Page 49 of Demonic Affliction

“Come on, Cyprien.” Dagny rests a hand on his arm. “We can’t help him.”

“I know. It’s just… so sad.” He frowns, then turns and launches himself into the sky with his brothers. Dagny gives me a brief wave goodbye, then jumps off the cliff, her glorious feathered wings taking her high into the sky.

Then it's just us.

I press closer to Rhune, and he tightens his hold, his chin resting on top of my head. Nyx and Dravik move closer, settling in on either side of me. Nobody talks about what happened in the tunnel. Nobody says anything. I think we’re all too scared. I know I am, at least.

So instead of talking, we sit, and we wait. For whatever comes next.

Dagny and her mates land at the mouth of the cave, their wings rustling in the wind. Her jaw is tight, and she doesn't look at any of us right away.

“They’re gone,” she says. “The creatures. They’re just… gone.”

"Where did they go?" Dravik asks, his voice low.

"We don't know," Malice says from behind her. “Our best guess is they headed toward the forest. For why, we also have no idea.”

“To feed.” My voice cracks around the last word. “The world… it’s cannibalizing itself. It’s so hungry that it can’t control it…” I shudder as the memory of those horrible creatures surfaces again. Then, I remember the words of the serafyn. “It’s sick. Dying. If we don’t do something, and soon…”

No one speaks for a long while.

Finally, Dagny is brave enough to make her thoughts known. “If that’s the case, then we better get moving.” She looks at me, her eyes dark and serious. “You really think there’s something in the core that will help fix this sickness?”

“I don’t know,” I answer truthfully. “But I know there’s something important there. It’s our only option.”

She sighs, nodding in resigned acceptance. “If we’re going to travel to the core, we’re going to need reinforcements. The twelve of us will not survive alone.”

“Who else is supposed to help us?” I ask, genuinely curious.

Dagny looks at her mates, sharing a conversation I’m not privy to. After a while, she nods, then turns her attention back to me. “I am able to… control creatures of The Far Place. I could easily have an army to protect us, but… since that pit showed up, since the world started feeling wrong… I have been unable to tap into the power that lets me control the beings of this world. In that regard, I am useless. However… a handful of kingdoms are still standing south of The Far Place. It is warmer there, more mild, and they have soldiers to spare.”

She continues, “Over the past few decades, my mates and I have been growing our relations with them. We are fairly good friends with King Vhalthor, and I know he will help us if we explain what is happening to The Far Place.” Her expression turns grave. “At least, I hope he will be wise enough to help. We are all lost if he doesn’t.”

Dagny presses the heels of her hands against her eyes for a moment, then drops them. “We’ll leave now. If we fly hard, we should be able to make it there and back in three cycles. That will give you time to prepare supplies for Willow. It will be harder on her body than any of ours, and she needs to be prepared with plenty of clothes, food, and protective equipment.”

Everyone nods in agreement. There's no better option, and we don’t have time to come up with a better one if it does exist.

“Okay.” She turns to her mates, looking every bit the warrior she is. “Are you ready?”

“We are,” Malice says. “Where you go, we follow.”

Dagny stops at the ledge, turning her head over her shoulder and looking me directly in the eyes. “Three cycles. We’ll be back,” she says. “Hopefully with company.”

For our sake, I hope so too.

She and her mates launch into the sky and bank hard to the side, their powerful wings pumping the air as they head south. I watch until they're just small dark shapes against the vast horizon, then turn and walk back into the cave.

I settle back on Rhune’s lap, pressing my head against his chest and listening to the steady thud of his heart.

“It’s going to be okay, pup.” He runs his palm soothingly down my hair. “Everything is going to be okay.”

I really, truly want to believe that.

Dravik and Nyx settle down at Rhune’s side, both reaching out to touch me. Dravik's palm lands heavy and warm against my shoulder, while Nyx’s hand curls around my ankle, gentle yet possessive.

"We should rest while we can." Dravik’s voice is low. "There is much to do, and even more that we will have to face.”

“Agreed,” Nyx says. “Though I do not like it.”