Chapter eleven:
Ray groans as he sits up blinking as his vision is blurry. "Huh? Ryan?" His vision manages to focus allowing him to see branches and leaves. He looks down realizing he landed just right on a thick branch which means he didn't go all the way down to the ground. He must have briefly been knocked out or something though. He carefully climbs down trying to ignore his aching body. He lands his feet on the ground and asses his wounds. He mostly has cuts, scrapes and bruises. He was lucky. He looks around the forest area trying to figure out just where exactly he is. "Ryan?" He listens for any roars though none come. He starts walking trying to figure things out. He spots some surrounding fields though he ducks behind a tree hearing someone talk who isn't Ryan.
"Man. Why did we get the sucky job of going on a hunt for that damn witch?" A male voice complains with a groan as footsteps can be heard. He is very clearly walking along with some others. "I mean we got what she wanted. Isn't that enough?"
"Aren't you forgetting that we need both witch and familiar?" A second voice speaks this time a females voice. She sounds a bit annoyed by the fact that the other seems to be forgetting something important. "That witch is a big threat. Need I remind you that the bond between witch and familiar can break the spell on its own?"
"Yeah. Yeah. Lets just get that dragons witch and get back. My nose is itchy so I think a storm is coming." The first males voice complains as the group walks past Ray's hiding spot.
Ray covers his mouth to hide a gasp upon hearing the mention of a dragon. He knows that it has to be Ryan. He can't just leave his familiar there in their grasp. He's gotta do something. He pulls out his wand and makes a recording bubble spell which is almost like quickly drawing the bubble with a target in the middle. He takes a breath as the recording starts. "It's me Ray." He speaks softly to not alert the others to his location just yet. "Me and Ryan accidentally went away from the school and I don't have a lot of time. A group has kidnapped Ryan. I am going to try to get him back. Please send help. We might need it." He taps his wand against the bubble then waves his wand around the bubble concentrating on Burnie then the bubble wizzes off to send the message. He hides his wand only to come out of his hiding place. "Hello!"
The group who was about to leave the area spin around and see Ray in which the witches get their wands out. The familiars of the group also get ready to transform.
Ray raises his hands in surrender. "I surrender." He tells them with a serious look on his face even with the cut on his right cheek. "Take me to my familiar."
One of the men of the group grab Ray and hold his arms in place as if he is under arrest, while a female witch makes a portal that they take Ray through.
Ray doesn't struggle as he is taken to a barn only to be lead up some wooden stairs painted black along the side. He finds witches sitting in cages when they enter the upper floor area of the barn. He can see that they are scattered around though there is only so many here and they can't reach each other. He is tossed into a cage as well and its only tall enough for him to be able to sit up. He can't stand in it.
"And don't think you can get any sort of magic past it." The annoyed female tells Ray checking her wand. "There is a special magic lock that means no magic can enter or leave the cage."
"I want to see my familiar!" Ray demands grabbing the bars of the cage though the group only leaves him there.
"They got you too?"
Ray turns to look to the witch in the cage beside him in which he sees that it is a female with tired sunken eyes. "I should have just tried to find where they took my familiar." He hangs his head. "I shouldn't have surrendered. I should have known that they wouldn't take me to see him." He drops his hands to his sides.
"You wanted to help your familiar." The female tries to point out to Ray who doesn't even look up at her. "We all make mistakes when we focus on wanting to help those we care about." She shifts as if trying to look at his face again.
"We haven't been partners for long and I've already failed him." Ray closes his eyes and a tear falls down his cheek landing on the hard metal bottom of the cage. He supposes that this must be how Ryan feels when he messes up with him. He wants to help Ryan so much so he won't have to feel this horrible feeling ever again. He swears it is like tearing him apart.
The female tries to reach out towards him wanting to comfort him though he is just out of reach. She can't reach him no matter what she tries. She pulls her hand back and sighs heavily.
The two turn hearing some banging coming from downstairs.
"Come on!" A voice snaps as can be heard though muffled through the wood floor.
That is when a loud zebra noise can be heard as well as stomping hooves.
"Daniel!" The female calls out hurrying to the other side of her cage clenching the bars there. She looks around as if trying to see the other through the hay and wood. "Let him go!" She calls though she can't see anything as it is all blocked with the hay and wood.
"They can't hear us from up here." A man huddled in the corner of his cage a little further away from the woman and Ray. "They put up that spell. We can listen but they can't hear us." He reminds her with a glare and Ray happens to notice his witch hat in the other corner of the cage as if hes given up all hope. "The spell they used is still up. It'll always be up."
Ray turns to look at the hay that is on the floor as the female collapses sobbing. He realizes that they might need to get clever if they are going to escape. He reaches out grabbing a piece of hay. He brings it back into his cage. He pulls out his wand and casts a spell to make it a flower instead. He tries to toss it through the space between the bars though the flower is electrified and burnt to ash. He clenches his teeth at seeing this. He looks around as there has to be a way out of this.
Back at the school Burnie is in his office working on some paperwork when he looks up as the bubble comes over. "What's this? A recording bubble?" He watches it start up and sees Ray so he listens to the message only for his eyes to widen. He jumps to his feet and after the message is done the bubble pops turning to magical fading sparkles. He hurries out of his office and down the hall stopping as he comes across Joel, Geoff and Jack who all turn to him. "We have a situation." He tells them in a worried panic. "Joel you're coming with me. Geoff you're in charge of putting this school into lockdown. No one leaves unless absolutely necessary. Every event is placed into cancellation until further notice."
"Burnie. What is going on?" Jack questions moving a little closer to the other who takes a breath.
"The students are in danger." Burnie informs them with a look of concern and fear. "One pair have been kidnapped. One was able to send a message. Ray and Ryan are in an unknown groups clutches." His report makes the others look very fearful. "We need to respond now."
So the adults split up into groups to try to deal with this, Joel joining Burnie as they use a broom to fly off and Geoff taking Jack to get the lockdown in order.
None of them noticing that someone nearby had heard all of this.
Gavin turns and runs to go find Michael needing to tell him about what is going on. He tries his partners room which he finds the other is indeed there. He doesn't even let the other speak before he starts quickly talking. "Ray and Ryan are in trouble! The teachers are putting the school under lockdown. Burnie and Joel flew off to try to save Ray and Ryan."
"Whoa whoa." Michael places both hands onto Gavin's shoulders causing the other to stop his panicked ramblings. "Slow down for a moment Gav. What happened to Ray and Ryan?" He stares into the others eyes to make sure that they are focused on this together.
"They got kidnapped. That's all I know." Gavin informs Michael whose eyes narrow with anger that is not directed at his partner.
"Gavin. We are going to go and help them." Michael tells him with a serious angry tone in his voice that matches the expression on his face. "Whoever fucking took them is going to be in fucking big trouble."
Together the two of them hurry down to the courtyard and Gavin turns into his familiar form.
"Wait!"
Gavin and Michael turn as Geoff and Jack approach them though there is no friendly looks as it is all tense and serious.
"Don't try to fucking stop us." Michael warns the two of them as he glares still feeling anger still pumping through him. He turns his body to face Gavin while looking over his shoulder. "We are going to help our friends. And damn it to hell if you stop us. We won't go quietly."
"We're not here to stop you." Geoffs words cause Michael to blink in surprise. "We want to come with you." He takes a breath. "Look. We want them to return safe just as much as you do. They just got each other as partners. We need to help them. And don't worry. The two of us are ready to take the blame if Burnie decides to give out punishment. We can say that we got you to come with us because we were worried that a group would overpower Burnie and Joel on their own."
"What about the lockdown?" Michael reminds the mustached other to the thing that the two were supposed to be doing.
Geoff waves it off. "I put Griffon in charge of that. I know that thing will be okay. Though we will have to worry. There will be a spell put up the prevents anyone not authorized from leaving the grounds." He takes a broom that Jack hands him as Jack happens to have two brooms ready.
Michael nods and climbs onto Gavin who takes to the sky once the other is securely on.
Geoff and Jack are swift to join them in the sky and glance back just in time to see the spell be put up. They turn back and follow the pair who fly slower so the two can keep up.
"Do you have any idea where we should start looking?!" Michael calls out to the two riding alongside them. He keeps a look out on the ground for any signs of anything suspicious.
"No. But there has to be some kind of hint or something." Geoff admits making sure to stay clear of Gavin's wings. He just hopes that they'll be able to find the missing pair. "Maybe a large building big enough for a dragon. Or maybe something that just stands out?"
The two pairs continue to fly looking for any clues they can see from flying overhead.