping itself hovering a few feet above the ground as it assaulted my people.
Most dodged its attacks as it continued its shrill battle cry.
Inky fluid dripped from its eyes, staining feathers I assumed were once white with a wet, blackened sheen that glimmered in the sunlight.
Its tail dripped the same poison from its mangy tip.
Even its beak dripped the black moisture, and when the griffin jerked its head, the poison went sailing.
Immediately, I constructed an air shield, hoping the poison wouldn’t penetrate my magic and that it would hold out against the beast long enough for us to kill it.
Our other air Elementals sent hurricane-force winds bellowing through the forest, and I’d never been so grateful for the earth Elementals.
If it weren’t for them, the trees wouldn’t withstand our power, resulting in them toppling over or sending broken, poisoned branches into our path.
I jumped as a great wall of fire burst upward, enclosing our group in a protective bubble from the forest and trapping the griffin in a confined space.
The Arcadian beast flapped its wings harder, working to maintain its balance against the winds. I broke my focus from the bird to search for Aella. I moved away from Slate, who grabbed my arm to stop me.
“Careful, Princess. Elements are flying around all over the place.”
“Where’s Aella?” I asked.
“Last I saw her was before the griffin attacked. She stood with Onyx.”
“Well, where is Onyx, then?”
Slate quickly scanned the Elementals, using his height to his advantage. “Over there,” he pointed toward the opposite side of the griffin. “I see Aella.”
I nodded. “I need her.”
“I’m going with you.”