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

Chapter Thirty - A Losing Battle

Hm... I don't know but I might end book two in this chapter or the next.

Zoey's POV

"I want to get out of here," Zoey muttered.

"I feel the same way," Jef agreed.

They've managed to pass a few more traps on the way, almost costing their lives.

"How did Ursala make these traps?" Irene wondered, "I mean, she's a bear."

"A Great Bear," Ivan said, "She must've spent three years to build Shai Lu Man, the Place of Desolation, and probably more places that we still have to go to."

"But why would she spend three years just to make these traps and put compasses?" Riley asked, "Had she known that she was going to die so she built these that will lead to the talisman?"

"Remember the prophecy?" Zoey said, "She sent the prophecy to the Great Beasts. She must've known this would come."

"Yes but who did she built the traps for?" Ivan asked, "Us?"

Before anyone could reply, Zoey heard a click as she stepped on something and before they knew it, the ground began to shake and seperate.

"Oh no, not again," Irene groaned.

A wall started rising behind them, blocking their exit while another wall was rising up ahead, trapping them.

"Now we're dead for sure," Jef exclaimed.

Looking closely, Zoey spotted some ledges where they can use to climb up the wall.

"Quick, follow me," Zoey ordered, jumping and avoiding the gaps that were forming as the floor kept seperating and moving.

With one leap, she made it to the wall and started climbing up as fast as she could. As she reached the top, she looked back and extended her hand to Jef, who was closest. He quickly grab her hand and she pulled him up. The others managed to climb up but then the wall they were on started to shake.

"Couldn't Ursala have built traps that are less life-threatening?" Irene muttered.

"Unless she really want us killed," Riley mumbled back.

As the wall began to shake and tremble, Zoey saw some more walls where they could climb on.

"Quick, this way," Zoey said, taking the lead as they started jumping from wall to wall.

The walls kept on shaking and Zoey fell down with the others. All around them the walls were closing in on them.

"The only way out is forward," Ivan exclaimed as he took the lead and started running forwards.

They ran as fast as they could as the walls started to close in on them. Up ahead, she saw a wall about to close their only way out. Ivan made it first followed by Riley and Irene. Jef came next and turned around to help Zoey. Zoey ran for her life as the wall neared and she slid through just as the wall closed behind her. They lay there, panting for a minute.

"I...hate...traps," Zoey said in between breaths.

"Well, there's just one last obstacle we have to face," Jef replied, pointing to the building, "Cause i'm pretty sure there's more in there."

"Changing the word trap to obstacle doesn't change a thing," Zoey muttered as they got up and started walking towards the building.

John's POV

They kept on rowing in silence for hours and there was still no sign of land. Barely anyone talked for the air was thick with tension. John glanced over at the others. Haley was sleeping again while George sat beside her, clearly tired. Zoron and Hope were having a conversation while Eilene was reading the book, with a look of concentration. Ever since their last talk, they barely even looked at each other.

John sighed as he looked around. All he could see was a black sea stretching for miles and an endless black roof with no stars at all. He really wanted to get out of here and see the others again but he knew that wouldn't happen. He knew that he was most likely never going to get back up there again. He was fighting a losing battle.

He saw Haley jolt awake as if she just had a bad dream. She was breathing hard, her eyes filled with panic.

"Is everything okay Haley?" George asked, clearly worried.

"Um, remember when I told you that there were three wards of protection around the Evertree?" Haley reminded them all, "The Arachane Fields, the Sulfur Sea and there's one more that we have to fa-"

Before she could finish her sentence, John felt pain go through his head as he crouched down in pain. He could hear voices in the background as pictures flashed into his mind. He could see huge sea-like creatures swimming right towards them, a black twisting spiral right on their foreheads.

"What's happening to him?" He heard George's panicked voice as he regained his senses.

"It's coming," John rasped, fear filling his eyes.

He caught Haley's gaze and he knew he just saw the third ward of protection. Then there it was, two huge creatures with the bodies of a serpent swimming right towards them.

"They're supposed to be guarding the way towards the Evertree," Haley explained quickly, "They never let evil pass so why are they going to attack?"

"Because they're infected," Eilene replied grimly.

The sea creatures then slammed themselves against the boat but miraculously, it didn't sink.

"It's a miracle we aren't underwater yet," Zoron exclaimed.

"If these eels or snakes or whatever, gaurd the way to the Evertree," Eilene spoke, "Then we must be close by."

"Quick, paddle," John ordered as they all grab their paddles and paddled towards the Evertree.

As John kept paddling, he felt his grip weaken. He could sense where the eels were and they were coming closer.

"They're getting closer," John rasped.

Then there it was, two huge eels rising from the water, their teeths gleaming in the dark. Just then, Haley had grabbed two purple blobs and threw then right into their mouths. Dazzling, bright, purple light exploded in their mouths.

"Those are my last two lights," Haley exclaimed, "We need to paddle."

With the sea serpents struggling from the bright light, they kept on paddling as fast as they could. As they neared the shore, John almost lost his grip on the paddle. The serpents were coming closer and much more faster then expected.

"We're not going to make it in time," John exclaimed.

"Keep paddling," Zoron replied.

He glanced back and he could see their fins, slicing through the water towards them. As they were a couple of meters away, the serpents rose up again and were about to dive toward them. Then, Eilene had grabbed the torch which was with Zoron, their only torch. Then she threw it at the serpents. The serpent got blinded from the light and had dove into the water, missing the boat but making a huge wave.

The huge wave then crashed into their boat and had carried them towards the shore. John felt water all around him and then silence. He coughed out the water and groaned as he found himself on land. He couldn't believe they had just survived that.

"Is everyone okay?" Zoron rasped.

Just then, John felt pain shot through his head again. He could feel the parasite at the very side of his head, an inch away from his forehead. He caught Eilene's eye and they both knew that the time has come. John was going to lose this battle and they both knew it.

The time has arrived! The moment we've all not been wanting to wait for! (Lol does that make any sense?)

Will they retrieve the talisman or compass and meet up with the other group? What will happen to John? Will Eilene stop him like she promised to? Will they be able to get the other half of the talisman? Will they find out what the mysterious prophecy means?

I'll be updating the next and most likely the last chapter of this book today. Please vote and leave a comment on what you guys think. Stay tuned for the next chapter!