Chapter 8-Felhor Caverns

My thanks to BoOkWoRm, MySilenceIsInfinity, Skatzaa, gigglesandbooks, betweeenthelines77, , and . I got so much more reviews this time. Thanks everybody! Virtual presents for everyone! I wasn't really sure what exactly I was going to do with this chapter so this kind of just… happened. Anyways, hope you like, it's more of a filler than anything. Merry Christmas everyone! I just had to get this in before the world ended. So… R&R?


Max

"Max, this is Iggy, he's my best friend since birth, and former best tracker in the Queen's army," Fang says, "And this is Gazzy, we ran into him a while back."

"Former best tracker means that I'm still the world's best tracker, just not for the Queen anymore," Iggy grins, and thumps Fang on the back, earning him a glare, "Not since my boy here got disowned."

The look Fang gave him was like ice. He murmurs something like, "Do not mention this in front of her," underneath his breath, his tone was menacing. Iggy backs off immediately, knowing this was a touchy subject. I'll have to ask him about this later.

I force a cheery smile, "Disowned, huh?"

He doesn't say anything.

I frown, "Anyways… Mother, Angel, make new friends."

Angel didn't say a word but clung to mom who eyed Fang with distrust.

"It's okay, mom," I whisper, "He's not going to rat us out."

Gazzy speaks up, "Your Grace, I'm Gazzy, I'm a Patas Monkey from Canopy Hills."

Something occurs to me. I notice a very small scar right below his right eye, "Canopy Hills is in the West, am I right?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"When was your village attacked?" I asked and then see him flinch, "I'm sorry, Gazzy, I didn't mean-"

"It's alright, your Grace," he says, "Canopy Hills is near the Cardinal West City, also near the Felhor Caverns. One night, I was coming home from the market at the Cardinal City and then I heard this sound, this horrible shrieking. There was a strange gold glow near where my home was. They burned the tree houses, the whole entire complex above the ground was in ashes. And then pretty soon, the whole forest was on fire. I think someone heard me and shot at me because that's how I got this," he points to his scar, "I fled to the city, but that was in ashes. The people were dying.

"I needed to find you because I think I know where the people of Cardinal West are hiding," he tells me, his face sullen. I'm startled by how young he looks and how old he sounds.

"Where's that?" I ask, a little part of me hoping but the rest not daring.

"The Felhor Caverns," he says, "The Queen's men don't dare go in there. Humans believe it's cursed, but that ground is protected by the Bats and other tribes. I believe any survivors would have sought refuge there."

"So why didn't you?"

"I- I don't know," he admits finally, "I guess I couldn't. I still thought that maybe- just maybe- my family might be alive, and I should be looking for them and not cowering in terror. My little sister, Vinnie, was only born 3 months ago, and my mom and dad are still young. Your Grace, if I may make a suggestion, we should head west to the Felhor Caverns."

I consider it and finally I answer him, "Done."


Fang

Suddenly, I was filled with thoughts of my sisters. How was Nudge? Is she as talkative as ever, is she still shut away by mother like she always was ever since mom started the "purges"? What about Ella? A twang plucks at my heart strings when I remember that Iggy and Ella were in love. But now that Iggy is with me, and I'll never see Ella again, it feels like I separated them.

Angel and Max were off talking to Gazzy, drawing something on the ground. It looked elaborate, like a map. Iggy walked over as I studied Max's face. She looked older somehow, even though it's only been a couple weeks. Something about her seemed hopelessly lost but strong at the same time.

"Well, we found her, what next?" Iggy asks.

I don't answer him, "Did you love Ella?" I ask suddenly.

He looks a little shocked, and I didn't really expect him to answer the question truthfully. Especially since we were friends and I'm her older brother. He scrambles for words, "I- Of course I did, but Fang-"

"Do me a favor," I tell him, "Marry her when we get back. I want her as far away from the Queen as possible. I trust you."

I put a hand on his shoulder and stand up, facing away.


Max

"Cardinal West?" Angel says in shock, "But the Felhor Caverns is infamous for its traps and endless pits. It's a giant maze within a maze."

"Not with Gazzy here," I say confidently. Mother comes up from behind me, studying the map Gazzy drew on the ground, "Gazzy was a local there, Felhor Caverns are a pattern. Look."

Gazzy demonstrates how the first portion was blocked off by a web of dead ends and pits. There were only a few ways to get in besides flying like the natives would. However, Gazzy, Iggy and Fang couldn't fly. Therefore, we would have to find these paths. There were three paths that were pit-free and branched out like rivers into the dark. From there were many jagged rocks and were upon pressure, the floor would collapse or send waves of arrows flying at you.

"What about this tunnel?" Mom asks, pointing to one tunnel leading off the map Gazzy drew. It didn't seem to lead anywhere. It didn't have any traps or corridors leading off of it.

"That tunnel is rumored to be a direct path beyond the Forbidden Mountains. It's rumored that shifters live there also, and there's an ocean. No one ever dared to go through that tunnel. And besides, it's unsafe. It runs under the mountain. No one knows if it's been blocked off by a collapsing or what not," Gazzy explains, and then points to five separate little places on the map, "This is where the natives live. We're aiming for these places to look for survivors."

"Right," I confirm, "Iggy! Fang! Get over here!"

Iggy appears out of the woods, his arms full of firewood. Fang saunters over lazily. He moves like one of us. I noticed, but just a little bit clumsier, not fully achieving the grace we can. But still, there was something about him that didn't make him seem fully human like Iggy or any of the pale-faced spindly humans I've seen.

"We're going to the West to find the Cardinal Ceferino there. It's going to be very dangerous but Gazzy knows the way in and out of the caves," I tell them.

"West?" Iggy asks, "Why not East or South?"

"We don't know for sure if the Cardinal East is alive, but Gazzy seems pretty positive that Cardinal West is taking refuge in the Felhor Caves. And as for Cardinal South, no one has been there in maybe a generation. Rumor has it; it was burned a while back. Jeb never told me if Cardinal South is alive."

The story of Cardinal South was pretty strange. Before mom or dad was born, the Cardinal there disappeared. His or her name was erased from all records. No one knew if it still exists which is pretty bizarre. My theory is that it's been overrun by humans.

I scan the circle of faces, satisfied with the approval I found.

Still, my gaze lingered on Fang's face, something undeniably sad about his expression.