The Protector and the Peacemaker

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Three

(Sarah)

No, no, please, no! Sarah begged as she raced through the tower, panic coursing through her veins. Please don't take him away from me!

She could feel Porter's blood matting her fur to her body as she ran, barely slowing down to turn corners and go down stairs. She could feel where the wood protruded from Porter's body and pressed into hers, but not a heartbeat.

Porter was dying! The thought was so surreal that she could barely believe it. Her exhaustion weighed on her muscles, trying to slow her down, but she ignored it, racing down the hallways and stairways at a breakneck pace. It wouldn't matter if Granger managed to beat Vega or not if they couldn't make it out of the tower before Porter bled to death. He lay perfectly still, not moving a muscle as her paws carried them through the tower. For all she knew, she was already carrying a corpse...

Another wave of terror washed over her, spurring the young sphinx to run even faster

A minute later, Droma managed to catch up to her, his long legs helping him match her pace. "That way!" he ordered, pointing down another hallway. Sarah didn't question him. He knew the way out better than she did, and they didn't have any time to waste. Under the giant's guidance, it took them only a few minutes to escape the maze-like tower.

The storm hit Sarah the moment she charged out of the massive door. The wind almost threw her off her paws, and the rain pelted her like bullets while thunder boomed in the skies above her. It was only by her sheer determination that she was able to continue on her way. She ran across the muddy field towards the forest, where she knew the trees would give them at least a little cover.

The sphinx didn't stop until she felt they were a safe distance away from the tower. The trees provided a little protection from the rain and wind, but not much. Panting from the exertion, she allowed Droma and Azkular to lift Porter from her back and place him on the ground. His eyes were still closed, and his skin was alarmingly pale. His clothes were stained with blood, and Sarah whimpered when she looked at the javelins again.

"Is- is he all right?" she asked weakly, and then cringed. He had been stabbed through the chest. Of course he wasn't all right!

Faska knelt down and felt for the boy's pulse. After a couple seconds, he nodded. "He's alive, but just barely. He's fading fast."

Sarah fought back the panic that threatened to overwhelm her, and turned her attention to Droma. "Why didn't his armor protect him? It never even appeared!"

The expression on Droma's face made him look as if he were in pain. "Because he had to summon it," he explained. "I think Porter was so focused on protecting you that protecting himself didn't even cross his mind."

That only made Sarah feel worse. Porter hadn't protected himself for her sake? She let out a desperate whine, and turned back to Faska, who was still kneeling over him. "Heal him!"

Faska looked from her to Porter, and shook his head regretfully. "I can't. I barely had enough energy to heal the wound in Droma's side, and..." He averted his gaze, looking at the ground. "Even if I could heal him, pulling the spears out would kill him before I had the chance."

Pain stabbed at Sarah's heart, but she wouldn't let herself give up. She looked at Ozzie. "Do you still have any of that potion Granger gave you?"

Ozzie paled and shook his head. "I drank it all. I didn't know he'd need it. I- I'm sorry!"

Sarah looked back at the boy on the ground in front of her. She was able to hold back the anguished sob that rose up in her throat, but she couldn't hold back the tears.