The Maze Race

*Note* This is a short story I wrote for school. It's not that short it was Thirteen pages when I handed it in. All things aside, I hope you enjoy my first fully published story.

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Kace sauntered down the picturesque gravel road to his house, rocks crunching under his booted feet. His blonde hair and hazel eyes made him look younger than his eighteen years although his muscular stature took away some of his childish charm. In his calloused, sooty hands he held a letter addressed to him. Who would be writing him? He had no friends that weren't close by and other than that, he had his sister and father and no other family was known to him. He opened the door to the straw roofed cottage that housed him, his toddler sister and his father. Eyes still glued to the address on the letter, he stumbled into the room him and his sister share.
"Kace!" screamed Quinn, his sister.
"Hey Quinn, why don't you run out to the garden to help dad? He looked tired," suggested Kace absentmindedly. Quinn ran out the door, her blue eyes shining with glee and her soft brown hair flowing behind her. Kace looked down upon the unfamiliar scrawl of the letters composed of his name once again. He was really into this letter and he hadn't even opened it. There wasn't even a return address! With a sigh, he grabbed his fathers gold encrusted letter opener and sliced open the seal gently. He began reading, eager to find out the message from a mysterious location.

Dear Mr. Kace Brown,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been randomly selected to participate in the biyearly KingdomMaze race. As you know, ten very lucky young men and women are selected each year to race to the finish of a five hundred mile maze complete with many challenges that are randomly added by our committee during the race. The one young man that makes it out alive will become king and make himself and his whole family very wealthy. The one woman that makes it out alive will become queen and will be awarded with an allowance of money as well. We apologize for the short notice, but you must report to the castle in one week. If you do not, there will be consequences. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
The kingdom staff

He read it again. He read it ten more times before he realized that reading it more wouldn't change the message scrawled on the thick parchment. He couldn't go! His father and sister needed him. There was no way out of this, the consequence for refusing to show up to one of these competitions was death or worse. There really was only one option. Kace was smart and athletic as his muscular body showed and he would have a definite fighting chance in this. But if he happened to not make it, his father and sister wouldn't have a chance in this world. His father was old and sick, Quinn was too young to understand or to help. The only reason the family could keep the house was from Quinn's little fruit and veggie stand and Kace's job. The veggie stand could only keep them running for so long and then... Kace threw the letter down in frustration. What would his father think?
~
Later that week, Kace and his father were in the sitting room, reading the paper while Quinn played out in the yard. Kace decided this was his only chance to talk to his father about the problem that had recently arose.
"Dad, I have something to tell you. I got this letter this week an-" his father snatched the letter from his hand with a menacing glower.
"You can't go. It's out of the question!" he yelled, clearly upset.
"Didn't you even read it? If I don't go I'll get publicly hung in the town square. That's the consequence for ignoring the kingdoms orders, or worse," Kace retorted, his face red with frustration. His fathers expression softened.
"I can't let you go Kace. We can go away, leave the country!" he pleaded.
"Dad they'll track us down. I at least have a fighting chance. They could have picked Quinn you know!"
"Picked me for what?" a little voice peeped.
"Nothing!" Kace and his Father said in unison. Quinn shrugged and went back out to the garden to pick carrots after having wandered in to drop off the cabbages. Kace's father ran his fingers through his grayish white hair and shut his frosty blue eyes.
"Kace please. You don't know what happens in that maze. It's madness! You could be killed. "
"I know dad but I really have no choice. I have to."
"Yes, you do," growled a gruff voice. Kace turned around so fast it was a miracle his head didn't go flying off. In the shadow of the front doorframe, there stood a bulky man with dark hair glowering down at Kace and his father. He wore the jacket of the castle, a golden seal on his breast pocket. He must have to report if the recipients of the letters were even alive. In one of his monstrous hands he held a tiny Quinn who had a fearful look on her dollish face.
"You can show up to the castle tomorrow or I show up here and wring her neck!" The man shouted throwing Quinn around as he spoke. Kace stood.
"I'll be there," he gasped. Quinn was tossed carelessly into the air and Kace jumped to catch his little sister. He landed on his face and Quinn gently bounced off his back, lading calmly on the floor only spilling a few of the carrots in her now full basket. The man, obviously a castle guard, left without another word. Kace stood up and pulled Quinn to her feet. He looked skeptically at his father.
"You heard the man. Better get started walking. It's a five hour hike to the castle," With that he spun on his heel and slammed the door of his room. Kace looked at Quinn.
"Grab me some food for the trip, water too," Quinn rushed to the kitchen and Kace ran to his room. He grabbed a blanket, a sweatshirt, some socks and a hat. He threw it all in his leather satchel. Quinn appeared moments later with a bundle of vegetables, dried meat and water. She gently placed it into Kace's pack before peering at him through sad, watery eyes.
"Where are you going Kace?" She squeaked, lip jutting out like a puppy begging for food.
"I'm just going to go on a quick trip okay? I'll be back in a few weeks. But Quinn listen here, take care of dad while I'm gone and be good," He kissed the top of her head and, grabbing his bag, walked out the door. He walked half the length of the gravel road before looking back. His cottage, far in the distance looked like something of a fairy tale. A closer look using his binoculars that were left in the side pocket of his satchel showed Quinn leading their father around the garden, showing him each and every vegetable and allowing him a taste of each. Kace looked for a moment longer before deciding to head out so the sun wouldn't set on him.
The route to the castle and the kingdom around it was pretty straightforward, literally. Once Kace was on the main road, he just had to adventure south for a few miles. You see, this might seem simple, walking straight south, but it isn't. After one mile you need to scale a rocky cliff face for the rest of the journey. Luckily for Kace, he had grown up climbing this very cliff face and was also a miner in one of the caves on the landing halfway up the cliff. Kace strapped his backpack on tighter and grabbed a rock that was jutting out in the perfect climbing spot. Higher and higher he went, scouring the rock for footholds and places to grab. By the time he reached the landing, he was exhausted. He had already climbed up this cliff this morning and it was a long climb. Kace decided it was a good time for a rest. He pulled out his blanket to fight off the cold and wrapped it around him. Leaning up against the wall of the landing he decided it wouldn't hurt to shut his eyes for just a few moments. His eyes slowly shut and he fell into a deep slumber.
"Get up boy! Hurry come on!" Kace was woken by someone shouting. His eyes took a moment to focus and at first he thought it was another teenage boy like himself. But once his dizziness cleared, he was facing the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Her curly brown hair framed her face perfectly. Her brown eyes were accented by a flush of light freckles across her nose and cheeks. She was wearing an army green t-shirt underneath an unzipped black windbreaker. The girls dark blue jeans were long and went all the way down to her black leather boots. Beside her boots rested a leather satchel, much like Kace's.
"Wh-wh- who are you?" He asked groggily.
"Noah, and I suspect that you and I will be late if you don't hurry," she checked a paper in her hand, "Kace," Kace then realized that the satchel that looked remarkably like his was actually his and the letter in her hand was his also!
"Hey that's my stuff!" he exclaimed, standing.
"Chill, I was just watching it. I was selected also," she replied calmly, putting the letter back into his satchel and standing. Her own pack was strapped securely to her back. Noah handed Kace back his satchel. Kace stared into her beautiful eyes.
"We'd better get going. We are due at the castle in an hour. Come on," she swiftly turned and began climbing. Kace raced after her. This climb was longer and higher than the last and Kace was determined not to look down, much less fall. They climbed for a good twenty minutes before reaching the top. Noah promptly wiped her hands off and whistled so loud that Kace almost fell off the cliff in surprise.
"Chill boy, I was calling my uncle. He's bringing a horse for me. And I suppose you could take his," she laughed.
"I have a name. It's Kace. And I can't chill when you keep scaring me like that!" Kace exclaimed in pure frustration.
"Just chill. Kace," she added. A few moments later, a man riding a horse and leading one appeared.
"Uncle this is Kace. Kace will need to borrow your horse as we will be late if we don't get there in ten minutes," The man didn't respond but dismounted the horse and handed it to Kace, the other to Noah. He nodded and walked in the direction he came from. Kace stared after him. That was weird, he thought. Shaking his head he turned to mount his horse and saw Noah had already done that. She gave him and imposing stare and galloped away.
"Hey!" yelled Kace, jumping onto his horse and racing after her. They made it to the castle with two minutes to spare. Dropping down off their horses they sprinted inside. The castle was magnificent. It was delicately carved out of whistle marble. The marble shone in the midday sunlight. Four towers poked out of each corner. Windows framed in gold winked in the glittery sun. Kace stared in awe. The interior was even better. Expensive decor was placed in every possible bit of space. Plush carpets softened their steps. Couchs and chairs lined the walls. Gold encrusted curtains hung on the windows. This was only the front room and Kace believed it to be worth a million dollars. There was a crowd of other boys and girls milling around in the large space. Noah turned to Kace, fear in her eyes.
"Truce?" she asked.
"As long as we stay together. I hate being alone," Noah nodded and extended her hand. Kace grabbed it and shook, knowing he must stay with her the whole time, and help protect her. Happy chills went up his spine when they touched as if he was feeling love for the first time in a long while.
"Attention, attention. Please everyone listen up. You all know the rules for this game. Two winners. If they are both the same gender, one will be killed. If there is no victor, the current ruling will stay. Please everyone line up. You will be allowed five minutes in our supply room to take three things. Choose carefully for what you choose may determine life or death," The lady at the microphone droned in a monotone before stepped away and waving the person who was first in line down a long hallway and into a room. Noah and Kace stood together talking about failures and wins, favorites and dislikes and game tactics. Noah was in front of Kace and was tugged into the room before him. Kace waved, excited to see her soon. A few moments later, Kace was pulled into the room.
"Quickly, " demanded an official. Kace looked around the room. Swords and battle axes were strapped to the wall. Large bottles of water, bags of food and medicinal supplies lined the shelves. Sensible shoes and clothing hung on a rack. Guns laid on the floor, boxes of bullets flanking them. Kace swung his backpack off and grabbed a bottle of water and a bag of food. Two items down, three to go. He decided to grab weapons. He already had blankets and warm clothes. He grabbed one large sword and one small one to add to his pack. He was about to grab another sword but something in the corner caught his eye.
"Thirty seconds!" The official yelled. Kace swooped down and added the small, big enough for two, fireproof, waterproof, pop up tent to his haul. He stood and walked out with the official. Kace was led down a long hallway and thrown into a small room containing only a short stone bench and one other occupant.
"Kace!" Noah screamed running over and hugging him. "They told me I'd get another person in here and I was scared it would be a weirdo. What'd you pick? Please say weapons!' Kace looked into her eyes and smiled.
" Yep! Two swords, a bag of food, a bottle of water and guess what?"
"What?"
"A tent!" He exclaimed. Noah screamed in delight.
"We may win after all. I used my five things on two waters, two bags of food and a medicine bag. We are going to be in there for a while. May as well have some sustenance to help us through it," for the next hour the pair reorganized packs and swapped strategies when all of a sudden, a loud voice boomed through the intercom in the corner of the room.
"Attention participants. Please pack your bags. You will leave promptly," There was a click and the voice shut of. Noah stood, fear blazing in her brown eyes. She grabbed her pack and paced the room.
"I can't. This is too hard! What will happen? I hate not knowing. If I die my seven year old sister will be all alone. Ohh!" Noah exclaimed speaking faster than an auctioneer. Kace jumped up and pulled her close.
"It'll be okay," he whispered. With a loud bang, the door flew open. Noah flew from Kace's arms in surprise.
"Come on, lovebirds!" sneered the guard. The two collected their things and, grabbing hands, ran out the door. They walked down a long hallway and out a door, eyes watering in the bright sunlight. They were positioned in a line with the rest of the participants. Some looked younger than Quinn. Ahead there were several different entrances into the maze. Kace looked up. A clock counted down from ten. This seems a little rushed, they must want new leadership pretty fast, thought Kace. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, GO! Noah pulled Kace toward the far right entrance. They were immediately engulfed in darkness, as if they were in a dark forest. The walls of the maze were strong leaves and branches, as was the roof. Nobody followed them into their entrance so they were safe for now.
"How will we know what time it is?" squeaked Noah, breathing heavily. Kace put his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
"We will be fine. We can eat when we're hungry and sleep when we're tired." Noah calmed down a bit. They decided to head on and followed the maze through twists and turns, never reaching an intersection. Kace pulled out a water bottle and took a long drink. Noah did the same.
Kace looked behind them. His eyes slowly went wide. Noah didn't look back. She was so tired she fell to the ground in exhaustion. Kace felt like he could too but now was definitely not the time to rest.
"Noah! Run!" he yelled as the small griffin charged at the pair. Noah looked up, but too tired to move, collapsed back down into a heap. Kace leaned down and picked her up.
"Noah! Come on! Please!" he begged. The griffin was getting closer. Noah's eyes peeled open.
"It's a griffin. As long as it doesn't have red horns it's friendly. It just wants attention. Obviously the game makers arent smart enough to realize that because they placed a griffin with golden horns in the maze. Set me down!" Kace placed Noah on her feet. She put both hands out in front of her, as if she was surrendering to the griffin baby. It continued charging at them until it was about two feet from Noah's outstretched hands. Noah reached one hand out further and petted the white, feathered griffin on its soft head. It cried happily in delight. Noah stopped petting it and it rubbed against her.
"See Kace. I told you. If you work with magical creatures as much as I do, you get used to it. He's big enough to be ridden. I'll ride him," She explained in delight. Noah climbed onto the griffins back and Kace supported himself by walking beside it. The trio continued like this for a few more hours, choosing to go left each time they got to an intersection. Finally, they found themselves in a clearing. Kace and Noah were starving, having only lived off of trail mix for about a day. Kace set up the tent near the exit of the clearing while Noah made a fire in a patch of sand that covered the whole middle of the clearing. She stepped onto the sand to add some more twigs to the small fire and sunk right into it.
"Help! Kace! Grif! Help me!" Noah yelled, Grif referring to the name they had dubbed the griffin with. Kace rushed over. Only Noah's head stuck out of the sand.
"Stop struggling. Stay very still!" commanded Kace. He ran back to the tent and rummaged through his bag. He pulled out a coil of rope brought from home. Noah's nose, eyes and forehead only stuck out of the sand now. The fear in her eyes was clear. Kace attached a small weight to the end of the rope so it would sink also.
"Grab the rope with your hands when you feel it under the sand. Whatever you do DO NOT LET GO!" Kace threw the rope and it landed close by Noah. He wiggled it so it would sink faster. He felt a tug as Noah grabbed it.
"Grif! Help me pull her up!" Grif flew over and pulled the end of the rope with his beak. In a few seconds, Noah came flying out of the sand pit, landing squarely on the hovering Griffins back. She was all sandy and the bottoms of her boots had bite marks.
"How'd you get bitten?" asked Kace.
"I-I-I dunno. There was something under there, a mouse or something," she was shaking. Grif lowered himself and Noah to the ground. Noah grabbed her pack from beside the tent and shook off the sand on her clothes.
"I'm gonna change into something less sandy. Don't come in here. The meat is by the fire," Kace nodded and grabbed the meat from its place by the fire. He cooked it on a stick, and laid it on a cleanish piece of grass. He seasoned it with some peppers found in his bag of food. Noah came out moments later and grabbed a third of the small steak. Kace threw a piece to Grif and took the smallest portion for himself. They washed it down with some canned peaches and each took a small sip of water before settling in for the night. Grif stood guard outside the tent. Kace settled into his large sleeping bag and turned to look at Noah. He noticed she didn't have anything warm to sleep in and the temperature was dropping rapidly.
" Hey, you can share my sleeping bag if you'd like. It's big enough for two." Suggested Kace. Noah gave him one of her skeptical looks and blushed but climbed in beside him. She quickly fell asleep snuggled against his chest. Kace fell asleep listening to her steady snore and feeling her breathing against his chest. Kace had just drifted off when he heard a loud screech from outside. Grifs warning call! He wormed his way out from underneath Noah and pulled the dagger from his boot. He rummaged through his backpack and found his sword. Kace rushed out of the tent to see Grif viciously attacking two other participants. He turned his head away. This was a good thing, eliminating others, but Kace couldn't tell himself that killing people was a good thing no matter what. As soon as their agonizing screams died along with them, Kace turned back to Grif. Grif was happily munching away on his snack. Kace sighed in relief. That should be all the excitement for one night. He slipped back into the tent and into the warm sleeping bag, dagger in his boot, sword in one hand, Noah's hand in the other.
The next morning Kace slowly crawled out of the sleeping bag. With Noah's warm body gone, it wasn't as warm as before. The air was thick with fog and frost so Kace pulled on a sweater over his long sleeved shirt and a jacket over that. He pulled on leather gloves and tucked his jeans into his boot. Exiting the tent was rather tough in his thick, padded attire but he managed.
"Uggg!" he groaned as the white of the ground blinded him. The whole clearing and trails around it were covered with snow!
"Noah?" he called. Noah was positioned in a corner behind the tent resting on Grif's back while a pot cooked on a fire.
"Finally. I thought you'd never wake up," she grabbed a bowl from its resting place in the snow. She filled it up with a mixture of cooked berries and oats. Porridge. Noah handed Kace the bowl and ate her helping out of the pot.
"As soon as we are done we'd better head out. Don't want to settle in the same place for too long. They might send more creatures after us," Noah said. The pair finished up, refilling their bottles of water with the snow, hoping it would melt soon. Kace folded away the tent while Noah packed their bags. They left within an hour. In the circular clearing there were two entrances, they way they came or the other way. So they chose to go the other way. Kace led, filled with renewed energy. Soon enough, they came upon a tunnel. It was darker than the rest of the passages.
"Let's not go through here. It doesn't seem safe," concluded Noah. Kace agreed but as they turned to go back, the branches grew, waving their brambley arms around. They grew so large they filled up the way back like a closed door.
"I guess we have no choice," Kace said blankly. Noah lit a stick with a match, quickly making a torch. The small torch illuminated the dark tunnel and they were able to see all the way through.
"Look there's an exit!" Noah yelled.
"Not so fassssssst," hissed a voice. "You must pass the sphinx firssssssst. A riddle for each? Or three riddles for both?" asked the sphinx. The sphinx was beautiful, a large necklace of glittery gems stood out on her neck. The cave connected to the tunnel was littered with bones, gems and other trinkets claimed by bypassers. Kace was blanketed in fear. He couldn't move, much less answer the sphinx. But Noah, with her expertise, didn't seemed fazed one bit.
"Three riddles oh mighty sphinx," she requested, her voice dripping in sarcasm. The sphinx glowered down at her but did as asked.
"In a one story pink house there was a pink person, a pink cat, a pink computer, a pink everything. What was the color of the stairs?" Kace thought this one was surprisingly easy. If everything was pink, the stairs would definitely be pink also.
"Pink!" he shouted. Noah slapped a hand over his mouth.
"No you dummy! There is no stairs if it's a one story house! Don't speak, let me answer our next try." The sphinx smiled but asked another, their second riddle out of three. They had to get two right to move on.
"The more you take, the more you leave behind. What are they?" Questioned the sphinx.
"Footsteps!" answered Kace almost instantly. Noah glowered at him.
"Correct!" Trilled the sphinx. "Last one!"
"What is made of wood but can't be sawed?" asked the sphinx.
"Dust!" yelled Kace forgetting again. If looks could kill, Noah would have murdered Kace then and there.
"Incorrect!" yelled the sphinx. "It was SAWdust. Looks like I've got a meal!"
"Not so fast!" shouted Noah. "I have a riddle for you. If you get it wrong we get out of here, uninjured, uneaten."
"And when I get it right?" Purred the sphinx.
"IF and only IF you get it right, you get to eat us," sighed Noah. "Here goes. What is deaf, dumb and blind, but always tells the truth?"
"Easy, its you!" screamed the sphinx, lunging at the two.
"Actually it's a mirror. Sorry, but the deal was we can go. Bye!" Noah nodded cheerfully at Kace and the two exited the tunnel without a scratch.
Grif followed, shaking in absolute fear. He had stood strong against the sphinx, but now there was something else.
"Come on Grif, there's a nice forest to rest in up here," urged Noah. Grif followed, slowly taking each step with care. The trio entered the forest. Trees stood tall, fruits sparkling on the heavy branches, berries glittering on bushes. It was a magnificent sight. There was even groups of large purple flowers, brushed with dew, amidst the low cut green grass. Kace envisioned himself, walking into the meadow, picking a bouquet of flowers for Noah, eating fruit and berries to his growling stomachs content, and drinking clean clear water from the pond. He would kill a deer that wandered in and cook it up for his wonderful wife Noah and she would cheer his name for his bravery. Kace, Kace!
"KACE!" Kace shook off his day dream.
"Wh, what?" he asked Noah.
"Stop getting lost in your head. This is a replica of The Enchanted Forest. Those fruits and berries will kill you if you take one bite. Those flowers will draw you in with their luscious scent until you eat them and die. That water will kill you, in agony as it eats away your insides before killing you. It all smells irresistible," Noah reached into her bag and pulled out a sword. "Watch for them birds. They'll eat you like you're roadkill. Ready?" Kace nodded and grabbed his sword as well. Grif went first, alone. He flew over all the attractions with ease and waited on the other side. Kace and Noah went together, squeezing each other's hand if they started to wander off. Kace was sweating in concentration. Just one bite can't hurt. That's a pear, a harmless pear. She lies. Just one bite. Voices swam in Kace's head, begging him to eat the fruit. Kace finally couldn't take it anymore. He ripped away from Noah and began climbing a tree. He heard a scream in the distance. Someone calling his name. Then, out of nowhere, there was a loud crack and the tree fell over. Grif grabbed his shirt and flew him out of the forest. Grif went back to collect Noah, who had collapsed in frustration when Kace ran. She was crying hysterically when Grif dropped her beside Kace.
"I thought I'd lost you. I couldn't bear living without you. I- I love you," Noah gasped between sobs. Kace was bewildered.
"I I love you too Noah. I'll be more careful. I couldn't imagine the pain I'd cause you if you had to live without your true love. And I know I could never live without you. I've only known you for a few days but you've made my life brighter and better every second," Kace explained trying to add as little cheesiness as possible. Their eyes met and it was like the gods had bowed down onto the love queen, telling the universe that these two souls belonged together. Their eyes got closer and closer as Kace leaned in and then they were kissing. Everything Kace had ever dreamed about was happening. He was fighting his childhood nightmares with the most beautiful girl ever. After a while, they pulled away. Noah was redder that ever before.
"We should keep going. We should be almost there," she whispered, trying to keep the mood. They got up off the ground and walked into the maze, hand in hand.
The next few days were a blur. How exciting their first few days were was how dull the next were. With days of sphinxs, magic sand and fruit in their past, the next days were comforting. They always had a nice place to sleep, food to eat and there were no more surprises. It was almost as if the maze was empty except them. That all was about to change.
"Kace come on, it's getting colder which means we are closer to the end. We could get home. Come on. We only have food left for today so we need to go fast," Kace groaned as he lifted his sore muscles out of the warm tent. They packed up for the last time of their short lives. Kace got to ride on Grif today but Noah looked so tired that he let her have his turn. They rounded six corners before coming to a huge clearing about the size of seven foot ball fields across. At the other end there was a long tunnel that led out. It looked safe except for the cave on the far side, but if they went fast enough they should be fine. Noah and Grif flew above Kace as he jogged on the ground. They were about four football fields in when Kace noticed something.
"Noah! Grif! Fly back to the entrance. Don't look back. I'll be there soon. We are almost out. Don't lose faith!" he yelled to the bird and girl. Noah nodded, concern lining her brow. The massive black dragon slunk out of the cave. Kace faced it with determination. Everything he had learned in dragon fighting club had prepared him for this. The steel like scales wouldn't be punctured with any sword. The soft belly of the dragon was exposed but you had to get around the huge scales and fire breathing head first. But the eyes. How would he reach them? As the dragon came closer, he had formulated a plan.
"KACE NO!" Noah screamed. She started to run out to him but Kace signaled to Grif and he pulled her back. Kace ran at the dragon. Red hot fire snorted from its nose, missing Kace by an inch. He continued running, dodging each blast of fire. He knew there was a catch to the calmness. The dragon blocked the exit. If he killed it, they left and money and riches awaited. If he died, Noah would be happy, maybe, if she ever made it out. As Kace got closer he thought of everything he had to live for. Quinn, his father, his friends back home, Noah, Grif, himself. Images of his life and loved ones flashed in his mind as he ran, ran for everything he had. With a battle cry he leaped onto the dragon, using the scales like footholds in the rock of the cave. He rode it like he rode Grif. He hugged its neck as he climbed like he hugged Quinn and Noah. He looked into its fiery eyes with determination and lifted his sword. The dragon swung his head and Kace went flying off. He landed right on his sword. The handcrafted blade sliced right through his thigh, leaving a large gash in his skin. He cried out in pain but remembering everything he had to live for, he stood up. His leg hardly supported any weight, he was dizzy and blood dripped in his eyes. The bloody blade hung weakly in his hand. And yet, he climbed. He climbed that dragon with every ounce of energy and determination left in him. Without hesitating, he stabbed the dragon in the eye and threw his sword down. The dragon roared in agony, swinging his head and throwing Kace to the ground again. The black, steel dragon, fell to the ground, dead. Kace lay on the ground blood pouring out of his wounds. In his blurry vision, Noah wrapped his leg and forehead with her medical supplies. She put him on Grif and climbed on behind him.
"Kace!" she whispered, "Kace," she leaned in and kissed him, her tears landing on his cheeks. Grif flew them to the exit. Outside the maze a crowd had formed. As the trio walked out of the shadows someone yelled
"There's the victors! The last ones living! There's a girl and a boy!" A cheer went up from the crowd and blackness engulfed Kace's vision.
~
"Quinn, don't fly so high on Grif, he gets antsy and you'll fall!" called Kace.
She giggled and steered Grif into the stable. It turned out, Grif was a girl and a pregnant one at that. She gave birth to two little baby griffins, both male. Quinn named them Kace and Jarred, Kaces middle name. Noah came out of the castle, Tilly, her little sister, followed, holding as many kittens as she could carry.
"Lunchtime you crazies!" called Tizzy as Noah walked over to Kace.
"Your father sent word. He said he is very happy living in the old people home now. He says he hopes we are happy and that he is happy now that we are the leaders in power," Quinn said rubbing the long scar on Kaces forehead. Kace peered into her entrancing eyes once again. Grabbing a small box from his pocket, he took Noah's hand off his forehead and held it in his.
"Noah, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met. You're smart, funny and so kind. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?" Kace asked watching as happy tears fell from Noah's eyes. She squeezed his hand tighter.
"Yes!" Noah squealed in delight. And, in the last minutes of the dazzling sunset, they kissed.
The End.