Pick Your Path: Book 1

39

" I do.." you respond, what does a flying animal have to do with escaping?

" Out the nearest window." the human instructs, " Go!" she dashes to the nearest window. You leap out and take your animal form. The human follows close behind, changing into a giant eagle. She gives a loud caw before flapping her wings to catch up to you. " This way." she heads east toward toward the Half-Breed Kingdom. Below you, a number if half-breeds follow.

" Nice in, Cassie." a gryphon soon joins you and the eagle. " The mission went by faster than expected."

" We're not out if trouble yet.." Cassie warns, " You can praise once we get back to camp, Will." she swoops down to pick up the caracal from earlier, who was lagging behind the rest of the group. A girl with blonde hair jumps in Will's back. A pink and white wolf lagged behind everone as the group approaches a hill.

" Maybe I should help.." you turn around and dive for the wolf. A gazelle turns around as you dive past it, it rears onto its hind legs. Shimmery silver mist forms a barrier in front of the group of soldiers. You hear the soldiers stop and bark orders in confusion. You grab the wolf, who yelped, and fly off. She looks up at you with her indigo eyes. Some of the soldiers have gotten past the mist and are gaining up the group, fast.

" Get within range for a spell.." the wolf commanded, you look down at her, " Just do it!"

" Are you sure?" what if she doesn't have enough strength to cast the attack?

" Just trust me.." she growls. You change diretion and head towards the soldiers. As you approach the wolf's eyes glow indigo. The first few soldiers skidd to a halt, with a look of surprise as you and the wolf come within five feet. Then they fall.. Literally, they just collapse to the ground. The remaining soldiers draw their weapons and prepare to attack. You quicky spread your wings and gain height, rising out of range if their weapons. " Go again.." you circle around and dive again, taking out a good amount of the soldiers. As the rest try to attack you, the eagle and caracal come in and bat them away. You feel something scrape against your wing, but you continue to fly. It didn't hurt too badly. The wolf you're carrying falls asleep as you continue following the rest of the half-breeds.

You land in the middle of a valley like structure with high walls. You gently place the wolf done before settling on the ground yourself. Cassie and Will land next to you. The caracal and girl lands with a quiet thump. The rest of the half-breeds stream in from an entrance in the side of the valley. Every one gathers around in a small circle. You gently open your wing, nothing felt odd or out of place..

" Um.." Cassie looks at you," your wing.."

" Huh?" you notice a long cut from the top of the wing to the bottom. " W-when did that get there?!" you shriek as the cut hurt and sting. You flutter around, why was there a cut?! Where did it come from?! Why does it hurt co much?! 

" What's happening..?" you hear the wolf move before a sudden wave of sleepiness hits. You hit to the ground before everything blacks out...

" What do you think, Abby?" 

" It's a type of poison.. Basilisk poison to the exact." you hear voices talking somewhere near you, but you couldn't see anything. Your wing was still hurting like crazy.

" Is there any cure to it?"

" Maybe..." you drift off again into sleep. What could they mean by basilisk poison? Is it that deadly? 

Nan's POV

" Maybe there's a cure for it." I step in, " I know someone who might have a cure."

" Really, Nan? Who?"

" I wish you could come along, but he's not exactly the most trusting person out there. I have to ask him alone."

" Alright.. Think you can make it back soon?"

" I'm not sure, Abby.. He travels a lot, so it'll be hard to find him. Just try to keep the poison from spreading for now. I'll be back as soon as I can." I leave the healing den. Maybe Raven knows where he is? She's one of the few people who are close to him.. I'll go check with her. I head towards the Half-Breed border.

" Raven?" a familiar black and grey half-breed rested on a branch to my right.

" Nan?" she leaps off and comes to greet me, " Do you need something..?"

" Do you have any idea where Alistair is?"

" I'm on my way to see him now.." she responds, " You need to see him?"

" Yep. He's a powerful healer and spell caster."

" Alright.. I'm sure he won't mind." she turns to lead the way.

" You looking for me?" a pale feline emerged from the trees. " Purrincess, it's good to see you again." he greets Raven before turning to me. " You wanted something from me?"

" I'm just wondering, do you know any cures for basilisk poison?"

" Basilisk poison?" he repeats, " Yeah.. Why do you need it?"

" Someone I know got a cut from a weapon that had basilisk poison on it."

" I don't have the cure on hand at the moment.. But, if you could bring the person over to the Half-Breed border tomorrow night, I'll have it ready by then."

" Alright, that works." I agreed.

" Now that's all you need right?" I nod before turning to leave, my pink tail swayed behind me, brushing the ferns.

" Yep, that's all. I'll leave you two. Wouldn't want to waste any more of your precious time together."

Continue to page 56

I have to get him/her to the border tomorrow night. That's going to be quite the challenge, since he/she's affected by the poison.. But I'll try, after all, he/she did save my hide. I'm merely returning the favor. ~N

Nan has someone who she cares enough about to help? That's new. The only person I know she trusts is Sori.. Wonder what this person did ? Did he/she save Nan or something? ~A