Callum landed on the ground, Zym and Ibis landing moments later. They had arrived at a cliff's edge, and on the cliff face before them, rising above into the sky, he could see that there was no where else to go—so why did the tracking spell end here?

Callum swore loudly, before walking forward towards the cliff face and running his hands frantically through his hair once his mage wings had returned to human arms. He looked around, panic rising in his throat like bile, searching for any sign of an entrance.

Zym whined loudly, and Callum swallowed hard. He closed his eyes, willing himself not to let his emotions overwhelm him.

He felt someone grasp his shoulder, and shrugged off Ibis' hand. "We can't stop here," he said. "We have to keep going. The spell must be off—perhaps it continues on the other side of the cliff…"

"Just wait," Ibis said. "There could be a spell blocking our senses."

Callum frowned, before nodding slowly. "An illusion!" Why had he not thought of that!? He took a few steps back, as Ibis and Zym did the same, and did a quick, but powerful, rune spell to abolish illusions.

Nothing happened.

Disappointed beyond belief, Callum sighed, turning to go along the cliffside to see if the tracking spell picked up at another spot, before Zym let out a whistle of excitement.

Callum looked back and saw, much to his surprise, that part of the cliffside was crumbling away. Or appearing to—as the illusion spell making it look like a cliff face crumbled. Soon, before them, was the entrance to a cave.

Callum smiled, before his smile fell away. A terrible smell was coming from the cave—a decaying smell. A smell of death.

Covering their noses, he and his two companions entered the cave.

King Ezran paced the floor of his bedchamber, frowning. Something was wrong—he knew it. Though Zym was too far away to have too strong of a connection with him, when strong emotions were involved, Ezran could still sometimes feel a twinge in his soul and mind, a sort of hiccup in his subconscious.

Something was wrong.

He sat down in a chair, running a hand over his face. What could it be? Was Zym in danger? Was Callum?

Callum should have reached Lux Aurea by now-perhaps even the Storm Spire. There was no news yet, and might not be any news for another week, unless Rayla sent a message by magic.

Hopefully that would be the case. Ezran missed Rayla dearly—she had grown to be more than a friend these last twelve years—she was a sister to him in all but name.

He had always hoped that Rayla would one day become his sister in reality—marrying Callum and joining the family officially. But it seemed that fate had not had that in store—not yet, anyway.

Ezran sighed, leaning his head back, searching into that part of his mind that had a connection with the dragon prince.

Something was wrong.

Something had happened.

The Storm Spire. Something had happened at the Storm Spire.

Something with Rayla.

An image came into Ezran's mind—like a memory that did not belong to him-and Ezran saw strange, hunched shapes, shuffling quickly towards him, hands outstretched, teeth bared. Elves. But not elves.

Ezran's eyes opened in a flash.

Zym was in danger.

And that meant…Xadia—and perhaps the world—was as well.

Zym whined as they walked through the tunnels searching for any sign of Rayla. Callum's heart thudded in his chest so hard and loud that he could swear he could hear his heartbeat echo against the walls and ceilings of the tunnels.

"Are you prepared for what you might see?" Ibis asked him, breaking the silence since they entered the caves.

Callum's jaw tensed, his throat constricting slightly. "No," he said, shortly. "But Rayla is the most capable, powerful elf I know. I'm sure she's fine. I'm sure she's not…"

The idea of Rayla dying in a ditch somewhere was…well, it was unthinkable. This was Rayla after all. Callum had confidence that out of anyone in the all the human kingdoms and all of Xadia, Rayla was the most competent fighter and person he knew.

And yet…he could not help but feel the fear of what he might find. What if something had happened to her? What if she met a foe that was somehow stronger and more capable than she was?

It was a strange thought, but a plausible one.

And she was pregnant…

Callum felt his chest construct hard at the thought of Rayla, pregnant and alone all this time. Rayla, who must have thought that she would be raising their child alone.

Alone…

"Wait," Callum put a hand up, causing Ibis to almost walk into his hand. "Do you hear that?"

They all fell silent for a moment, listening hard. The caves were dark save the light that shone from Ibis' staff, and Callum blinked a few times, trying to concentrate.

Then…

Crying.

He could hear distant crying.

"Rayla!" he cried out, rushing forward. He couldn't see her, not yet—she wasn't in this cave, but she was nearby. Her crying was weak and faint, so she must be close—

He came to a sudden halt at what he saw.

A pool of blood. And Rayla lying in the middle of it. Her eyes were closed, and she was silent now.

Callum almost fell in his hurry to get to her, his limbs and body growing numb with fear and grief as he knelt beside her body. "Rayla," he whispered. Ibis was quickly by his side, but Zym hung back behind them, whimpering and whining.

"She's dying," Ibis said, running a hand glowing with magic across Rayla's chest and stomach.

"No!" Callum shook his head, before drawing Rayla into his arms. "No, she can't be. She can't be—" his own words choked him, causing him to let out an anguished sob.

He felt her shift slightly, and drew away from her enough to look into her face. Her eyes were still closed, swollen and crusted, but her mouth moved slightly, as if she were trying to speak or breathe.

"Let me," Ibis said. "There might be a chance to save her."

Ibis and Callum laid Rayla back down to the ground. Callum watched, barely remembering to breathe, as Ibis ran his hands, both glowing with magic, over Raylas body, examining her. "She's given birth to the child," Ibis said, as if this were a fact that Callum should have already recognized.

Callum looked at Rayla's midriff—it was certainly no longer flat like it always had been before her pregnancy…but she certainly did not look pregnant enough for the amount of time that had passed.

"Where is the child?" Callum asked.

Ibis frowned. "I'm not sure…" Ibis reached into his pack and drew out some tools. "This may take some time," he said. "She has lost too much blood to move her yet, but I will try to save her."

Callum nodded, and Zym approached slowly, resting his head on Callum's shoulder comfortingly, whimpering with fear and sadness.

Callum and Zym watched as Ibis carefully began to tend to Rayla's wounds.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading!

Sorry for the long hiatus,, I'm hoping to have the next chapter up soon!