Hunter's Return

Chapter 11: One member down

Marie's POV

"Ranie! Are you okay?" All of us looked down at her and exclaimed at the same time.

"Yes, I think so," she said as he stood up.

She touched her head to find no animalistic characteristics on herself.

"Hunter... Has more power that ever...," She said. "He has my magic now, and my magic was fire."

"But why did you give yourself up?" I asked, sitting down on the floor.

"Because I didn't want any of my friends to sacrifice themselves just because of a stupid snake," said the former.

"Thanks Ranie," I said with a smile. "But I don't see how we can get out of this cage."

"Too bad that fox over there gave up her power," Leonora complained. "The cage was made of her element."

"What? I had to," Ranie replied.

"Oh will you two quit it?" Isaac said. "I'll find a way out. I'm the eldest and I'm supposed to take responsibility of you guys."

"Okay then, how are you gonna get us outta this cage?" Ranie asked.

"I'll figure out something. You guys  go to that corner of the cage," Isaac commanded as he pointed to the corner.

I lazily stood up and walked over to the others.

"Let's play a game," Ranie said.

"This is no time for games, and besides, we have to keep quiet because Isaac has to concentrate," I said.

"Oh come on! Just to keep our spirits up!" Ranie urged.

"Let's just talk about something," Leonora suggested.

"Yeah Ranie! It's better than playing a noisy game!" I said.

"Oh great, look who's being noisy!" Ranie said.

"No, you are the noisy one!"

"Guys STOP FIGHTING! You both are noisy okay?" Leonora said.

Suddenly, an earthquake started shaking us apart.

"ISAAC WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" I yelled.

I looked over to the prince who was jut standing there, commanding the earth to do something.

"IT'S OKAY!" Isaac shouted over the noise. "JUST STAY CALM!"

Rocks started to fall on the fire, extinguishing the flames of the cage. Soon, the earthquake stopped and the cage became made of rocks which fell from the ceiling.

"One last touch," The prince said as I stomped his foot on the ground, making the rocks in his path roll from its position. He created a doorway.

Everyone cheered as they ran out the cage.

"See, I told you!" The prince said.

"I guess you were right Isaac! I could do it!" Ranie said happily.

"But there's more to discover...," He said.

"What ever do you mean?" Leonora asked.

"When I got us out of the cage, I used my special power," Isaac said in a low voice. "And I believe that you guys also have a special power somewhere inside yourselves, you just gotta find it."

"That's awesome!" Leonora exclaimed.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's get out of here!" I said.

Everyone ran up the long stairwell again and out to fresh air.

"Ahh! Fresh air!" Ranie said.

"Children," the prince said. "I now have to go back to the castle, my father must be worried sick about me, but just promise... Put a stop to Hunter, please."

"We will!" We all chorused.

We said our last goodbyes to Isaac, hoping that this was not the last we would see of him.

"Stay safe!" He said as he went away, back to Fructum.

As Isaac walked away, I turned around to the group and said "So, who should we see next?"

"Can we get Jacob?" Ranie asked. "I miss him."

Jacob was Ranie's brother. They live under the same roof but Jacob went exploring somewhere in the mountains.

"Yeah, I miss him too," I said.

"Sure! Why not?" Leonora said cheerfully.

"YAY JACOB! HERE WE COME!" Ranie said running away in the wrong direction.

"Uh Ranie, the mountains are this way," Leonora said pointing at the other direction.

Ranie stopped dead at her tracks, turned around and said "Oh... Right, I was just checking if you were paying attention!"

"Oh Ranie! Quickly! Let's go get our horses!" I said.

We went back to Leonora's little cave and got our horses. Since Isaac was not with us anymore, Leonora got his horse.

We trotted out of the cage and headed off to the mountains.