These Hidden Burns

~ Chapter 16 ~

~ Aphmau's POV ~

Was it an Earthquake?None of us were sure as the ground shook.Or rather,most of us weren't sure.Angela wore a calm expression on her face as she held a cup of coffee between her hands.Her eyes were currently on the wooden table.She remained silent until the ground stopped shaking.

"I'll be back momentarily,you can follow me if you wish.",Angela stated before she then stood up,leaving her coffee on the table as she went out the door.

We all looked at each other for a moment before we followed Angela out.The villagers outside seemed panicked,but they were silent.Liza's caretaker stood in front of a home,little Liza crying softly in Hannah's arms.Poor child.

Angela had managed to get a little ahead of us,Skylar at her side along with another guard as they approached the gate.We managed to catch up to them before they reached the gate,however once we arrived I saw a few mages,and a few females.All of them seemed to be rather angry."Lord Angela,I would say it's a pleasure to see you,however it's not.I don't understand why you won't allow us back into your village!",One of the women exclaimed.However,once I saw her hat I realized that the other women there were witches.

"June,I allowed you to come in my village three weeks ago,and you caused far too much trouble along with the other witches and with the mages.I warned you all of the fact that I would kick you out of the village for causing so much chaos,but yet you all ignored my warning and so I had to kick you out!My people are my top priority.",Angela stated back and the woman scoffed."Fine then!We'll come back and destroy the place when you won't expect-"The female was cut off when a few of Hetra's many guards surrounded the group.

In the matter of minutes they were all tied up and sent to I guess to a small prison somewhere in Hetra.The group was bickering back and forth as they were being taken away.
Angela sighed softly and rubbed her temples before she looked over at all of us."My apologies for-"She began before the ground began to shake again.

Angela stumbled a bit in an attempt to keep her balance.The ground stopped shaking after a few minutes passed."What the hell?",Garroth exclaimed as he looked around the group,everyone else doing the same thing."My lord,what shall we do?",Skylar asked,fixing her helm as she looked at Angela.

Honestly Angela looked to be rather out of it.Zoned out.Whatever you prefer to call it.

She had went silent once the shaking began and remained silent for a few more minutes before she spoke up.
"We need to find out what's the source.Because we never have earthquakes like this.This is unnatural.",Angela spoke in a firm tone,clasping her hands together the moment she started speaking.No one made an attempt to argue with her,since that was something to be concerned about.

I knew what mattered most to Angela already,her people,Liza,and us.You could tell from her protective stances and words."I'm willing to help out.",Garroth spoke up,standing straight as he stepped away from the wall,that now had a few small cracks here and there,due to the two strong earthquakes.
However,no buildings had crumbled to pieces,surprisingly.But just because one hadn't crumbled yet,didn't mean they wouldn't fall to pieces at anytime.

We needed to be both careful and fast.

"Skylar you need to stay here,say if the cause of all of this shows up.",Angela spoke now softly and Skylar nodded her head before she went off to do something.
Probably to go calm the villagers,that were more than likely in utter shock and were probably terrified.

I spoke up once silence fell over us."I'll help out as well.If need be I'll stay behind to watch the village and the village children.".Everyone then began to volunteer after that and Angela smiled gently at us all."Thank you,all of you.Some of you can stay here if you wish and the rest of you can help find the source of all of this."

"Sounds like a plan.",Katelyn stated,cracking her knuckles and cracking her neck with a small sigh.Angela had the gate opened slightly before she went off to go get a few things.

While she was gone we all separated ourselves into two groups.

Katelyn,Garroth,and myself were going with Angela,while Aaron was going to stay behind to watch over everyone.It wasn't that hard to divide us.Aaron left us to go find Skylar and not a moment later,Angela showed up and tossed us a few weapons and armor."Just in case.".That was all Angela said as she handed over a few diamond swords,Diamond armor and she gave each of us an enchanted bow and some arrows.

Katelyn and Garroth said a few 'Thank You's,I doing the same once they were done.She simply nodded her head before she slipped on some armor and took out a map."Let's go.",Angela spoke softly and we all nodded our heads before we slipped outside the gate.

And out into the unknown.