Pick Your Path: Book 1

85

You snap awake to the sound of an arrow shooting nearby, followed by a snap. You jump to your feet to find that the place had turned into chaos, literally. Rose was currently in the water, diving to avoid several arrows as Kurama was currently fending off against a couple of what looked like humans. Maybe they were rogues? Or  were they hunters of some sort? You barely had some to react as an arrow flew past your head, embedding in the rock. You instinctively duck down as the rock started to shake and rumbled. The rock cracked before breaking, sending you tumbling towards the ground.

You wake up slightly once more as you hear something crumbling. Opening you eyes, you see the remainder of what looked like a pile of rock around you. You try to move only for a sudden spark of pain shot up your lower back, but at the same time, it felt numb. You glance back to see a rather large chunk of rubble directly on your back.

' what's happening?' you thought as you what footsteps running around.

" (Y/n)!" that voice! Your eyes snap wide open as you hear Kurama. You attempt to speak, make a noise, anything that could attract his attention to where you were. No sound came from your throat. You look around for anything, spotting a chunk of rubble, which was within arm's length away. You manage to drag the rock towards you, the sound of rock against rock rang thought the cavern.

' Hopefully that'll be enough to get his attention..' you though as you close your eyes, feeling the crushing weight of the rubble slowly sap away your strength as it embedded itself deeper into your back.

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Alistair POV

I sat outside the den as I heard a rustle in the trees nearby. I glanced at it briefly before turning my blind gaze away and towards the sky, not thinking much about it. It's probably some stray animal that wandered near.

" Alistair!" Kurama's voice yelled out, as the scent of tangy scent of blood filled the air. I jumped to my feet, my tail swayed as I landed gracefully on the ground.

" What happened?" I asked quickly, turning to face the nine tailed fox, walking over to him.

" It's (Y/n).. my.. um apprentice..." he explained quickly, ".. Attack at the camp w-" I cut him off with a flick of my tail. I began to guide him over to the den quickly.

" Sit." I commanded as I nudged him inside the den and over to a chair. He obeys, sitting down as I gently took (Y/n) who stirred slightly.

Your POV

You feel someone setting you down on something soft, like feathers. You shifted, only to have a hand gently stop you.

" Don't move." a voice spoke calmly and gently as something brushed against your lower back, applying some sort of ointment most likely? The scent of herbs filled the air, giving you the idea that this was a healing place of some sort. You open your eyes slightly to see the dim surroundings of what looked like a cave. Herbs were neatly set on rock shelves and on tables. Kurama was asleep in a chair that was set against the wall. You felt someon brushing what felt a bandage against your back and glance beside you to find a snow leopard half-breed with clouded emerald eyes.

" Alistair?" a familiar voice echoed from the entrance to the cave. A dark, cloaked figure stood there, her dark grey ears and tail tip swaying in and out of view as she pulled her hood down, displaying reddish brown eyes.

" Glad you could make it, Purrincess." the leopard looked up slightly, " Sorry.. I'm in a bit of a pickle right now.."

" Something happened with the rogue camp?" Raven asked as she walked over silently, sitting down nearby. " Hey, (Y/n)." she greeted quietly, flicking her tail. You manage to give a weak wave back. A soft yawn signaled that Kurama was awake.

" Hm? Hey, Raven. Morphia here?" he asked, still kind of asleep.

" She didn't want to come today." Raven shook her head, " Too late, as she said it. It's too late for her liking."

" That's too bad." Kurama shrugged.

".. You should get some sleep." Alistair spoke beside you, his tail curled to the side. You shook your head, knowing that sleep isn't exactly an option right now. Even if you wanted to sleep, the nightmares would come back to haunt you.. the hunters, the fire, collapsing.. there was no-

" Go to sleep.." Raven's voice spoke softly before a soft blanked of darkness enveloped you, pulling you into a dreamless sleep.

Alistair POV

"So what's the deal?" Raven asked quietly, " Something's definitely wrong."

" Observant as always, Purrincess." I muttered softly, " There's really only one way to solve this.. I just hope it won't kill in the process.." I glanced at Raven who was biting her lip.

" You know it isn't s good idea.. the last time we tried that, it didn't end well.."

" Well. It's better than trying nothing." Kurama spoke up as he sat up slightly.

" That's your apprentice after all. Of course you'd say that." Raven replied softly. She shook her head, ".. It's dangerous.. it could possibly break.." she trailed off.

" What did you say?" Kurama asked, " I know you're quiet but speak up, will you?"

" She doesn't want you to know." a voice interrupting him. I glanced at the entrance to the cave to find a pale colored wolf-fox standing there, her red tipped ears and tail glittering in the light.

".. though you weren't coming.." Raven muttered, looking up at her sister.

" I changed my mind." Morphia shrugged as she walked over. " And also, I agree with Raven, it's too dangerous."

" We don't exactly have a choice." I sighed, " If we don't, we're putting (Y/n)'s life on the line." Raven hesitated to respond.

" One of us needs to be there when (Y/n) wakes up then.." she reluctantly responded. ".. Let's get this over with.." I nodded before I got to work. Now.. it's time to wake up. Where are you?

In the forest? Page 136

In a bed? Page 134

In a cage? Page 135

Still in the cave? 137

(Y/n) better be alright after this one.. this really isn't a good idea.. these universes that Raven and Alistair talk about isn't something that should be messed with.. ~ M

Hopefully this'll mean that I can see my apprentice again.. if they end up where I'm going.. ~ K

Purrincess seems reluctantly to do this.. perhaps it's because she doesn't want to? Or maybe it's more of the physical aspect of the different universes out there that she doesn't like? ~ A

.. I really don't know about this.. Parallel universes aren't something to be messed with.. They're separate for a reason and should be kept that way.. Time and space are two aspects that should never be messed with.. In any case.. the wall we see, it's about to shatter, might as well prepare for the worse.. ~ R