Cyber Mortality

Chapter 66:

After clearing the sprawling hills dotted with mansions and herds of meandering dinosaurs, we stand before another sprawling white wall. This one is around fifty feet high and appears seamless.

"Think Vyra's people are near the wall too?" Nyle looks about but all we see is the curve of the wall to either side of us. Above the wall we can make out the two tall spires I noticed while scouting a few days ago.

"We're very near to the castle," I point out. "We should regroup with them before getting too close. We also haven't run into the Pteros again yet." I look up into the pale blue sky with wary eyes.

"I don't want to run into them," Jez shudders. "They sound horrifying."

"They're fast," I nod. "Really fast. I was practically breaking the sound barrier."

"I doubt they can do that if they're too close to the island though," Flint shakes his head. He pulls out his bow just in case.

"I can fly us up onto the wall if you want," I offer. I pull up the inventory screen and click on my green rug. It folds out on the ground in front of us.

"Just don't push yourself," Flint glances between Zephyr and I.

"It'll be fine," I wave his worry off. "I'm not going crazy anytime soon."

Everyone plops down onto the rug and I close my eyes. I imagine a swirling current of air rising under us and after a moment we gaze at the top of the wall. It is approximately ten feet across with a three foot high wall on either side of a walkway. The walkway extends for as far as the eye can see.

Flint hops off first and the rest of us follow with our boots clacking on the stone.

"We last saw Vyra's group out that way," Flint points to our right down the wall. "Let's follow the wall for a little ways and see if we notice any sign of them."

After fifteen minutes we spot a gold and red figure several hundred meters down the wall from us climbing onto the wall.

"Vyra!" Jez shouts and the figure swivels to look at us.

Vyra raises a hand before turning to help more people onto the wall.

As we approach I glance over the edge to find a ladder which appears to be very crudely made of stone. An earth magic user must have created it.

"Heck of an island," Vyra calls out in greeting when we arrive. Her group seems slightly bruised but no worse for ware.

"Crazy how many dinosaurs there are here," Birch says as he embarks the wall. He glances down to make sure everyone is up before continuing. "We had to slay quite a few before making it here. And we stayed in a weird mansion last night. The food was good though."

"Sounds pretty similar to us," Nyle grins. "I'm just glad we made it. There are a lot of dinosaurs out there."

Birch nods in agreement.

"I think we've got everyone?" Vyra casts a glance up and down the wall. "You all remember how the last dungeon went. We've got to work together. If we don't we will all die." She lets her words sink into the crowd.

"Sure likes her speeches," Flint scowls, but he does not disagree.

"As we approach keep your eyes to the sky," Vyra points upward into the blue. "May warned us of flying monsters. And above all just do your best."

"Gee thanks Mom!" A voice crows from the crowd, which is then followed by a chorus of laughter.

Vyra narrows her eyes toward the source of the comment, but does not respond.

"I think everyone was thinking it," Nyle chuckles into my ear.

I smile softly at the thought of my own mother. I will see her soon.