Chapter 53 - Found

The lurid glow from the crystal outcroppings flooded the large cavern in their strange light. Not unexpected and strangely comforting to Winter as she glanced around the cavern. The glow highlighted the crags in the ceiling and gave the gryphon’s body a sinister appearance. Winter squinted, shielding her eyes from the glare of the nearest source of illumination. She could see movement through a low wall of a crystal cluster, hearing a minor scuffle, then footfall.

“We do not know where we are from, just that it is not here.” there was slight pause in the boy’s voice, “What are you and who are you talking to?” asked the boy, his voice echoing through the cavern quietly as he remained concealed.

Winter’s eyes widened, suddenly realised that the children could not hear their protector who had fallen silent, “Please excuse my entrance, my name is Winter, I am a Valkyrie. It may seem unbelievable, but I was talking with the great one, your protector.”

She heard a light intake of breath, “You can speak with Hendosphyre?” came the boy’s voice.

Winter frowned, stretching her hand out, “I have the ability to do so. Please, do not be alarmed, I will shift my form. I know my appearance may be unsettling.” Winter said, before allowing herself to shift back to her softer, more approachable appearance.

“We know the girl with you has been bitten, if her wound is not tended to swiftly, she will fall to a horrible fate that we can not reverse.” she explained.

“You were at the battle?” asked the boy’s voice.

“No, but my master was.” said Winter as she took another step forward.

“Stay were you are, Winter the Valkyrie.” said the boy more forcefully, stepping out from behind a crystal outcropping, his eyes flaming, his face black with soot and the tracks of tears.

Winter held both arms our wide, pulling her wings back, making their profile smaller, “I am not here to harm you.” she said stepping back and giving ground.

Flames sputtered to life, limning his hands, “You are here to take my sister. As you said, she carries a wound from the battle. I know what a Valkyrie is, I know the legends. I am prepared to fight for her if I have to.” he said, his voice growing into a growl, “I won’t let you take her.”

He raised his arm, hand outstretched, fingers poised to snap. His eyes flaming with more intensity, Hendosphyre shifted to his side, crouching defensively.

Winter sighed, “I will not take your sister, I am here to hel… Ahh?” she said, exclaiming as she was suddenly pushed aside, a grey and white blur passing her roughly, sliding to a stop, claws out, halting her movement.

Snowshadow stood, panting heavily. Winter stared at her, nodded and stood back.

The boy gasped, “I saw you, on the river and in the ruins. Hendosphyre?”

Snowshadow turned and started to stalk toward them, her movements unrelenting. Her emerald eyes on both the gryphon and the boy.

The boy backed away, “Stay back!” the boy said, suddenly panicking, “Stop!”

She continued to approach, not slowing. She watched as he shoved his hand into a pouch at his belt, as he did so she snarled aggressively and continued to close the distance.

“We are here to bring you to safety. I recommend that you take your hand out of that pouch. Neither you or Hendosphyre can stop her.” Winter warned.

Snowshadow stopped snarling as the boy removed his hand. Continuing to stalk towards him, she shifted in one transition, continuing to advance as an elven woman, her black hair hanging long, her emerald eyes piercing. The boy’s hand started to shake.

“Lower your hand and flames, any fire you summon will not hurt me. It is time that you let the adults take over.” Sian said, her tone leaving for no alternatives.

Groyven slowly lowered his hand, his flames receding and flickering out, his eyes on Sian as she continued to approach.

She looked at the gryphon, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, “Stand down, mount of the Aletere, even to me you are of legends. I don’t know how all of this came about, but you have fought hard and I am honoured to have fought at your side, if even for a moment. But we must tend to the girl.”

Sian walked right up to Hendosphyre, her hand outstretched confidently. Her presence commanding as she touched his beak, drawing the gryphon’s head down, touching her forehead to his.

She smiled, closing her eyes a small smile on her lips, “Well met, Hendosphyre. You have done an incredible job, they are safe now.” she said quietly.

“Hendosphyre?” the boy asked uncertainly.

Sian turned to him, rubbing Hendosphyre’s neck before stepping to the boy.

“My name is Sian Darkfall.” she glanced to Winter, “That is Winter, a very close friend of mine.”

She knelt on one knee in front of him as Winter approached, “What is your name, fire wielder?”

The boy took a breath, fighting back tears, “Groyven, my name is Groyven Desilantre.” he looked into her emerald eyes, “You are that mountain cat that we saw at the river?”

Sian smiled, nodding, “Well met, Groyven. Yes, I was the snow leopard, you were hiding under his wing, weren’t you? I have to say, I am impressed with your acumen in battle, you pushed well beyond your limits with the aid of what is in your pouch there. I speak truthfully when I say I am surprised you are still standing. You can rest, you are safe now. I will protect you.” she held out her arms.

He stood there momentarily, torn, his breath catching in disbelief, trying to control his expressions.

He nodded and stepped in quickly, hugging her, tears coming quickly as Sian held him, “Tiffaniel, my sister, there is this something black spreading over her back from the bite. I, I just, can’t.”

Sian rubbed his back, “Show me to your sister, we can talk as we tend to her.” she said, pulling back a little and standing, allowing him to lead her.

She looked over her shoulder to see Winter conversing quietly with Hendosphyre. Groyven led her around and behind a cluster of crystals that looked as if they had erupted from the floor. She quickly knelt at the girl’s side, wincing slightly as she took in her disheveled state.

“Tiffaniel? Did I say it right?” she asked of Groyven, who nodded.

Sian partially lifted Tiffaniel, “Tiffaniel, can you hear me?”

Tiffaniel’s eyes opened slightly, her eyelids flickering, her sky blue eyes dull and lifeless.

Sian nodded to her, “My name is Sian. I am going to check your wound.”

Tiffaniel nodded her head forward, her eyes unfocused. Sian tilted her so she could see her shoulder, Tiffaniel whimpered, “Lera…ra?”

Sian looked at Groyven questioningly.

“Selera is our older sister.” he explained.

She nodded, “You can tell us about it later, after we have joined up with the others. We are going to have to fly you back to the valley. One of our group can reverse the flow of the infection. If we are quick enough, your sister will be fine in just a matter of days. But, Winter will have to take her, her presence alone will slow its spread. You and I will follow with Hendosphyre.” said Sian.

A conflicted expression came to Groyven’s face, “But? She is a…”

Sian smiled, “I assure you, Groyven. No harm will befall your sister in Winter’s care. I ask you to trust me for now. Winter will be halfway to the others before we even get to the entrance on the mountainside.” she watched his eyes as indecision clawing at him, “Every moment counts.” she said.

She reached out and touched his cheek, her emerald eyes on his sky blue, “Groyven, please, trust me and mine. I do not know what happened to you, but I do know that you are lost and in dire need of help. I can offer you and your sister aid and shelter. It is within my power and those known to me to assist you and provide protection in any way you need.”

Groyven brow furrowed, “But, we are not from here.” he said, his eyes searching Sian’s.

She nodded, not breaking eye contact, “This is known to me, Groyven. Winter and I have been tracking your movements along the river since this morning. We are aware that you teleported into the forest at the height of the eclipse. Trust us, Groyven. At the very least, let us save your sister. Once you are both healed and rested you can be on your way, if that is what you so desire.” said Sian.

Groyven nodded slowly, tears in his eyes, “Thank you.”

Sian smiled, glancing quickly over her shoulder, “Winter?”

Winter quickly came forwards, squeezing Groyven’s shoulder reassuringly before kneeling beside Sian. She quickly checked Tiffaniel’s wound as Sian held her.

Winter shared a worried look with Sian, “It is advancing quicker than expected.” said the valkyrie.

She quickly uncovered the back of Tiffaniel’s neck, shifting her blood soaked ponytail. Black hair was starting to grow in a trail down and between her shoulder blades. Winter spread a hand on Tiffaniel’s back and concentrated.

“How is your injury, Groyven? Your blood was in the dirt where you arrived and on a cloth at the campsite in the ruins.” Winter asked, her eyes closed while she tended to Tiffaniel.

He looked at Winter in surprise, “I, I am fine now, I healed it with Sialin’s, with my master’s flame.” he said, catching himself.

Sian looked at him, “The blue fire you were drinking?” asked Sian.

Groyven nodded, “It is not working on Tiff. I could lower her fever, but the bite it just keeps opening back up again.”

Sian gripped his hand gently. Winter looked up, her eyes glowing steely grey. She shook her head and frowned, her lips drawn tight.

“Sian, all I can do is slow it. I will take her to Antrandis.” Winter said.

“Xiana is still there?” asked Sian.

Winter nodded, giving Sian a look, “There is more to tell, but.” she glanced at the children.

Sian nodded.

Winter put a hand on Groyven’s shoulder, meeting his eyes, “Groyven, I must leave with your sister now, she is safe with me.”

Winter stood, cradling Tiffaniel in a secure embrace and giving Sian a look, “I will see you back at the town.” she said before walking into the nearest shadow, disappearing from view, thin tendrils of silver and black odourless smoke swirled and slowly dissipated from where she had been.

Her unexpected and abrupt exit leaving Groyven speechless, he ran to the shadow in a panic, standing in it, searching.

“Groyven?” Sian said, coming to him, “Winter can shadow-walk.” explained Sian.

He looked at her in a panicked silence, “What walk?”

Sian met his eyes, “She can step into a shadow here and walk out of a shadow in another place she has been before, as long as they are within a certain range.”

“But, where is she, where is my sister!?” he said fearfully.

Sian smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder and guiding him out of the shadows, “I would guess the entrance on the mountainside. Winter once described it like walking through a doorway and into another room.”

Groyven looked at her wide-eyed, allowing himself to be guided, “That quick?”

“Yes, she is probably already in the air.” she said, leading him around to Hendosphyre.

She gently held her hand out and the gryphon leaned into her touch, she looked him in the eye, “Hendosphyre, Winter has taken Tiffaniel back down to the valley, can you carry me? I will keep Groyven from falling, I will keep him safe. We need to fly fast.”

Hendosphyre looked from Sian to Groyven and slowly nodded.

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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