The Enderlox Trilogy III: Seto's Triumph

N I N E T E E N: War

***TY'S POV***

What in the name of Notch did Sky mean? I'm going to need a new shirt? I mean, what? Why is me getting a new shirt the most important part of Sky's plan? I like the shirt I have now, it has holes for my wings.

Wings, I think. Wings. Don't let them know that you're you. Wings.

"Don't let them know that I'm me," I say aloud. At that moment, I understand exactly what Sky means, and why it's vital to go now.

"Jason, come on. We've got to pack this camp up."

"Why?" Jason asks.

"We have to strike now. They'll no doubt find this place by morning. We're not far enough into the woods to be out of danger."

"How are we striking? "What did Sky mean?"

"Just trust me, okay?" I say. "Pack up the camp and get the diamond pickaxes. We'll have to break a lot of up obsidian in a little bit of time. Well you will, anyway. I have to go find Sky now, alright?"

"Yeah man. No problem."

I too step out of the tent but turn at the last minute, reminding myself of all of the danger I might face doing this. I'm immortal now, so the worst thing that could happen to me would be capture or death in combat. If I'm captured, there's absolutely no way I'll ever be coming back. Not on my own, anyway. So if that happens, there are some people that I need to remind about my feelings for them. Even so, I have no time.

"Jason," I say, looking him right in the eyes. Even through the orange glass of his helmet I can see his perfectly undamaged brown eyes. His eyes remind me of what the rest of his face looks like, the rest of his body. Everything that happened to him. Poor Jason, I can't help but think. He's had it so much worse than I have, yet he's so much stronger in the face of danger. Jason is one of the people I respect most, and it makes me really happy that I'm one of his closest friends. I love Jason like a brother. He's one of the people I've got to remind.

"Jason, if anything happens to me I want you to know, you're one of my best friends and I'm going to miss you. Also, if anything happens to me, tell Sky, tell Ashley, Seto, tell everyone I love them, okay? That's all I ask. Can you do that for me?"

"Of course, but I hope I won't have to."

"You might, buddy. You just might."

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It's happening. Right here, right now, everything is happening. Sky grabbed me a shirt without holes for my wings to help disguise me. My wings are tucked flat to my back, trying to make me look as normal as possible. I'm also wearing one of Jerome's old hoodies. I pull the hood up over my head so people don't see my face as well, so they don't notice my fangs or my purple eyes. Plus, the hoodie has long sleeves so the scales on my arms won't be visible either. I tuck my tail up against my back as well; doing my best to hide every part of me that screams 'dragon-demon.'

And now, it's happening. I've got a sword in my hand, preparing to fight everything away. Preparing to be murdered by an angry group of Wither Worshipers. Preparing to be an inch away from death, preparing to be captured, preparing to die. Preparing to leave Ashley behind.

The rest of the team has diamond picks in their hands for breaking down the portal. I turn to Ashley before we go our separate ways. I look her straight in the eyes, and I watch as a tear rolls down her cheek. Not wanting to watch her like this, I lean in and give her a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling away. She tugs at the sleeves of the hoodie, not wanting me to leave her, but she knows as well as I know; we have to do this.