Guardians of the Prophecy

Chapter Sixteen: Overcome

* I'm happy that I finally had the time to post this.  I've got a lot of screenwriting homework to deal with.  It is enjoyable though, because world-building and character development is always nice to work on, even if it is for stories that I will and won't be putting on here.  Quite a bit happens in this chapter and some of the flow is questionable, but drama's always nice, right?  :3  So, thanks so much to the readers who are still reading!  I really appreciate it, and votes and comments, please, are always nice.  Hope school is going well for everyone!  

Note: The chapter is mostly edited and the sporadic spacing towards the end is intentional.

"We should be there in a few days," Shan said, examining the map closely.  

"Not if we have horses," Laurel said cheerfully.

"We're going to get horses?" the monk asked in an interested tone, turning to look at her.

"Once we get to the bank.  I mean, might as well.  We've been set back a lot because of a certain someone."  Her voice trailed off but Rima didn't miss the blistering look she gave Alistair, who was completely ignoring her and staring at the sky.

Rima couldn't help but smile as she stroked Shaheen's plumage.  Everyone's moods, including her own, had been much improved.  She knew that it was partially because of Alistair and also because they were quickly nearing the Earth Temple.  She wouldn't have been able to describe how relieved she was; the stress her Protector had been causing the group for the past few weeks was finally ebbing away, and life was good again.

They stopped outside of a shifty-looking forest.  Everyone, particularly the falcon, was reluctant to go inside.  But, as Caleb pointed out, it was the fastest way to the next city, so they stepped in between the trees and stuck together.

Rima shivered; a chill ran down the length of her spine.

This place is so creepy, she thought as she slowly led the way deeper into the forest of tangled, gnarled trees.  Having Alistair close by her didn't seem to be helping much.  Shaheen was huddled close to her chest: the falcon had refused to fly in the area so the Guardian had resorted to tucking the bird in her cloak.  The near-silence and unnerving atmosphere seemed to be heightening her sensitivity to sound and movement.

Something snapped to the right of them, and she whirled around, her heart leaping into her throat.  She instinctively clenched her fist, and the flames blazing in her palm promptly extinguished, plunging them into darkness.

Damn!

"Rima, what are you doing?"  Laurel's voice squeaked behind her, amidst the soft curses that everyone else uttered.

"Sorry, sorry."

Rima felt a hand grope at her shoulder; inhaling sharply, she hastily reignited the fire with "Enya."  Her shoulders relaxed when she saw it was Alistair from her peripheral vision.  Right when the flames lit within her hand, she saw green eyes glowing between the dark trees.  Shaheen shivered against her chest, eyes wide and staring.

Everyone waited, unnaturally still and with bated breath, as the green eyes and soft rustling of foliage drew nearer.  Then it stepped out into the clearing in front of them.

It was a sianach.  She had read about the creatures in a book regarding Bonum mythology.

The deer was such a monstrous size that it towered over Shan, who was easily the tallest out of them all at well over six feet.  Its brown-and-grey coat was thick and somewhat shaggy, and its heavy hooves looked as if it could trample a wild boar flat in seconds.  Although its body was quite muscular, its long legs remained lean.