Flight (new version)

Chapter 20: The Attack

The next day, the typical fall chill lessened and the sun beamed warmly onto Tepora Forest, inviting the Elder to lounge outside.

Griffin flopped down in the grass next to Fern, just outside the water mill. "If the weather could just stay like this, it'd be perfect," he sighed.

Spook sat across from him. "That's how it used to be in the Olden Days, at least from what I've heard," he commented.

Meadow and Twi joined them, completing the circle.

Spook rubbed his chin. "I wonder if that's what the Land of Green and Gold with be like?"

"The what?" Griffin asked. He scrunched his nose, wondering why it sounded so familiar.

"It's the place that strange voice told us to go during the Release," Fern recalled.

"Ah, that's right. And Hannah said to meet her and Lucy there." Griffin fell quiet. That is, if they can escape.

Fern studied him. "Don't worry. I'm sure they've escaped by now."

"Yeah."

Spook glanced at Meadow. "You think Flood and Tsunami will want to leave their Elder Haven to go there?"

"Actually, they plan to take everyone there. Eventually," Meadow replied. She plucked three long strands of grass and began to knot them together in the shape of a bird. "Flood just wanted to wait until the slaves in the area had all escaped their Masters. Don't want to leave too early in case someone needs healing, you know?"

"Makes sense."

A shadow fell over the group, and Griffin tilted his head back to see Stare flying past the tree line toward the water mill, his huge blue, black, and brown wings beating powerfully to drive him forward.

Fern waved. "Hi, Stare!"

The sylph made no move to slow down or signal that he had heard her. Instead, he dove to the ground and landed running, nearly falling forward from the sudden transition. Stare sprinted into the water mill, banging his shoulder against the door frame in the process as he still hadn't quite regained his balance.

Griffin sat up. He stared at the door Stare had left wide open. "He doesn't normally do that, right?"

"Something's wrong," Meadow murmured. She stood up, grass bird falling from her fingers.

Stare emerged a second later with Tsunami in tow. The instant they were clear of the water mill, Stare snapped out his wings and took off.

Griffin stood up and Fern followed suit. "Tsunami! Is someone injured?"

"Not yet." Tsunami directed her gaze to Meadow. "Grab your healing supplies and whatever or whoever else you need. Everyone else, get inside and hide in the cellar, or come with me to fight. We're under attack."

"I'll help you," Fern offered to Meadow.

Meadow nodded and the two dryads hurried off.

"We're under attack?" Spook repeated, leaping to his feet. He offered a hand to Twi as she also got up from the warm grass. "Who's attacking us?"

A horrible thought occurred to Griffin. Could it be that spriggan? He looked at Tsunami. "Is it..?"

To his relief, she shook her head. "Humans. Lots of them. They'll be in the forest soon, so go!"

Spook and Twi immediately rushed into the water mill. Griffin began to follow them, then paused, turned, and raced after Tsunami.

"I'll help."