Guardians of the Prophecy

Chapter Eighteen: Second Reunion

*  So I know this came out much later than I wanted it to.  But I'm getting closer to the eventual climax and why they're doing what they're doing.  I appreciate all you readers who continue to read and comment on the story!  Things will start picking up really soon!  

Note:  This chapter is mostly edited.

Rima's eyes widened.  "Alistair's alive, then."

"Shit, he is."  Caleb looked dumbfounded.

“That means that we basically left him for dead,” she noted.  Before she noticed everyone else’s worried expressions, however, Rima could feel her face stretch into a stupid grin.

He’s alive.

Laurel scoffed lightly.  “We knew he’d be okay.”

Even then, there was the matter of Alistair having to find them.  As much as they would have liked to dwell on the happy news, the group began making their way over to the closest city to rest.  

It's been a week, Rima thought as she trudged after Laurel, Caleb and Shan up the stairs of the inn.  I guess he isn't coming—  No.  What matters is he's still alive, and hopefully safe.

She ignored the sudden dryness in her throat and shook her head; Shaheen ruffled her feathers and made a small chirping sound on her shoulder.  Rima turned her head, slightly, towards the bird, and the falcon nuzzled against her cheek as if she knew the Guardian needed it.

The group was led to a series of rooms on the third floor; she and Caleb had their rooms while, obviously, the healer and the monk shared one.  Since Laurel had taken more money form the bank, and Rima had duplicated more coins for them to use, they were able to afford more accomodations than usual.

As everyone else entered their own rooms, Rima dropped her pack onto the floor near the bedside table while Shaheen fluttered to the other side of the room and landed on the back of a chair.  The falcon proceeded to preen herself just as the Guardian collapsed onto the bed with a sigh, closing her eyes.

~*~

Rima got out of bed a little later than usual the next day to the sound of Caleb knocking on her door.

“Rima, you okay?” he asked through the door.  “Are you going to come down for breakfast?”

She opened the door to see Laurel, Caleb and Shan standing anxiously outside her room.  She offered a small smile.

"Yeah, I’m just a little tired.”

“From the test?” Laurel asked shrewdly.  “You did use quite a bit of energy.”

“Maybe.”

After being subjected to a quick check from the healer, her three friends left her in the room to keep resting.

When she attempted to lay down, however, Rima found that she only closed her eyes for about half an hour before she couldn’t stay in bed any longer.  Thoughts of Alistair kept popping up in her mind, making her heart race with excitement.  She forced herself out of bed.

Rima pulled on her cloak just as Shaheen, who had been patiently waiting for her preparing to leave, chirped softly before taking off from the ledge of the window, most likely to go hunting.

She had just stepped out of the room when she ran headfirst into something solid, before feeling a large, warm and rather rough hand wrap around her wrist.

“Rima.”

Her gaze shot down to the hand, traveling up a muscular arm with lightning speed.  They stopped at the parted, full, sensual lips before her wide eyes met Alistair’s searing green ones.  She couldn’t help but notice that he looked paler than before, and had dark circles ringed his eyes.  But he still looked as handsome as ever.  Her breath caught in her throat.  Her heart could have burst with joy.