Heavenly Harpies

Chapter 15: The North

You had crossed the mountain. You stand at the border, looking at the horizon. Chase comes up behind you and hugs you. "Chase, can you believe it? We're here." He sighed and scans the horizon. "Do you see that?" He points to a shadowy place that seemed to be coming closer. "That's where the king is. Its gotta be." He looks at you, worry in his eyes. "Leona, I'm scared. What if we dont make it? What if you dont save the king? What if-" You put your finger on his lips, shushing him. "We will return with the king." He shook and nodded slowly.

You heard a laugh and looked back to see Jackie and Kae cracking up. You smile and look at Poppy who had took her place by Chase.  Everything was perfect. You lead the group into the darkness. Home was far away now, yet this is where it all began. You look behind you, then forwards. Jackie and Kae held hands, Kae looked scared. Even Poppy had calmed down, she looked nervous as she hid behind Chase's figure. "Ouch!" You hit a wall, you groaned as Chase helped you up. "Where did that come from? It wasn't here a minute ago." Looking around, you see a path leading up to a large, black, gate. Following it, you arrive at a gate, it towered above you. It was chained up too. You look inside of the gate and see great scratch marks on the insides of the wall, footsteps of some creature, bigger than the span of your wings. It looked abandoned, this was reassuring. Yet there was a aura around the place that made it seem alive? You tried to shake that feeling, it stuck.

The gaps between the bars were big enough for you to squeeze effortlessly through. And you did so. You walk to a scratch mark and feel it. "Something was here, not too long ago." You see a pile of bricks where the wall had collapsed. "Whatever it was, it escaped." You light a torch as the party follows you. Stumbling across a brick, you fall into a cave. "Oof." The sound of you hitting the ground echoed in the caverns. Chase peered down, "Leona!? You okay?" "Yeah, stay up there. I'm going to see where this cave leads." Chase nodded and disappeared.

Dusting yourself off, you relight your torch. The cave was musty and damp, you heard a light pattering across the floor. A mouse ran across your feet, you squeal slightly in disgust. Walking further into the cave, it suddenly opened into a great chamber, you see a pile of bones, a large chest overflowing with coins, and a trail of gasoline? You light it and the fire lights up the entire chamber. Gold filled the cave. "Woah..." In awe, you turn around, a large crash was heard. The entrance you came through was gone, a pile of rocks blocked the way. You run and try to remove the rocks, panicking. Stuck. You whirl around as a warm wind blows. You hear a low growl and see a large, furry, scarred, manticore.