Lotus

Chapter 32

I paced back and forth across the width of the small cave I was in, trying not to trip over Murre as she wove in between my legs. I tried hard to get my mind to focus on one single issue, but apparently it didn't want to. It kept jumping between one problem and the next: how are we going to get out of here, can I get Murre out safely, am I going to die here, when can I see Gemini again, why does everyone hate hybrids so much? These questions repeated themselves over and over again, going in one big loop and slowly making me dizzy.

I rubbed my forehead hard and once again tried to focus. After a moment, I turned swiftly to resume my pacing, only to slam headfirst into Gemini.

Of course. Good job, me.

I managed to hit my snout pretty hard, and my talons immediately shot up to cover it. I massaged it gently, trying to relieve the pain. "Ow," I muttered.

"Kamala!" Gemini said. "Oh, goodness, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you were going to turn around that quickly." He reached up, as if he wanted to help, but dropped his talons hastily. "Are you okay?"

With the pain mostly gone, I took my talons off of my snout, and wiggled it slightly. "Yeah, I'm good. I should be the one apologizing, though. I should have been looking where I was going." He opened his mouth to say something else, but I shook my head, stopping him. "But that doesn't matter. Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"We're getting you out of here," said a voice from behind him. I looked past Gemini and saw Cassiopeia right outside the cave, looking around cautiously. 

I felt my eyes widen in surprise. "But...what about Zodiac?"

Her eyes locked with mine. "She's not as bad as most dragons think, especially to hybrids." Her gaze flicked over to Gemini, who looked down. "After all, her nephew's one." 

I nodded, understanding. Without asking more questions, I scooped up Murre. "Be good and quiet," I whispered in her ear. Her tiny eyes widened slightly, but I could see that she understood. We hurried out the door, with Gemini following closely behind. 

Cassiopeia led us to a small and dimly lit hallway. The four of us stayed silent as we walked down it, listening for any sign that someone had found us. We were in luck, though; we didn't see another soul.

We came to a stop in front of a brief opening in the wall, one that you wouldn't see unless you were specifically looking for it. It was partly covered by a dull tapestry, which Cassiopeia gently pushed aside to allow us enough room to pass through. 

After several minutes of walking in darkness, we emerged at the top of one of the towers, looking over the dimly lit forest beneath us. I was mildly surprised to see the stars out, but I realized that I probably had been in that cave much longer than I had initially realized.

I started preparing myself and Murre to leave when Gemini turned to his sister, with an uneasy look on his face. "Are you sure I should go with her? What about you--"

"I'll be fine," she interrupted. " Don't worry about me. Besides, you'll probably be safer away from here." While there was truth to what she said, a look came over her face that told me that wasn't all of it. She glanced at me, then flicked her eyes down to the ground.

I was about to ask her what was really going on when she moved us closer to the edge. "We don't have any more time. You need to go." 

I took to the air, and turned back slightly as I waited for Gemini to do so as well. After a pause, he quickly nuzzled Cassiopeia and then came up next to me. I saw a bittersweet smile flash across her face as she watched us fly into the night and away from the SkyWing Kingdom.