Twilight to Destiny- Quest of Legacies

Chapter 3

"So, what time are we meeting again?" Valor whispered to Tobi. She chuckled.

"Two, of course," she responded. "One second." She spun back around and dashed her way up the stairs. She bursted into her closet and grabbed a large black case tapered with silver clasps around the corners. She then padded down the stairs, coming face to face with an impatient Valor.

"Should we tell mom?" she stressed out.

"What? No! She's sleeping! She would be too worried," Tobi pointed out. She bit her lip. "We already lied to her once, you know."

As the two girls snuck out of the house, Tobi shifted into an owl and flew up out of the house onto the roof. An unnaturally loud hoot emitted from her beak and it could be heard several miles. Valor sighed and smoothened out her hair. I guess we're not bringing Hilda with us. A colossal figure flew around the home and landed beside Valor's shadow.

"I'm here," Artemis said. "Let's go! We have no time to waste!"

He flew up with the owl on the roof, the moonlight streaming onto the body. It showed an astonishing image, claws on his fingers, large brown horns, and gigantic green wings the size of baby elephants. His eyes resembled the green sea, his pupil the boat trapped in it. As Tobi changed back to her regular form they followed the big dragon in the sky. As they passed through forest upon a forest, they came to... another forest. No surprise there. Tobi and Valor went farther and farther and then a big clearing came upon them.

Wow, Tobi thought. The hut in the middle of the clearing was small and unworthy of help. The shingles were falling apart, the bushes untamed and withering, vines wrapped around the house like a child wrapped in a blanket. The windows were cracked and it smelled like rotten fish. This place needed to be torn down and rebuilt; it was in such terrible condition.

"Welcome," said the dragon, now merging into Artemis. "To my home."He gently pushed open the door. It creaked quietly. As the three adventurers stepped into the hut, groaning came from the broken down sofa in the middle of the room. Valor paused in shock. A woman, arms bleeding and bruises dark purple was lying still. Her hair was silver and wrinkles were present all over her face and hands. Dark spots clouded her skin and blue swirls of chakra smoked inter the air, fading away.

"Mother, are you alright?" Artemis asked anxiously to his mother. She wheezed in exhaust.

"My dear son, you can't do anything for me now," she whispered in his ear. Her voice was weary and thin like gravel. His face softened.

"Don't say that Mother!" he pleaded. "You'll be okay. These girls are here to help you get better." Valor and Tobi felt awkward and sheepish just standing there.

"Help her, please...." he murmured, squeezing her hand. Tobi stepped over to the woman on the maroon colored sofa. She was worn down and drowsy like she was on the very edge of death. Likely because she was. Her eyes were just barely open and pupils dilating from left to right. 

"It'll be alright..." she said quietly as she sat down to prepare her potions and medical kit. Tobi pulled out a long stick and opened the case of the kit. It revealed neatly organized packaged band-aids, herbs, spices, mixed fragments such as mints, liquids, and several other healing items.

"I love you, son," the woman said in a barely audible voice.

"I told you, don't say that! You'll be okay soon!" Artemis promised, refusing to give up. His voice was strong and determined. He refused to let her go. 

"Hold the stick in your hands, please," Tobi instructed and Artemis's mother did. The stick glowed and information ran onto the monitor.

"Her life force is very low," she informed Artemis. "And her vitals are slowing down. And her chakra... it's running out. I'm afraid there's not much I can do." She began to grab herbs and fragments around the house and dropped them into a cauldron she had made. It puffed to life. She stirred it and added dragon scales to the mixture as Artemis's mother slowed her breath.