Ailouros Tails book 4: The Return

Chapter 17~ Prophecies

I struggled to fight against the darkness. Allycat needed me. I knew that if I didn't win against the darkness I would end up doing something that I would regret. I would end up hurting Allycat. I tried to burn away the darkness but it wasn't working. "There has to be a way out. Pitch if you hurt Allycat I will destroy you." I growled to the darkness.

Suddenly there was a blinding light.

Allycat was standing by a tree. She looked different. Her cat ears and tail were out. Her hair was a mess and she was snarling at me. I felt her swipe her claws across my cheek. She stopped and stared at the blood on her claws shaking.

"N-no... I-I can't." She whispered stepping away from me fear in her eyes as she ran away into the forest alone.

"Allycat! Come back!" I hear myself call and move to race after her though I feel drained and everything goes dark again.

"No. I won't let Ailouros be broken like that. Not my Allycat." I promised, haunted by the pain I had seen in Ailouros eyes as she had swiped at me.

"I don't know what's coming Allycat but I do know that I'll be there for you. I swear it Ailouros O'Carrick ocean. Just don't give up."

***

"Dementors! She's just a girl Albus! How can that fool not see that Ailouros is harmless?" McGonagall asked pacing in her fury.

"I know Minerva." Dumbledore sighed wearily, "Demigods are more of a handful than I thought. She is with friends who she trusts right now. I think they are the ones who trained her with her bow and those knives."

"On top of Ailouros little disappearing act, Amaterasu and Nico are now gone too. Was I right to keep her separated from the others? Albus, I don't know what to do with them anymore. It's hard to keep the children from talking. The Stoll brothers must have followed Amaterasu and Nico as they have vanished as well. If the ministry learns of our students rushing off we will be finished as a school." Minerva McGonagall went on.

Dumbledore didn't stop her but let her get it all out. "I'll let Chiron know about his demigods and we'll decide what to do from there. It'll turn out just fine Minerva. Your class will be waiting for you." Dumbledore finally said when she had finished.

After she had left he sighed again, "Now for the hard part."

***

Chiron sighed wearily. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention Dumbledore. Keep an eye out for them, and if you see them, tell them to come back to camp. Go ahead and send Percy back this way. I'll let him know about his sister once he arrives. I apologize for all the trouble they caused you and your staff. Send the other's luggage with Percy if you can."

"I'll send the other demigod's luggage ahead of Percy. Do you know these cloaked figures who took Ailouros?" Dumbledore asked.

"You said they wore grey-green mottled cloaks, had bows, and two knives?" Chiron clarified.

"Yes. They were very good wizards with the way they use vanishing spells so readily. The amazing thing is, they didn't use wands or leave any trace of magic behind." Dumbledore confirmed.

"Yes, the rangers of Araluen. They will keep her safe. If it's the rangers I think it is, then one of them is one of her brothers. I will keep you informed of any updates as to their conditions as I learn more." Chiron promised. With that, he ended the iris message. "Apollo, come on in. I know you're out there."

Apollo stepped in concern in his eyes. "I'm worried. I lost contact with Amaterasu somewhere around the Weasleys but there is no sign of her."

"Is there any sign of Ailouros, Nico, or the Rangers?" Chiron asked.

"They are safe with the guardians of Dragons," Apollo answered.

"Can you be any less specific?" Chiron asked, slightly irritated.

"They are at New Burke. Jack frost is with them." Apollo said slowly.

"If Jack is there, does that mean Pitch is back as well," Chiron asked slowly.

"I don't know for sure but I suspect so. I don't know why else I would still be able to sense Amaterasu is alive, just not my little girl's location as I normally can." Apollo answered.

"The last time Pitch rose to power was chaos..." Chiron gasped as he realized what he had just said.

"Chaos... No! Chiron! Poseidon will KILL Me! Apollo said trying to turn away but it was too late,

"The Dark Chaos of Time

Shall Rise Again.

The Time Old Battle

Between Light and Dark

Resumes and Consumes.

A Price to Pay.

A Star to Fall.

The Link Shall Break,

Between Past and Present.

When Hope Seems Lost

The Inner Flames will Burn

Across Time.

With Fire comes Light

At a Price."

Chiron sighed, "Really? Another one right now?"

Apollo sat heavily in a chair. "I don't like it any more than you do Chiron... You didn't see what I did with the prophecy." Apollo was pale and looked sick.