From The Ashes

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Anton was the first to jump into action. He pointed to Celia and the kid, commanding them to gather what they could and get out. He then turned to Von and Valen.

"You two," he pointed at them. "Help me  block it's path. We have to try and keep it back."

The brothers jumped up and began scouring the area for anything they could use.

"Artemis, Indigo," Anton said, "I need you two to put out the fire. Once you're done, follow Celia and Barron and get out of here. We'll be right behind you once we're done."

I grit my teeth, but nodded and hopped up.

This Beta was out of his mind if he thought I'd leave Valen here alone again.

Artemis and I worked together to gather buckets of water and quickly douse the fire. We managed to put it out just as Celia and the other warrior-Barron, apparently- took off into the water to escape the cave.

I turned back to Anton and the princes, seeing them struggle to get the tunnel opening barricaded. 

The clawing sound was close now, the hissing ringing throughout the cave. I saw the brothers exchange a look, and I understood that they knew this situation was becoming dire.

Anton approached the barricade, heaving a boulder over his shoulder and placing it on top of the others. There was only a slight opening at the top of the pile now.

The scratching and hissing stopped and we paused for a moment, hoping that the hasty barricade would work. Anton held a finger to his lips and quietly crept back over to the boulders, listening for any sound of movement.

He had just pressed his ear to the wall when a huge crash shook the pile, causing dirt to rain down over his large frame.

The hissing began again, so loud I had to cover my ears to block it out. The Fate Spinner continued to slam it's large body against the barricade. Anton spread out his muscular arms, trying to give it some reinforcement.

"Go!" he shouted back to us.

We turned to run toward the water, getting ready to leave. The Fate Spinner continued it's assault, and I could hear Anton grunting as he tried to keep the barricade together. Artemis and Von dove in, swimming gracefully under the waterfall.

I paused and turned back, seeing Anton grit his teeth and his arm muscles bulging from exertion.

"Indigo, are you coming?" Valen asked me. I looked between the two, before making a split decision.

"Go," I told him. "I have to help Anton."

Valen tried to protest, but I sprinted from his grip and ran back toward the tunnel.

Talon-like black legs were poking through the opening at the top, dislodging boulders as they swiped furiously from side to side.

One of the legs swung down hard, embedding it's tip into Anton's back. He let out a viscous howl of pain, but didn't move from his spot.

Blood began to pool on his shirt and drip to the ground below. His face looked pale and a sheen of sweat dusted his brow.

"Anton!" I screamed to him. He acknowledged me with a slight turn of his head.

"When I get to three, you need to move!"

"If I do that this whole thing will come crashing down!" He yelled back at me.

"Just trust me!"

He pursed his lips for a moment, mulling it over. The Fate Spinner rammed it's body into the stones again, causing him to sway slightly.