Spirit Animals: The Keeper's Book

Chapter Ten: The Elephant & Three Spiders

They walked through the tunnels below the world, casting a train of eerie silhouettes, all stretched out and flickering against the cave walls. Jenna tried to focus on her companions instead of their monstrous shadows, but she couldn't stop her eyes from wandering to the rock walls, where their distorted versions twisted and hovered. Worthy's shadow was also in a spindly form and Destiny's shadow spread in the tunnel. Jenna didn't feel too comfortable about Destiny wandering by herself with a bunch of infected creatures on the loose still.
"We must be deep inside the caves now," Worthy said to Jenna. "I wonder if Talon found a passage through?"
She shrugged helplessly. "Your guess is good as mine." She looked around, trying to find any light of the Erdas. "Is it day or night? I'm having trouble telling."
"How long has it been?" Worthy shrugged. "I've lost all sense of day or night."
They walked through the tunnels below the earth, casting a train of eerie silhouettes, all stretched out and flickering against the cave walls. Jenna tried to focus on her companions instead of their monstrous shadows, but she couldn't stop her eyes from wandering to the rock walls, where their distorted versions twisted and hovered. Worthy's shadow was also in a spindly form and Destiny's shadow spread in the tunnel.
But at that moment, they had entered a giant cave that had four ancient pillars in the shape of a square. Jenna frowned when she saw an elephant walking in an abandoned courtyard. She spotted a disturbing gray spiral on the elephant's forehead. Jenna noticed that Destiny started growling and Worthy became tense at the sight of the beast.
Jenna caught their eyes and they both exchanged a knowing glance. The two partners both ran towards the infected elephant together while Worthy provided backup for them. That's when a fierce battle has begun between the bonded partners and the infected elephant. The infected elephant against the young Keeper, the elephant is enforced by the spiral while the other is bonded by Nectar. The elephant was a powerful opponent, but so was Jenna and Destiny. Her weapon clashed against the infected elephant, powers against power and enemy against enemy. Destiny's agility and strength is a strong match against the infected elephant's abilities. Jenna had used her skills and powers to get out of trouble more than once from the elephant's attempted attacks at her and Destiny. After a few more hits, there was a white flash and it turned back into an ordinary elephant. The trio watched as the elephant ran away.
"The poor thing." Worthy shook his head sadly. "This is the kind of suffering our group hopes to end."
Jenna glanced at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Something evil is coming, Keeper," replied Worthy ominously. "And it's older and more dangerous than even the Conquerors."
"What?" Jenna suddenly felt the weight of the situation being weighed down on her shoulders.
"My group is trying to find a way to stop it," Worthy continued.
"Then, why can't you and your team join the Greencloaks?" asked Jenna curiously.
"Why can't we join with the Greencloaks?" He fidgeted nervously at her question, but Worthy knew that he had to answer her question so she could trust him. "We... can't. Believe me, your people and mine are best kept separate." But his heart was telling him that he and her belong together. Though, the guilt in his heart was still there and yet it feels lighter now. He wonders how Jenna would react if she'd figured out that he and Devin Trunswick were one and the same person.
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They walked through the tunnels below the world, casting a train of eerie silhouettes, all stretched out and flickering against the cave walls. Jenna tried to focus on her companions instead of their monstrous shadows, but she couldn't stop her eyes from wandering to the rock walls, where their distorted versions twisted and hovered. Worthy's shadow was also in a spindly form and Destiny's shadow spread in the tunnel.
Destiny soon perked up and bounded away from the two of them. Jenna exchanged a concerned glance with Worthy. She didn't feel too comfortable about Destiny wandering by herself with a bunch of infected creatures on the loose.
"Destiny?" Jenna called out, searching for her spirit animal. "Where are you?"
They heard the red wolf's footsteps coming back towards them. It didn't take long for Destiny's form to be seen in front of them. Jenna sighed in relief and started petting Destiny. The red wolf soon revealed unfamiliar footprints to the duo.
Worthy gasped, worried. "Footprints... These are from Talon's boots! And they're fresh!"
They ran through the tunnels below the world, casting a train of eerie silhouettes, all stretched out and flickering against the cave walls. Jenna tried to focus on her companions instead of their monstrous shadows, but she couldn't stop her eyes from wandering to the rock walls, where their distorted versions twisted and hovered. Worthy's shadow was also in a spindly form and Destiny's shadow spread in the tunnel.
"We're close." Worthy ran alongside Jenna and Destiny. "Hurry, this way!"
The two partners both ran into another abandoned courtyard towards three infected spiders together while Worthy provided backup for them. That's when a fierce battle has begun between the bonded partners and the three infected spiders. The infected spiders against the young Keeper, the spiders is enforced by the spirals while the other is bonded by Nectar. The spiders were swift opponents, but so was Jenna and Destiny. Her weapon clashed against the infected spiders, powers against power and enemy against enemy. Destiny's agility and strength is a strong match against the infected spiders' abilities. Jenna had used her skills and powers to get out of trouble more than once from the spiders' attempted attacks at her and Destiny. After a few more hits, there were white flashes and the three spiders turned back into ordinary spiders. The duo both watched as the spiders ran away.
But Jenna suddenly noticed that Worthy was missing, but she saw another Redcloak running towards her. She kind of looked like Worthy with the red cloak and white mask, only her mask resembles a secretary bird and guessed that she's probably Niloan.
"He took Worthy!" cried out Talon. "Please, we have to save him!"
Jenna's eyes flashed with determination while Destiny had a fierce look in her eyes. "Count on it. But who kidnapped him?"
"That man is called Maddox," Talon explained to Jenna grimly. "Once he was a Conqueror, but now..."
"What happened to him?" Jenna asked, baffled.
"Something has infected him," continued Talon. "It's poisoned his thoughts, made him vicious and paranoid. Who knows what he'll do?"
"We have to rescue Worthy," said Jenna determinedly.
Talon nodded. "I'm Talon. And you...?" Her voice strayed off as she took in her face, skin, and cloak with horrified realization. "Oh no. You're the Keeper! Worthy, you fool. You went to the GREENCLOAKS for help?"
"Talon, don't blame Worthy." Jenna's cut through Talon's horrified exclamation. "He was really worried about you. He knew the beasts here were infected, so he came to me and Destiny for our aid."
"And it looks like we're going to aid him," said Talon.
Jenna smiled at Talon calmly and nodded to her. She's pretty observant to details, and she could tell that both Worthy and Talon shared a pair of siblings' bond between them. Though, she has felt a little odd around him, as if her heart started racing whenever she's near him. Jenna is unsure if Worthy has the same feelings towards her and she started to take notice that he's one and the same person. And by tomorrow, it might be confirmed.