Spirit Animals - The Ten Keepers: The Lost Talisman of Ursala [Book Two]

Chapter Four - Split Up

John's POV

Out of all Ursala or Ursa or whatever chose, she had to put him with Eilene. She had to put him with Eilene! Of course John started arguing with the bear who just can't say anything cause, obviously she's a bear. Eilene or Lin or whatever didn't say anything at all. If anything, she looked bored.

"Okay, John calm down," Zoron snapped, "We're in your group too. Me, Hope, and George so don't act like this is the end of the world or something."

"But it will be the end if you keep on whining like that," Eilene or Lin, said.

John glared at her but before he could say anything, Lin interrupted him, "We're wasting time. We need to go now."

"So where are we going?" Riley asked, "Do we go underground or do you guys go underground?"

Lin just looked at Ursa. Ursa snorted then pawed at Lin's pack. Lin pulled out the book and placed it on the ground. Ursa managed to flip to a page with a picture of a tunnel and she pointed her nose at Lin.

"We're going underground," Lin said, her voice almost shaking.

"And where are we supposed to find the Staff of Cycles?" Ivan asked.

Lin pulled something out of her pack and handed it to Riley. It was a compass but it didn't seem to be pointing north.

"That should be...pointing towards the other talisman," Lin said.

"Where did you get this?" Jef asked.

"My father's," she answered, "We need to go now. We're wasting time."

"Now?" Irene exclaimed, "but we just got here."

"Fine then, we can stay here while the Evertree is dying," Lin said, "and when the Evertree dies, so does the bonds between our Spirit Animals."

John looked at her suspiciously. There was a time when he trust Eilene but right now, he doesn't know what to believe anymore. Did she really mean to say that she actually cared for him or was that fake as well? He didn't know if she was saying the truth or not. He didn't know if this was another trick.

"If you don't believe me then you can wait until the Evertree shudders and the bonds weaken," Lin said as if she could read his mind.

He didn't want to believe it but something tells him that she was right.

John sighed, "Fine, where is this cave?"

Everyone looked at him in surprise, including Lin.

"You actually believe her?" George exclaimed.

"Do we have much choice?" John sighed again, "If what she's saying is true then we don't have much time. And it kinda makes sense."

No one spoke for a while until Zoron nodded, "Yes, he's right."

Everyone exchanged some doubtful glances but eventually nodded.

"I guess we'll see you guys later," Riley said.

"We'll be back before you know it," John said then turned to Lin, "So, which way?"

Lin didn't say anything and just started walking. The others exchanged goodbyes as they parted ways. This was the first time the team was splitting up and he didn't like it but there's not much choice.

They had finally reached the cave which was deep in a jungle in Nilo. They finally spotted the huge cave. John looked down and saw darkness, nothing but darkness. Zoron picked up a small stone and dropped it. It kept on falling and falling and they didn't hear a single sound.

"That's...a long way down," Hope said.

John glanced at Lin who looked at the cave. He thought he saw a flash of fear but it was gone almost to quickly.

"So, are we going or not?" John asked.

Lin hesitated then without another word, started climbing down, the others following. They slowly climbed down since it was steep. One wrong move and they'll fall. Just then, the rock where Hope had stepped on gave way and before they knew it, Hope was holding on to the ledge with one hand.

"Hope," Zoron exclaimed and tried to made his way but he was too far and wasn't going to make it on time, but Lin wasn't.

Just when Hope had lost hold, Lin had snatched out her hand and grabbed her. Now Lin was holding on the ledge with one hand. Lin gritted her teeth as she tried to hold on. Just when she almost slipped, John, George, and Zoron where there and they pulled them up.

"Are you okay?" Zoron asked Hope, worriedly.

"Y-Yeah, i'm fine," Hope said, shakily.

John looked at Lin, expecting her to start snapping at them but to his surprise, her gaze was fixed on where they were. John was sure that he saw the fear in her eyes. John was about to say something when Lin shook her head.

"We need to keep going," Lin said.

Just then, the ground below them shook and before they could think, the ground had given away and they were falling.

Irene's POV

"I don't trust Lin," Irene was saying, "She looks so...different. Even acts different."

"Well, we don't have a choice," Ivan sighed, "If we're going to save Erdas, there's nothing we can do but listen to her."

"I miss Eilene," Zoey said, "The old Eilene. The Eilene before the war, before she betrayed us."

"We all do," Riley said, nodding.

"But we need to accept it," Jef spoke, "In a way, Eilene is gone. It's Lin now."

It got silent between them until Irene broke the silence, "No. Eilene is still there, I know she is. She's just not showing it, something's blocking the Eilene we all know. She's still there but there's something that's making her stop."

"I think I know why Ursa put Eilene in John's group," Riley said, "because if there's anyone who could bring Eilene back, it's him."

Something has definitely happened to Eilene. Is she really dead or is she still there? And did the team survive from that fall cause that's a really long fall. Please vote and leave a comment on what you guys think. Stay tuned for the next chapters!