Anton was the first to jump into action. He pointed to Celia and the kid, commanding them to gather what they could and get out. He then turned to Von and Valen.
"You two," he pointed at them. "Help me block it's path. We have to try and keep it back."
The brothers jumped up and began scouring the area for anything they could use.
"Artemis, Indigo," Anton said, "I need you two to put out the fire. Once you're done, follow Celia and Barron and get out of here. We'll be right behind you once we're done."
I grit my teeth, but nodded and hopped up.
This Beta was out of his mind if he thought I'd leave Valen here alone again.
Artemis and I worked together to gather buckets of water and quickly douse the fire. We managed to put it out just as Celia and the other warrior-Barron, apparently- took off into the water to escape the cave.
I turned back to Anton and the princes, seeing them struggle to get the tunnel opening barricaded.
The clawing sound was close now, the hissing ringing throughout the cave. I saw the brothers exchange a look, and I understood that they knew this situation was becoming dire.
Anton approached the barricade, heaving a boulder over his shoulder and placing it on top of the others. There was only a slight opening at the top of the pile now.
The scratching and hissing stopped and we paused for a moment, hoping that the hasty barricade would work. Anton held a finger to his lips and quietly crept back over to the boulders, listening for any sound of movement.
He had just pressed his ear to the wall when a huge crash shook the pile, causing dirt to rain down over his large frame.
The hissing began again, so loud I had to cover my ears to block it out. The Fate Spinner continued to slam it's large body against the barricade. Anton spread out his muscular arms, trying to give it some reinforcement.
"Go!" he shouted back to us.
We turned to run toward the water, getting ready to leave. The Fate Spinner continued it's assault, and I could hear Anton grunting as he tried to keep the barricade together. Artemis and Von dove in, swimming gracefully under the waterfall.
I paused and turned back, seeing Anton grit his teeth and his arm muscles bulging from exertion.
"Indigo, are you coming?" Valen asked me. I looked between the two, before making a split decision.
"Go," I told him. "I have to help Anton."
Valen tried to protest, but I sprinted from his grip and ran back toward the tunnel.
Talon-like black legs were poking through the opening at the top, dislodging boulders as they swiped furiously from side to side.
One of the legs swung down hard, embedding it's tip into Anton's back. He let out a viscous howl of pain, but didn't move from his spot.
Blood began to pool on his shirt and drip to the ground below. His face looked pale and a sheen of sweat dusted his brow.
"Anton!" I screamed to him. He acknowledged me with a slight turn of his head.
"When I get to three, you need to move!"
"If I do that this whole thing will come crashing down!" He yelled back at me.
"Just trust me!"
He pursed his lips for a moment, mulling it over. The Fate Spinner rammed it's body into the stones again, causing him to sway slightly.
"Fine!"
I let out my breath, sending a silent plea to the Moon Goddess.
"Please, Selene, lend me your strength."
I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar tug of the tendrils at my back. I could feel my eyes flashing in color, glowing from the power surging through my veins.
"One!"
Anton tensed his legs in preparation.
"Two!"
I raised my hands in the air, feeling the the energy vibrating off of the rocks. I let out a deep breath.
"Three!"
Anton sprung away from the barricade just as the Fate Spinner slammed into it once more, shattering the boulders and clawing it's way through the wreckage.
I could see it's fangs and beady black eyes looking in all directions, before settling onto me.
I brought my hands down, willing the tunnel to collapse. The ground began to shake, dirt raining from the ceiling as a cracking noise bounced off the walls of the cave.
The Fate Spinner clawed harder, working it's legs over the fallen boulders and shimmying it's body out of the tunnel. I concentrated harder, pouring all of my power into the stone.
"Indigo!" I heard Anton yell, just as another leg slashed into his calf.
He crumpled to the ground, wrapping his hands around his leg to staunch the blood pouring from his open wound.
I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth as the ground shook harder below me.
Finally, with a loud crack, the tunnel began to collapse in on itself.
I opened my eyes and watched as the once pristine stone crashed down, landing in enormous chunks on the Fate Spinner.
I could hear it's hissing get louder as it fought to get out before it was engulfed. Finally, with one last crash, the tunnel fully caved in, pinning it's oily body under the rocks.
The hissing ceased, and all that could be heard was my heavy breathing and the occasional groan from Anton. I stumbled over to him, collapsing on the ground.
"How bad is it?" I asked as my eyes roamed over his body, looking for any other injuries.
He rolled to the side.
"Not too bad," he began, but hissed in pain as he tried to put weight on his injured leg.
I tugged his arm over my shoulder and lifted his heavy body off of the ground. I was panting from the effort, as my strength had already been drained from using my powers so much.
I pulled him slowly along to the edge of the water while supporting almost all of his weight. I shifted positions to stand in front of him and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"Do not let go," I instructed.
"Take a deep breath before we go under, it's going to take us longer than usual to swim out."
He nodded this head and clenched my shoulders tightly as we waded deeper into the water.
I paused to take a deep breath, making sure he did the same, before plunging under the surface and pushing my body through the water.
Anton gripped my shirt tightly as we glided past the rolling bubbles of the water fall.
My lungs were beginning to burn from lack of oxygen, but I willed myself to keep swimming. I had to get to a point where Anton and I could stand.
I pumped my legs and sliced through the water with my arms, pushing our bodies closer and closer to the bank. My mouth flew open out of instinct, trying to get some air, but I swallowed a mouthful of water instead.
Just as I was beginning to see black spots, I felt my toes hit the muddy lake side.
I used the ground to my advantage, and launched Anton and I up and out of the water with what little strength I had left. Our heads broke the surface of the water and we gulped down the fresh air.
I turned my vision toward the bank and saw Von, Valen, and Artemis waiting there for us. Celia and Barron were no where in sight.
Anton released my shoulders and we dragged our exhausted bodies out of the water. Once we were finally back on solid ground, I flipped onto my back and laid there, trying to force oxygen into my lungs.
My tired limbs felt like rubber and my head pounded from everything that had happened.
Valen leaned over me, blocking out the sunlight, and brushed a strand of wet hair from my face. I could see his lips moving, but I couldn't hear the words he was trying to say.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to understand, as blackness crept around the edges of my vision. I wasn't strong enough to fight it off.
I gave up trying, closing my eyes once more and plunging into the dark.
Author's Note:
Well, what do you think? Do you think the Fate Spinner perished in the cave? Is it safer now? Will Anton be okay? Will Indigo?
Comment and vote to let me know what you think!
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris