16
Ava took a deep breath and knelt, urging herself to focus.
As she had with the ocean drakes, she spoke into her mind for help, seeking the elusive fyreleopards. Much more in tune with her magic, she followed its call, pushing it into the ground, as if the animals could hear her through her connection with the earth.
The noise of battle rose nearby—shrieks of monsters, shouts of daemon and fae—hovering like an ominous warning. But she ignored it, letting her power flow from her palm.
Please. If any creatures are still alive or still here. We need your help,she pleaded.
After several minutes, she stood and faced her friends.
“Anything?” Quinn asked, brown eyes filled with worry.
“I don’t know.”
Casimir addressed Quinn and Pax. “Go back and oversee the battle. We’ll keep searching for the weapons.”
Pax nodded. “We’ll ensure our victory, general.”
A muscle ticked in Casimir’s jaw, the only sign he was concerned, but he dipped his head as he clapped Pax on theshoulder before he and Quinn took off in the direction of the town.
“We must hurry," Casimir said, leading them up the steps.
A feline snarl echoed from overhead.
They whipped their heads skyward as a flying creature passed above, circled, and landed before them.
The fyreleopard was massive, larger than Quinn’s panther. Its golden fur shimmered with a translucent layer of flames, like a blazing coat of armor protecting its soft fur. Tucking in its feathered wings, it approached, tilting its head with piercing yellow eyes.
Maeryn gasped, her eyes welling with tears. “Beautiful.”
The cat padded forward on giant paws and Ava extended her hand. “Have you come to help, friend? Are you by yourself?”
“Ava,” Casimir cautioned. “It’s going to burn you.”
“No, it won’t.”
The cat stepped closer, withdrawing the flames from its body before it nuzzled her fingers. Ava scratched behind its ears, eliciting a loud purr from its throat.
“One of them won’t be enough,” said Raine. “It will just get hurt.”
As if animals could glare, the cat stared him down when dozens of growls and snarls sounded from above.
“Holy Earth Mother,” Raine said, looking to the sky.
Ava followed his gaze as a flock of fyreleopards flew over the castle, headed toward the battle. Flames shot from their mouths as they joined the chaos, attacking the daemons and monsters with ferocious roars.
“We must get back to our task,” Maeryn said.
Ava turned to follow the others inside the castle, when the fyreleopard trotted in front of them, blocking their way.
“Uhhh…” said Raine. “Let us through kitty cat.”
It growled at him, then looked pointedly at Ava.
“What does he want?” Casimir asked.
Ava stepped toward the cat, scratching its head again. “We need to find the weapons the daemons have stolen. We think they’re in the castle. Can we get by?”
