The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 51

"Over here," Rath gasped, turning left where the narrow tunnel opened up into a wide cavern. Char ran after him, followed by a spray of golden lights and an ominous rumbling from the tunnel. "Over here," Rath repeated, stopping and turning to face the tunnel opening. His chest was heaving as he caught his breath. "That's about to go. Get down!"

Char ducked down to the ground as an icy wind tore through the cavern. Rath loomed over him in dragon form, curling his tail and neck around Char and Iris, raising his wings to complete the shield he made with his own body. A crash echoed through the air as the tunnel caved in. Rath growled and grumbled with each boulder hitting his side. Char panted for breath and clutched Iris tightly to his chest, heart pounding, fingers trembling as he felt her neck for a pulse.

"Come on, Iris," he muttered. Her skin was ice cold, but she wasn't shivering. "Come on..." He closed his eyes, waiting, and then he felt it. One beat, weak and faint. His breath caught in his throat. He kept his finger on her neck and loosened his grip on her body so he could watch for a breath. It felt like an eternity until he saw it: a slight, almost imperceptible rising and falling of her chest, coinciding with another faint beat under his finger. A wave of relief washed over him. He pulled her tightly against him again, burying his face in her sweaty hair. The crashing and rumbling of the cave-in gradually died down, and Rath pulled away, another icy blast of wind blowing through the cavern as he transformed again.

"Ow," he complained, trying to rub his side. "Darn armor." He tore off each piece, tossing them to the ground with a series of resounding clangs. "Ah, that's better." He collapsed to the ground beside Char, leaning back against the stone wall and closing his eyes. "She's still alive?"

"Yeah, but she's really cold."

"That armor probably isn't helping anything. Here." Rath opened his tired blue eyes and reached over for her. "I'll take her for a minute."

Char carefully passed her over to Rath and stood up to strip off his own set of armor. He was too exhausted to bother setting the pieces of metal down quietly, instead discarding them as loudly as Rath had just down. The sweat trapped beneath the heavy armor was starting to dry. He sat down and took Iris back, annoyed by the involuntary shiver that shook his body.

"You weren't kidding about her being cold," Rath said, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the cave wall. "When was the last time we slept?"

"Three nights ago," Char replied. Another shiver ran through him. "Great. Just what I need when I'm trying to warm her up."

"Maybe it will help," Rath mumbled. He was sitting close enough to feel Char shivering, and he was starting to shiver, too. "Where are the fairies?"

Char frowned and scanned the massive cavern. It was easily big enough for them both to transform and walk around comfortably, and several smaller tunnels split off from it in different directions. A pile of rubble marked what remained of the tunnel they just barely escaped in time. There were no fairies anywhere.

"I don't know."

Rath yawned. "Wonder what they're up to. Well, I hope we didn't wake anything nasty up with all that noise, because I've got to get some sleep, and so do you."

"I'll keep watch," Char replied, tucking his knees up to bring Iris closer to him.

"Mm. Fine, if you can stay awake." Rath yawned again. "I won't blame you if you can't."

Char didn't reply, and Rath's breathing slowed within the minute. Sleep was tugging at Char, too, making his eyes heavy and hard to keep open. He brushed Iris' hair back behind her ear. It was chestnut brown again. He didn't know when that happened. The hectic race against the cave-in hadn't given him much time to check on her. He and Rath wouldn't have cut it so close if it weren't for the armor weighing them down, but they wouldn't have been able to infiltrate the castle so easily without it. He sighed and kissed her unnaturally pale forehead. She was still alive, and that was all that mattered right now.