LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
"Don't look back!" Elowen shouts.
I snap my head forward, heart pounding in my chest. The forest blurs around us as we run, the trees seeming to close in tighter with each step. The air grows thick and heavy, making it harder to breathe.
Suddenly, Elowen skids to a halt in front of us, throwing out an arm to stop our headlong flight. We've reached the edge of a ravine, a yawning chasm stretching out before us. The bottom is lost in shadow, and I can hear the faint rush of water far below.
"We're trapped," Eden whimpers, his voice muffled against Jason's chest.
Jason sets Eden down, his eyes gleaming with a feral light. I can see the wolf pushing at the edges of his human form, desperate to break free.
"Not yet Jude, calm down!" he murmurs to his beast side.
As for Elowen, she stands at the edge of the ravine, her fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air. A soft, melodic chant falls from her lips, growing louder with each passing second. The air around us begins to shimmer and pulse with an otherworldly energy.
"What is she doing?" I ask Jason, my voice barely above a whisper but he doesn't answer me, his focus entirely on whatever spell Elowen is weaving.
Suddenly, cries from a strange creature grow louder and closer. I then hear the snapping of branches and the thunderous impact of its footfalls.
Just as the eerie beast bursts into view, a mass of writhing shadows and gleaming teeth, Elowen's chant reaches a crescendo. The air in front of us ripples like water, and suddenly, a bridge of swirling light spans the ravine.
"Go!" Elowen commands.
"Here ends my mission. Luna Kelly,you may continue with Alpha Jason and your adorable son Eden," she then adds as she braces to face the approaching creature, her eyes blazing with an ethereal light, and her hair whiping around her face as if caught in an unseen wind.
"Elowen, no!" I cry out, reaching for her.
But Jason grabs my arm, pulling me back. "We have to go," he growls, his voice rough with the effort of keeping his wolf at bay. "She's giving us a chance. We can't waste it."
Eden whimpers, clinging to Jason's leg. With a swift movement, Jason scoops him up and pushes me towards the shimmering bridge. "Go!" he orders.
I hesitate for a split second, torn between the urge to flee and the desire to help Elowen. But as the creature's roar shakes the very ground beneath our feet, I know we have no choice.
Taking a deep breath, I step onto the bridge, feeling the strange energy pulsing beneath my feet. It's solid, yet I can see the yawning chasm through its translucent surface. Jason follows close behind, Eden clutched tightly to his chest.
We run, our footsteps echoing strangely on the magical construct. Behind us, I hear the clash of battle – Elowen's fierce incantations mingling with the creature's bone-chilling howls. I want to look back, but I'm afraid of what I might see.
Halfway across, the bridge begins to flicker and waver. "It's collapsing!" Jason shouts. "Move!"
We sprint the final stretch, the bridge disintegrating at our heels. With a final leap, we tumble onto solid ground on the other side of the ravine.
The last remnants of Elowen's magic fizzle out as we catch our breath on the rocky soil. The sounds of battle fade, replaced by an eerie silence that settles over the ravine like a shroud.
I push myself to my feet, my heart pounding as I peer into the misty depths below. There's no sign of Elowen or the creature. "We can't just leave her," I whisper, my voice choked with emotion.
Jason places a hand on my shoulder, his touch gentle but firm.
"We have to keep moving, Kelly. Elowen knew the risks. She made her choice to protect us – to protect Eden."
At the sound of his name, Eden sniffles and burrows closer to Jason's chest. The sight of my son, so small and vulnerable, steels my resolve. Elowen sacrificed herself so we could continue our journey, and I won't let her sacrifice be in vain.
"You're right. Let's move on and find a shelter before nightfall." I finally answer Jason, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat.
We thus set off along the rocky path, the terrain growing steeper as we ascend. The air grows thin and cold, and I pull Eden tighter against me. Jason takes the lead, his eyes constantly scanning our surroundings for any sign of danger.
As the sun begins to dip below the jagged peaks, we spot a small cave tucked into the mountainside. It's not ideal, but it's better than spending the night exposed on the mountainside.
"Wait here," Jason says, handing Eden to me. He approaches the cave cautiously, a ball of magical light inexplicably suddenly hovers above his palm. After a tense moment, he waves us forward. "It's clear."
We settle inside, grateful for the protection from the biting wind.
"Eden, give me the scepter!"Jason surprisingly asks.
Eden does as he's told by his father. Jason takes the sacred artifact, taps against the ground and creates a small magical barrier at the entrance, a shimmering veil that will alert us to any intruders.
I am once again in awe before the power of the royal stick of commandment. Then, Eden becomes sleepy, so I lay him down on a makeshift bed of our cloaks, humming a soft lullaby until his eyes flutter closed.
As night descends, Jason and I huddle near the cave's entrance, speaking in hushed tones.
"Do you think we lost them?" I ask, unable to shake the feeling of being hunted.
Jason's brow furrows. "For now, perhaps. But they'll pick up our trail again. We need to reach the Emergency Portal before they catch up."
I nod, trying to push away the gnawing fear in my gut. "How much farther?" I then ask.
"One or two days' journey maybe, if we're lucky." He answers, his voice filled with uncertainty.