“I mean, we could just all search for it,” Raiden suggests. “We’re all just assuming that it’s a magical reason that is going to help find it, but it could just be that we have to hunt for the cave ourselves. You know, put the physical effort in?”
“You might have a point,” Baz agrees. “Although that does mean that we’re going to be out here considerably longer than we thought that we would be.”
They carry on talking, but I freeze.
My magic is buzzing. It’s like it’s fizzing under my skin, I can’t explain it. It’s not painful, but it’s not exactly a comfortable feeling either. I don’t like it, it makes me want to itch.
With a pop, the feeling disappears, and a golden ribbon of light stretches out in front of me and closer to the cliff’s edge.
“I guess we follow the golden ribbon,” I say, interrupting their conversation. I’m actually pretty surprised that they’re still talking since a magic ribbon has just formed in front of us.
They all look at me like I’ve lost my mind, and I frown.
“Erm, what golden ribbon?” Doc asks.
I sigh, “Of course, you guys wouldn’t see it, that would be too helpful.” They’re all still waiting for an answer, obviously, so I start to explain, “My magic started to behave weird, and then this golden ribbon of light appeared, and it’s leading off into the distance. I’m assuming that it means that we have to follow it and that it will lead us to the cave where we can do the ritual.”
Van nods, “Alright, you take the lead, and we’ll follow.”
“I don’t suppose it’s heading away from the cliff edge?” Coen asks as he glances at Neith.
I shake my head, “Nope. It actually looks like it’s going over the edge.”
“Toward the ocean?” Reed mutters, and I nod with a frown. “Awesome.”
“Guys, seriously. I really don’t think that water is a threat to me,” Neith says again.
“We know, but we would all rather be overly cautious,” River tells her.
She sighs, but I know that she understands our reasoning. She would be exactly the same if it were the other way around.
We all pick up the pace now that we’ve got a destination to focus on, and we aren’t just wandering aimlessly in the snow.
“I don’t see a cave, and we’re running out of ground,” Reed says with concern after a few more minutes of walking.
“The ribbon is leading this way,” I say, although I’m aware that I don’t sound as sure about it as they would probably like. “Maybe we have to fly down to the cave? I mean, it is a gargoyle thing.”
“True, but Michael didn’t seem surprised that Neith could be your mate, even though she isn’t a gargoyle, and he didn’t say that it was specific to only gargoyles. He also said that we could all go with you, and he knows that some of us don’t fly. Although I suppose he could just be assuming that those who do fly would fly the others down to the cave,” Raiden reasons, ending on a frown.
Neith grins, “I’m so proud of you, that was a Neith worthy ramble.”
Raiden smirks and sticks his middle finger up at her, which she finds absolutely hilarious.
“I think your rambling may be contagious. I never rambled like this before,” Raiden reasons.
“Fuck off,” River retorts immediately. “You absolutely used to ramble like this before, about any sort of theory you had.”
“Guys, there’s a path,” Van interrupts, thankfully stopping the argument before it can really get going.
“Well, that looks nice and safe and not scary and narrow,” Coen mutters sarcastically.
“Alright, easy does it. I think the path has been worn away over time, and since true mates aren’t a thing anymore, no one has had reason to maintain it. Step really carefully,” I order.
“Neith, you go behind Griff and hold onto his shirt. Reed, you go behind Neith and hold onto her, just in case,” Van adds. “We have no idea what other magic is involved, so I don’t suggest any of you using your wings unless you really have to.”
Neith
Iroll my eyes. It really is a little bit ridiculous how protective they’re being about the whole water thing. However, I do have a reputation for getting into big, dangerous amounts of trouble, and I’m also slightly clumsy and a bit easily distracted.
