The sound of alarms echoed through Calder Venric's estate as Kael and his companions darted through the winding corridors. The golden crystal in Kael's hands pulsed faintly, its light barely contained by the cloth he had hastily wrapped around it.
"Faster!" Lira hissed, her voice sharp as she glanced over her shoulder. "Those guards are going to catch up if we don't move!"
"I'm going as fast as I can!" Kael snapped, his heart pounding. His lungs burned with every step, but he forced himself to keep going.
Ember darted ahead, her fiery tails blazing just enough to light the path. "This way!" she barked, leading them toward the nearest exit.
Umbra stayed close to Kael's side, his small form tense and ready to strike at any threat that appeared. "The golden thread feels… strained," he murmured. "We need to get out of here soon."
Kael nodded, the thread's pulsing energy faint but steady in his chest. The crystal's power felt heavy in his hands, its presence both reassuring and overwhelming.
As they rounded a corner, the sound of boots pounding against stone grew louder.
"There they are!" a voice shouted, followed by the unmistakable clatter of weapons being drawn.
Kael cursed under his breath. "We're out of time!"
Lira skidded to a stop, spinning around with her daggers drawn. "Go! I'll hold them off!"
"No!" Kael protested, stopping in his tracks. "We're not leaving you!"
"Don't argue!" Lira snapped, her eyes blazing with determination. "You need to get that crystal out of here, and I'm the best chance you've got to slow them down. Now go!"
Kael hesitated, his chest tightening. He didn't want to leave her behind, but the look in her eyes told him she wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Be careful," he said, his voice barely audible.
Lira smirked. "Always am."
She darted toward the approaching guards, her movements swift and precise. The clash of steel on steel rang out behind them as Kael turned and ran, Ember and Umbra at his side.
The group burst through a side door into the cold night air, the chaos of the estate fading slightly as they sprinted toward the outer gates.
"We're almost there," Ember panted, her flames dimmed to avoid drawing attention.
Kael's legs ached, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but he didn't slow down. The gates loomed ahead, their iron bars glinting faintly in the moonlight.
"Please be unlocked," Kael muttered as they approached.
To his relief, the gates stood slightly ajar, the lock broken from their earlier entry. He pushed through, holding them open for Ember and Umbra before slipping through himself.
As they crossed the threshold, the alarms grew fainter, but Kael knew they weren't safe yet.
"Keep moving," he said, his voice hoarse.
They ran through the dark streets of Draycott, sticking to the shadows to avoid drawing attention. Kael's mind raced, his thoughts a whirlwind of fear and determination. Venric wouldn't let this go—not after what they had taken from him.
"Do you think Lira will be okay?" Umbra asked quietly, his glowing blue eyes filled with worry.
Kael's chest tightened. "She's tough," he said, trying to convince himself as much as the cub. "She'll find a way out."
Ember growled softly. "We don't have time to look back. If we stop now, we'll risk losing everything."
Kael nodded, forcing himself to focus. The golden crystal's energy pulsed faintly in his hands, a reminder of why they couldn't afford to fail.
They reached the outskirts of the city just as the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon. Kael's legs felt like lead, and his breaths came in shallow gasps, but he didn't stop until they were far enough from Draycott to feel a sliver of safety.
Finally, they collapsed in a small clearing surrounded by trees, the quiet hum of nature a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.
Kael sank to the ground, clutching the crystal tightly. "We made it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ember sat beside him, her flames flickering faintly. "For now. But Venric won't stop hunting us."
Umbra padded over, his small body trembling with exhaustion. "We'll have to keep moving. The further we get from Draycott, the better."
Kael nodded, though the weight of the crystal in his hands felt heavier than ever. The golden thread pulsed faintly, its energy steady but subdued.
"Do you think Lira will catch up?" Umbra asked, his voice soft.
Kael hesitated, his chest tightening. He didn't have an answer, and the thought of leaving Lira behind gnawed at him. But he knew they couldn't afford to stay in one place for long.
"She will," Kael said finally, his voice firm. "She's too stubborn not to."
Ember smirked faintly. "That's true."
As the sun rose higher, Kael felt the tension in his chest ease slightly. They had the crystal—and they were alive. For now, that was enough.
But as he looked at the golden artifact in his hands, he couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was only going to get harder.
"Let's keep moving," he said, standing and adjusting his satchel.
Ember and Umbra nodded, falling into step beside him as they made their way deeper into the forest.
The road ahead was uncertain, but Kael knew one thing for sure—they couldn't turn back now.