Adelade - A new beginning

Chapter 17 - Breakthrough

Adnaan surveyed the area and terrain as Speron rested, Looking over at her as she sat on her knees, eyes closed in meditation, or maybe prayer Adnaan thought. He once again admired her figure and paid special attention to her shoulders, arms and legs, drinking in her graceful elegance and physique, when a voice brought him back to reality. Her voice.

"You're staring again" she teased, eyes still closed, as she continued to sit there unmoving. 

"No I'm not " Adnaan stammered, he turned away from her, "I'm I'm, making sure no one snuck up on us," he turned back around to see Speron behind him smiling slightly. 

"It's ok" she whispered, and brushed his face and elfling ear, we should catch up to the others".

"Your doing ok" Adnaan looked in her eyes.

"I'll manage" she said as she picked up her pack. "I hope the others haven't ventured too far, she said with a slight wince in pain but continued. She reached out and took Adnaan's hand and they started towards the demons hand. 

Adnaan strode next to her and she looked at him, "What are you thinkin?"

 "I'm just wondering, when this is all over, where will that leave you and I?" Adnaan looked at Speron. 

Speron had hoped this question wouldn't come up for a while yet and she sighed, "I'm not sure, I'm not even sure we will all survive this. we've seen evidence that many haven't." she looked at Adnaan, "I care for you, and if we survive we can think about the future. "What I will say is that I am glad you're here with me and I wouldn't want to go through this without you. Beyond that, I have to remain focused on now, what I and we need to do, to accomplish. One step at a time, ok"?

Adnaan looked at Speron and smiled, "I get that, I get our situation, and everything else, can wait, just know I wont stop to ensure you get out of this alive, and I am very glad, were here together" he clasped her hand in his. 

"Lets get moving, I think we have ground to cover to catch up to the others, and no Cal to  let us know about Basso traps now," Speron said as they walked into the palm of the hand. The duo looked around the palm and the outstretched fingers of stone. Speron, saw Kreon, climbing one of the stone fingers, "Kreon she shouted!"

Adnaan looked to the fingers but saw nothing, Speron looked again in time to see Kreon lose his grip and fall off the tall rock outcrop. "Oh no" she gasped and took off to catch him. As she flew higher she saw Kreon disappear mid air as another gust of cold air engulfed her. She managed to land, unceremoniously and half frozen, she looked around, Adnaan was no where around. 

"Adnaan" she yelled, her voice both angry and panicked. "ADNAAN!! she yelled again, trying to see through her half frozen eyes. Half expecting to have him come close but to no avail. She realized she was all alone, 

Adnaan woke up in his bed. he heard the birds outside singing their song, he tried to clear his mind, wasn't I just on the peak of that mountain he thought, how did I get here? He realized he had been sweating, and breathing hard. His Mada came in, "Are you ok? Another bad dream?"

"I was at the demon's hand" he said as he panted, "I was catching my friends, They were in trouble but I can't remember any more than that he said".  "Mada how did I get here?"

"So just like before, she sighed as she looked at him. "My dear child, The Basso found you three weeks ago and brought you back from some strange mountain range, but they said you were the only one they found. No trace of anyone else."

Shock and horror crossed Adnaan's face, "No that's not possible, I was just there!' 

"Your memory will come back with time young one" she soothed, "I've had to remind you three times but the Basso say you'll get better, we just need to give you time'.