The Wingfeather Saga Sequel

Into the Deep Darkness

"Janner! Janner are you okay?" Someone was shaking him. Janner shot up. He saw Kal, Leeli, Arundelle, and Thorn staring at him. Janner wanted to talk. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out. He kept moving his mouth trying to say something. Anything at all! Nothing except short little noises would come out. Whatever smoke Janner had inhaled had done something to his throat or his vocal cords or something! He noticed that his throat was throbbing.

"Janner what's wrong?" Leeli asked. He touched his throat and indicated that it was hurting. "Was it Lingston?" Kal asked. "His smoke?" Janner nodded quickly. Thorn helped him up and he stood and swayed on his feet for a moment. When he straightened himself up, he realized that Artham wasn't with them.

Janner started to try to explain how they had a fight and that Artham was gone too. "F-fight. U-u-uncle Ar- ar-!" He couldn't finish and he looked at Arundelle with eyes that just screamed, "I'm so sorry." She put a hand on her nephew's shoulder and said, "It's alright Janner. We will find him. All of them."

"We need to get him back to the castle." Leeli said. Janner looked at her and shook his head violently. "Janner you have to see a doctor or something! Look at you! It's not just voice but you are all beat up to!" Janner looked at the in confusion and realized that he must have gotten beat up during the fight. He didn't care though. He wouldn't go back until he found his family.

That's when Janner remembered. He looked up in the direction that Lingston ran. He remembered seeing him run away before he collapsed. Janner pushed everyone out of the way and looked at the ground. Footprints.

Janner looked at everyone and pointed to the ground. Thorn and Kal ran over and looked at the prints. "We don't know for sure if it's Lingston's but there's a good chance that they are. What do you think? Should we follow them?" Kal asked.

"I think we should. There's a real good chance that we find him." Thorn said. Everyone looked at Leeli and Arundelle. "Let's do it." Leeli said. "Yes let's do it." Arundelle agreed.

Janner looked up at the sky and realized that it was late afternoon. He remembered stopping to rest with his uncle around noon. Whereever Lingston went, he was only a few hours away.

Everyone kept on walking and Janner and Leeli were in the back of the group. Leeli was trying to help Janner by gathering some leaves that Nia had taught her were remedies for different things. She would mash some of the leaves together and put them in Janner's canteen.

"Drink it Janner. It will help." She would say after Janner spit out the foul tasting water. Janner obeyed and tried his hardest not to spit it out again. Slowly, whatever leaves Leeli had put in his drink were working. He couldn't speak very well or fast without his voice breaking or completely stopping. Not to mention how much pain it caused him just to get a word out. But slowly, he became a bit clearer.

After a few hours of walking, Thorn and Kalmar stopped and crouched down. Everyone did the same and they saw it. A cave. The footsteps stopped at the mouth of the cave.

"I... s-saw in my d-dr-dre-dream! I-it's the c-c- cave." Janner fumbled. No one knew how deep the cave went or if it was even the right one. But right now, what choice did they have?

"Here's the plan. Thorn and I will go in and check it out. If we aren't back by dark, run back and get as many guards as you can and come back here. You guys stay here and keep watch." Kal said. Janner stood up straight.

"I- want t-to go!" He breathed out in a raspy voice. "Janner you were in a fight and you are still weak from it. I can't let you go in." Kal said. "I-I'm the th-th-Thorne W-w-warden! My j-job is to p-protect y-you!" Janner argued. "Janner as you king I order you to stay here. As your brother, I am asking you, please, I don't want you getting hurt more." Kal pleaded.

Before Janner could object Thorn spoke up. "I'll stay here with Arundelle and Leeli. Janner you go with Kal." He said. Kal was about to object but Leeli put her hand in his shoulder. Kal sighed. "Alright. Fine. Let's go." Kal said.

Janner and Kal said goodbye to the group and they ran to the mouth of the cave. They gave each other one last look. They smiled at each other and nodded. They both looked back at the darkness and took a breath. Then, they entered into the deep darkness.

Sorry it's so short! Hope you enjoy!
God bless and Stay Gold!