The Changling Families Adventures

Everything to Lose

The trolls and teens ran back to Dwoza's gate, Arrrgh hot on their heels.

"Close the gate!" Dick shouted.

The gates slammed shut in front of them. All six began beating against the door.

"I'm to young to die!"

"The Giladrigal line must continue!"

Seamus pushed his shoulder against the door and clutched his side, "I can't die. I haven't even been born yet!"

Blinky glanced at the werewolf before slumping, dejectedly, against the gates, "Brother. We're doomed..."

Arrrgh lunged forward and smashed through the gates like they were made of cheep drywall. The people present were scattered. Eli pulled his cloak tigher, eager to protect his wings; Jim wrapped his wings around his body with the same goal; Seamus whimpered and dug his claws into the stony earth.

"Arrrgh bring message: Join Gunmar or die!"

LLB

Duxie coached Claire through her new magics. Stardust tilted her head and watched as Claire sank into the floor, taking Archie with her.

"This is how Barbara and Meak do it," the Young bobcat looked into the portal, "I can't wait to see Ba's face when he sees Claire can do it now, too."

Duxie chuckled and looked around at the other teens. Steve was excitedly swinging around his new ax, made from the tooth from The Lady of the Lake. Toby and Mary were having a silent conversation, Wally sound asleep in Mary's lap. They were all smiling but both Scaarbachs were clearly exhausted. No doubt they all were. Suddenly, Claire and Archie tumbled out of the portal.

"She's back! Morgana's back!"

Mary leapt to her feet, "What!? Do you mean Oma's alive?"

"And she's not happy!" Claire hastily snatched her staff and closed the portal.

Just before the portal closed, a gold clad hand reached through. Stardust leapt back, fur standing on end. The room of teens was silent.

"Sh-she's alive..." Mary gasped, sinking to her knees, "She's alive!"

"But she's evil now?" Steve looked at her pointedly.

"We knew that happened," Duxie stood, "She turned evil and joined the Gumm-Gumms before she became the woman and grandmother you all know."

"We fixed the time stream!" Stardust sang and pranced around, "It's gonna be ok! We get to go home!"

"Not quite, Stardust," Claire lowered her staff and picked up Stardust, "I overheard part of the conversation she was having. Morgana intends to attack Camelot. If theat happens and she kills Arther, we'll lose the battle of Killahead."

"And that can't happen if we want to get home," Toby signed, "We still have everything to lose."

"One step forward and two steps back," Duxie sighed, "Claire and I will go tell Merlin what we know. We'll meet the rest of you after to talk about the plan.

LLB

"You  join Skillcrusher, or I crush skulls!"

Callista joined the boys crouched behind a stack of barrels, "Ok. This is bad."

Jim nodded slowly, thinking, "One of us needs to go out there and try to talk or him or something."

"Typically, I would say Sea, but you're hurt. And I look human," Eli peaked over the barrels, "You, at least, can pass for a troll whelp."