Chapter 15: Horrible Truth
Later that night, a few miles away from Vanessa and the bats, there was a truck loaded with logs driving up to a gas station.
As soon as the driver got out of the car, a bat who was none other than Mercury peaked his head out from under the fabric that covered the logs and checked his surroundings.
''All clear,'' he announced happily for there was no sign of danger before flying back into the woods followed by the rest of the Silverwings.
They didn't fly too far and soon stopped again by some trees to hold a small meeting about what had happened at the sawmill.
Bathsheba was the first to raise her voice to speak: ''Why would the owls target our colony?'' she asked frowning.
''Well, I heard some flying squirrels say that a Silverwing was on a killing spree,'' Chinook answered, causing the elders to gasp in shock while looking at each other as the rest of the colony started whispering around with agitation and fear.
''I have never heard of bats killing animals,'' said Frieda and the colony slowly calmed back down. ''If the owls believe in this, then their flying in formation and pigeons on night guard makes senses.''
''We should have given up Shade and that girl in the first place,'' growled Bathsheba, '' I told you that human will bring nothing but trouble to the colony.''
Another murmur went through the crowd, but Frieda quickly hushed everyone down with a wave of her wings. ''Enough! What's done is done. But I sure doubt that neither Shade nor Vanessa has anything to do with any of this.''
''Really? And what explanation do you have for what happened to us since the human and the runt went missing?''
Before Frieda could answer, Mercury raised his voice.
''Dawn is coming, Frieda. Where do we go now?'' he said warningly while scanning the horizon.
The eastern sky was indeed getting lighter and the first birds began to sing the first tones of the morning chorus.
''We must continue on as scheduled,'' indicated Bathsheba with a grin on her face but Frieda shook her head.
''With the owls on our heels it may not be safe to stay on the direct path,'' she said.
The pudgy elder snarled in annoyance and pointed her claw at the chief elder.
''We have already suffered enough from your rash decisions. We must go back to our route!''
The colony muttered in agreement and Frieda could sense their trust in her fading. She knew she had to agree with Bathsheba as well and so gave out a defeated sigh.
''Alright,'' she said then raised her voice, ''Prepare to head to the towers of fire.''
Ariel looked quite worrisome to her leader while Bathsheba just grinned with satisfaction.
I must have fallen asleep.
The first thing I noticed after opening my eyes was that the rain had stopped and my clothes were almost dry again as well the fur I was lying upon.
... Wait! ... fur?
Slightly confused I took a looked around and saw Shade and Marina flying ahead with a much larger bat flying behind them together with another one on whose back I was sitting on.
It took me a moment but then I recognized them both as the two meat-eating bats Goth and Throbb from the jungle down south and let out a soft sigh with relief, thinking everything was okay. But wait! If really everything was alright, then why did I get such a warning like feeling whenever I looked at those two Vampyrums? Was I imagine things again?
... No. I wasn't.
With shock, I remember Goth and Throbb's conversation about eating Shade's colony but was this truth? Did I really hear them say this or did my tired mind just made that up?
I hoped so, but what if it was the truth?
''I think we've reached the southern valley,'' I heard Marina saying up front and the four bats flew up higher to check our surroundings.
For me, this part of the forest didn't look much different from the one we were in before. There might have been more pine trees but apart from that ...
I would be so lost without my friends. There was no way I could find my way through the forest all on my own nor could I read the stars to guide me.
Speaking of stars. Where we still following the star on Shade's map? Hard to tell, because the sky was already starting to get brighter with the stars fading away.
''How are we ever going to find your colony Shade?'' Marina sighed hopelessly.
''You know,'' Goth suggested, ''If you called up your sound map, together we could try to figure out where your colony is.''
I gasped softly and looked over at Shade, hoping he won't actually listen to him. but to my and Marinas horror he closed his eyes tightly and began to concentrate.
''Focus Shade,'' Goth instructed him softly.
''I-I see...a countryside,'' Shade said struggling a little, ''I see cities, cathedrals ... ugh ... now I see... towers. They are consumed by flames and there are lines of fires shooting in and out of them.''
Unable to say more Shade opened his eyes back up again and dropped down in exhaustion but quickly caught himself again.
Goth smiled ''Hm, you have given us something to work with Shade,'' he said slyly then turned his head around and started sniffing. Throbb did the same and looked back at his cousin with a dark grin on his face.
''Uh- please excuse us,'' Goth asked gentlemanly, ''We hear the lunch special here is ... excellent.''
And with that he and Throbb dove back down into the woods but not without dropping me off on the closest tree first.
Shade and Marina landed down beside me and as soon as the two larger bats were out of sight the young Brightwing shoved her face angrily into the Silverwing's.
''How could you just blurt out your sound map like that?'' she asked furiously.
''You know, I think maybe you were on that island so long you don't know how to trust a friend,'' he returned in annoyance.
''Better friendless than clueless.''
Shade just huffed and dove back down into the forest not caring if we followed him or not.
Marina pouted and shook her head while watching him go.
''Uh, maybe we should go after him,'' I softly suggested just to have the Brightwing's glare now turned on me.
''Say, do you trust those two meat-eaters?''
''Uh,...I uh...''
''Well, yes or no? Because I say we should ditch them and that as soon as possible.''
I nodded knowing she was right after what I overheard earlier. But before I could tell her about it, Marina jumped up and instructed me to grab her feet not wanting to wait for my answer and followed Shade into the woods.
After a short hunting trip, we all met again by an old beech tree and spend the day in an abandoned squirrel den. It was a little cramped with all five of us inside but not too uncomfortable as well. Plus, our body heat quickly warmed up the place from the cold wind coming from outside.
The next evening I woke up with a yawn and stretched myself get the sleep out of my body.
Looking around, I saw my friends still sleeping but also found someone missing.
Throbb was still there, snoring loudly in a corner but there was no sign of his cousin anywhere which made me wonder if he went out for breakfast already. In this case, I might as well waited until he returned, not wanting to accidentally stumble across him while he was eating his prey.
Then again... It wasn't like I haven't seen carnivorous animals eating before. ... Okay, this was mostly on television and not in real life but hey it's nature.
Still, I couldn't help but felt endangered with those two Vampyrum bats around.
The words of their conversation last night came back to my mind, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions so easily. I might have misheard something or Goth had known I wasn't really asleep and made a joke just to scare me or something. A sick joke however but after telling us what he had experienced before I came to the conclusion that he most likely wasn't so well-disposed towards humans at all. In this case, it would make sense if he wanted to scare me.
Yeah, at least that might be something Shade would tell me. There was no way he would agree on separating from the two Vampyrums just because of some presumptions. I needed proof.
But that for later. Right now I was in need of something else. Something more important. A toilet.
Obviously, I couldn't go here, so I stepped out of the den and carefully climbed down the tree.
I went very slowly and highly concentrated, trying to ignore my beating heart and shaking limbs while cursing my high anxiety in my mind.
It took me a while but then I finally made it down to the roots and jumped onto the grass.
There I hurried over to the next bush and did my business. Afterward, I washed my hands in a small puddle close by and looked for something to eat.
''Aren't here any blueberries around?'' I asked myself while searching but unfortunately, there seemed to be no edible fruits or berries for me around.
All I found was a fat white grub behind a tall blade of grass, crawling over the ground in search of some leaves to eat. ''No way,'' I said in disgust. I might have been hungry but not that hungry to eat something like that. I let the grub be and continued my way through the forest.
I tried to stay close to the beech tree where the others still slept but after a while, I looked around and ... couldn't find it anymore.
''Oh, no,'' I thought with despair. I was so focused on seeking food that I didn't check if the said tree was still nearby. Instead, I was now surrounded by all kind of different trees and no beech tree. I gulped and tried to find my way back, thinking I shouldn't have gone too far away from it.
Though, was this the right way to get back to the others or should I've taken a left by that maple tree over there? Or a right by the two pine trees? Or rather...? Argh! How could I've been so stupid and not watch where I was going. Now I was lost.
With a sigh, I sat down on a leave and thought about my next steps. I could scream for help and hope the others hear me. But in case they were just around the next corner I did not. Not wanting to embarrass myself. Then again, doing nothing wouldn't help me either.
Suddenly I heard some rustling and turned around seeing nothing. With tense, I listened again but everything was quiet. Too quiet.
''Alright, congratulations Vanessa you just won the prize of the most stupid decision ever:
Going for a lone walk through a forest in the middle of the night.'' I could've just slapped myself.
But let's keep our shirts on. Right now I seemed safe. That was good. Question was: For how long?
Instead of staying here and talking loudly to myself, and probably attracting the attention of possible predators, I got back up and looked for a safe spot to hide. After that, I could still wonder about how to contact my friends about my whereabouts.
Leaves rustled again, and I slowly began to feel like something was watching me.
I hurried my steps, but the rustling grew louder and closer. Also, were that wings flapping I heard?
I went faster, hoping to get rid of my haunter. But the sound of something behind me got closer and closer.
Eventually, I started to run. This was probably a bad idea, but I was scared and not in the mood of thinking about something else to do right now. I just run and run, stumbled over some twigs and leaves and kept running. I didn't even dare to look behind me, I just kept running as far as my legs would take me and... almost fell into a river.
Out of nowhere my path suddenly stopped and the earthy ground switched with sparkling wet water. Unfortunately, I run with such élan that I was unable to break before stumbling over the bank. Luckily, something caught me by my cloak and roughly pulled me back just on time.
''Ouch!'' I exclaimed as my butt hardly hit the ground.
Hearing amused chuckling I turned around and saw Goth towering over me with a grin on his face.
''Did you try to go for an evening swim señorita?'' He asked jokingly.
I shook my head. ''N-no I was just ... eh ...''
''Yes?'' Goth seemed to be interested to know why I nearly dumped into the river, but he couldn't fool me. I knew by his expression that he knew it was most likely him I had been running away from earlier, but I stayed silent.
The Vampyrum kept staring at me for a moment, waiting for an answer then just shrugged.
''Whatever, I think you should go back now. Your friends are looking for you,'' he said and pointed with his thumb claw over his shoulder
Nodding slightly I got back up on my feet and walked past him into the said direction.
I could feel his gaze upon me, but I did not dare to turn around. Instead, I kept walking silently straight ahead.
I didn't know if he was following me or if I even walked into the right direction but when I stepped through a fern frond which crossed my way I finally saw my two bat friends again.
''Vanessa!'' Shade exclaimed as soon as he spotted me, ''Where have you been. Marina and I were looking all over for you.'' He swooped down and landed before me on the ground with the young Brightwing beside him.
''You can be such a pain you know,'' she said looking at me reproachfully.
''Sorry guys, I needed to stretch my legs a bit and ... got a bit lost, but now I'm back.''
''Maybe next time you don't walk too far away from us,'' Shade suggested and smiled a bit.
I nodded, smiling back. ''Sure.''
''Alright, then,'' said Marina, ''Let's grab some food and then meet our two meat-eater friends back here in an hour.
''Alright.''
''I'll wait for you here then,'' I said.
''Should I take you back into the squirrel den then?''
''Sure.''
Shade got airborne and grabbed my hands with his feet to carry me back up to where we used to sleep the day before. Then he flew back out and joined Marina for a quick hunting trip while I waited for them to return.
A few hours later we continued our journey until we decide to take another short break by some trees.
Shade happily chattered a bit with the two giant bats, asking them more questions about their homeland and everything while Throbb tried to clean Goth's band by blowing air on it and rubbing it with the back of his winged arm.
''These bands! They are hard to clean and twice as hard to keep shiny,'' he complained with a frown, obviously not feeling happy of playing the servant for his cousin.
The moon was already high up into the sky, but at least we got to a certain extent closer to Hibernaculum. Still, how much longer until we would finally get there? A few nights? Longer?
I just hoped we would reach it before the weather got too cold to survive outside.
Especially for me.
''Why do you think the human's band bats anyway?'' Shade asked and I couldn't help but felt a bit hurt because I already told him why we did that. Then again, he might just want to hear Goth and Throbb's opinion about this. So I stayed silent and waited for them to respond, feeling quite curious about what they may have to say about it just to hear a soft growl escaping Goth's throat.
''To imprison us,'' he said, his deep hate for my kind clearly written on his face. ''So they can steal the secret of our night vision.'' He violently tried to pull his band off, but it didn't even move an inch, causing him to roar in irritation and to bite down on the metal. Still, the band stayed stuck on his arm as if it was a part of himself.
''If he keeps on doing that he will probably break a tooth,'' I thought while watching him.
''Not all humans are that bad,'' Marina said, taking a short glance over at me, ''Maybe the band means something good.''
Goth stopped chewing on his band and glances upon her, his eyebrow raised with disinterest.
''Huh, such as?''
''I don't know ... Something special.''
The Vampyrum chuckled and rolled his eyes in amusement. ''Something special,'' he repeated mockingly, ''How amusing señorita.''
Marina looked pretty offended by his words and turned away with a huff while I glared down on him angrily. ''Hey, no need to be mean. She was just saying her opinion.''
Goth looked at me unperturbed.
''Oh, did she? And what do you wish to tell me with this? Perhaps that this is the truth or something?''
''Eh, no. But just because you have a different opinion about it, doesn't mean hers is total nonsense. It might sound absurd but maybe there really is something the bands are connected with,'' I said remembering Frieda's words to me and Shade back in the echo chamber.
Unfortunately, Goth did not seem to listen to any word I've just said.
''Whatever you say señorita,'' he said and gave out a bored yawn.
''Oh, why do I even bother?'' I thought frowning at him. Turning away I saw Marina lifting off into the forest, probably wanting to be away from Goth for a while.
I sighed and wanted to leave as well. ''Come on Shade, let's follow her and see if she's alright.''
The Silverwing nodded and picked me up by my hands before following Marina. but not without giving Goth and his cousin an apologizing shrug first.
With a frown, Goth watched that so-called human and the runty Silverwing flying after their friend. ''Those chicas are starting to annoy me,'' he said.
Throbb chuckled darkly. ''I know a way how to get rid of them both.''
Goth shook his head. ''Not now.'' The time wasn't ready. Throbb didn't look so keen having to wait, but Goth knew acting too soon wasn't best decision.
Just then he heard a pair of wings flapping close by and noticed Throbb looking with eager into the sky.
''Now?'' He asked, hungrily licking his lips and getting ready to fly, but his cousin quickly shoved him away by pushing his wing in his way.
''Claws off! It's mine.'' Goth snarled and quickly soared after his prey.
''Hey, wait!'' Shade and I quickly caught on Marina, but she ignored us and kept flying ahead without looking back. Shade clicked his tongue in annoyance and sped up a bit to get closer to her.
''What's your problem?'' he asked just to earn a glare from the Brightwing.
''You agree with everything Goth says. He is not as nice as you think.''
''You are just mad, 'cause Goth told you your band doesn't mean you're special.''
''Shade!'' I glared upon him, not liking the scornful tone in his voice.''
''Now, seriously,'' he said not reacting to me, ''I don't understand why you are so sore about this.''
''Oh, so you do agree with him and think the bands are nothing but stupid pieces of metal, the humans stick on bats just to mark them?!''
''...well, it does sound logical.''
Marina huffed and shook her head. ''Impossible.''
''Now, come on. I didn't say the bands were bad.''
''You know if that's the truth then why should I even bother trying to find the Silverwings and meet Frieda?''
''Beats me,'' Shade scoffed.
Marina glared at him again. ''Know what? I've had it. I'm going back to the island. I wish I had never met you.''
''Well,'' Shade retorted, ''if you are going to be all negative then the sooner you leave the better.''
I tried to say something, seeing the hurt look in Marina's eyes, but she already flew off before I could even open my mouth. ''Did you have to do that?'' I asked, looking back up on Shade.''
''Hey, it was her decision to go. What else should I have done? Tie her up and bind her to my back?''
I kept glaring at him. ''That's not what I mean,'' I said.
He sighed. ''Listen, I'm disappointed too, that she left. I really thought she was our friend.''
''She is our friend. Though I don't think Goth and Throbb are.''
Shade groaned in annoyance. ''Seriously? There is nothing wrong with those two. Sure they eat meat and are much bigger and more dangerous looking like other bats, but think about it. Goth and Throbb could protect the colony and us while we are on our way to Hibernaculum. Remember Vanessa, the owls closed the sky for all bats. Without those Vampyrums we would stand no chance against them.''
''True but...''
''See. Now come on. Let's go back to them before they wonder where we are.''
I didn't want to but since I didn't have another option left, I let him carry me back to our ''friends'' and wondered if Marina would be alright.
As we arrived, I saw Goth pushing something under a shrubbery with his foot and wiped his muzzle clean. I assumed he went hunting and was glad that he was nice enough to hide the carcass from our eyes.
''Hola!'' He greeted us as we landed before him on the ground, ''Where is Marina?''
''She decided to go back to her island,'' Shade said and sighed softly.
''Oh,'' said Goth and looked into the distance, ''There are owls about, and we promised to protect you three.'' He turned to his cousin. ''Throbb! Go find Marina and eh...escort her. It is the least we can do to repay her.''
Throbb grinned sinisterly and nodded before leaving on the spot.
I squinted my eyes a bit, finding his behavior a little strange.
''Now, why not call up your sound map again?'' Goth suggested, looking down on Shade, ''See if we can narrow in on your colony.''
For some reason, I didn't like the tone in his voice. It sounded like he was planning something. Something bad. Glancing at Shade I noticed that he seemed to sense some foreboding as well judging his worried and confused expression.
Just then I noticed the smell. The intensive scent ... of iron.
Wondering where it was coming from I looked around until my eyes focused onto the shrubbery and I remembered watching Goth hiding something under there.
The Vampyrum himself, however, did not seem to notice our worry and ambled around, mumbling a bit to himself. One edge of his curled wing got stuck on a blade of grass. Unaware he pulled it free, just to reveal the torn wing of a dead Brightwing.
All colors immediately vanished my face as I stared down on it with complete disbelieve.
Trying my best to stay calm I eagerly tucked on Shade's wing. The Silverwing seemed to be a little annoyed about this at first but when he saw what was lying under the bushes, he couldn't help but let out a sharp horrified gasp at what he saw. I quickly pressed my hand on his mouth to prevent him from screaming and forced my eyes away from the corpse and back on Goth, just realized what was going on.
''They are cannibals. They are freaking cannibals!''
''Something wrong, amigos?'' Goth turned to us with a smirk on his face. ''You both look ... a little pale.''
''Uhhh- yeah...uhh... calling up the sound map is...uhh...exhausting,'' I said smiling nervously while thinking about a plan to get me and Shade the hell out of there. Goths approaching shadow didn't help much for that matter. Shade, however, nodded at my words and hopped a little away, pulling me with him.
''Yeah, I'm gonna go to the stream for water.'' He was just about to grab my hands again with his feet as Goth stepped between us.
''Ah, but then why should señorita Vanessa go with you, amigo? Wouldn't it be quicker if you flew to the stream without her?''
''Shit!'' I thought with fear running down my spine. He must've sensed that we were about to flee or something. ''Ehm...well, I'll just go with him in case...he faints or something,'' I said hoping Goth would buy that and let us go but he didn't.
''In that case wouldn't it be better if I accompany you as well?'' he asked with a grin and I felt my heart drop to my stomach.
''Uhh- eh, ... sure why not.'' I said chuckling with fear.
Goth kept grinning down at us deviously and I could see in his eyes that he knew we were lying.
''Should we go now or not? I thought you wanted to go to the stream for a drink?'' he asked acting friendly.
''O-of course it's just...,'' I gulped and thought about a plan for us to escape. Unfortunately, my brain didn't come up with any useful ideas.
''Just what?'' Goth asked.
''Oh, you know. I just thought maybe someone should stand back and ... uh ... wait in case Throbb returns or something.''
The Vampyrum raised an eyebrow at my suggestion. ''Why? The stream is right around that corner.''
''Sure, but ... uh ...''
''You know since it isn't that far. It isn't really necessary for you to come along. We will give you a call if something happens,'' Shade quickly said and went airborne with me grabbing his feet.
''We will make it quick,'' I said, smiling falsely at Goth and slightly squeezed Shade's ankle to urge him to hurry. At first, it seemed like the Vampyrum wanted to insist in escorting us, but to our luck, he just nodded and let us go without a word.
Shade fluttered away in idle speed until we were out of sight and then ... dashed off as if stung by an adder and with me hanging on to him for dear life. Both of us not looking back even once.
Eventually, Shade had to stop on the nearest tree branch in order to catch his breath from flying so fast. ''I ... I can't believe it,'' he panted, the shock still stuck on his face, ''Goth, he ... they...''
''I know,'' I said not feeling better myself. ''We can freak out later for all I care. But for now we need to find Marina. Remember Goth send Throbb after her.''
Shade looked at me shaking. ''Vanessa, t-that bat ... it...it's wing ... that was a Brightwing.''
''I know, but it wasn't Marina. Its color was completely different.''
Shade thought about it then nodded finally calming down. ''Alright, then let's go and find her.''
We continued to fly north, hoping to be on the right track to catch up with Marina before Throbb did and eventually spotted her flying around, just a few wingbeats ahead.
Shade was about to dash towards her when I saw Goth's cousin flying over to Marina.
''Shade!''
''Dang it!'' he cursed.
''We have to do something,'' I said and watched Throbb blocking Marina's path with a hungry look in his eyes.
Shade rushed to the closest tree and set me down on a branch. ''Wait here, I've got an idea,'' he said and left before I could even get a chance to ask what he was planning. Hiding behind leaves I watched Shade flying over to Throbb and Marina. Just in time to stop the chubby Vampyrum from biting the head off of our friend.
''Throbb!''
''Huh?'' Caught off guard, the carnivorous bat stopped in his actions and blinked a bit as he noticed the Silverwing.
''Shade!'' Marina exclaimed, sounding just as surprised as Throbb.
The young male casually flew over to them, as if nothing was wrong. ''Oh, hello Marina,'' he greeted her desultorily as if he hadn't expected to see her. ''Excuse me, but I'm here to speak to my good friend Throbb.''
The giant meat-eater tilted his head in confusion, ''Huh?'' was all he said, but he followed Shade anyway to the nearest tree not too far from where I was with Marina following them.
''Great news Throbb!'' Shade proclaimed, facing the giant bat. ''My colony just showed up. Goth sent me to get you.''
Marina seemed utterly perplexed. ''The Silverwings are here?'' she asked crouching down on the branch above.
Shade smirked, ''Ah yes. Thousands of them,'' he replied then furrowed his eyebrows. ''Hey, I thought you were heading back to the island. You should get going.''
Marina stood back up glaring at him hatefully. ''I was happier when it was just me anyway,'' she snapped and flew off.
''Finally,'' I heard Shade say after Marina had left, ''Goth told me that we will celebrate with a feast once she is gone. Let's go! He's waiting!'' Shade took off with a joyful looking spectral bat right behind him.
''Excellente ...'' Throbb chuckled and overtook Shade to get back to Goth as fast as possible not realizing that the Silverwing stopped accompanying and instead flew back to where I was to pick me up and hurry after Marina.
After finishing his delicious meal of bat meat Goth flew a bit around and eventually landed on the stump of a cut-down tree. There he licked the dried blood from my claws while patiently waiting for the others to return. It didn't take long until he heard wings flapping and lazily looked up to see his cousin landing in front of me with a dumb grin on his face.
''Where's the colony? I'm starving!''
''Somewhere in the valley, I suspect,'' Goth replied with a shrug, ''Where are Shade and Vanessa?''
Throbb blinked in confusion. ''Huh? Uh, I don't know where she is but Shade is right behind m-...'' He turned around and saw nothing but trees. ''But-but-but ... he said that you ... that the Silverwings ... a feast!''
Goth gave out a slow sigh and walked up to his useless cousin. Sometimes he really couldn't believe he was related to that nuisance. ''How could you be tricked by such an inferior species?'' he asked. ''Your brain is in your stomach!'' Goth raised his claw in order to strike Throbb for his stupidly.
The smaller Vampyrum cowered before him in fear, ''He-he can't be far! If we split up, we can...''
Goth laughed darkly at his idea and lowered his claw before leaned over Throbb with a cruel smirk on his face. ''Unless your brain and your stomach have forgotten, Shade gave me the directions to the towers of fire.''
''Ahhh…'' Throbb chuckled softly, ''Oh…''
''Hey! Wait up!''
''Marina!''
The Brightwing looked over her shoulder to see us both struggling to follow her. I feared she would speed up to get rid of us but fortunately; she stopped instead and circled in place waiting for Shade to catch up.
''I'm sorry for earlier,'' he panted, ''You were right. Goth and Throbb don't just eat meat. They eat bats!''
Her eyes widen in shock hearing this. ''But your colony! You said...''
''That was just a trick to get Throbb away from you,'' I explained, ''Goth send him to kill you.''
Marina looked pale, ''No wonder he had that hungry look in his eyes.'' She shivered a bit.
''Come one, let's get away before they follow our trace,'' Shade said, and I totally agreed with him but then Marina gave out a sharp gasp stopped in mid-flight as if she just remembered something very important.
''The colony! Guys, Goth knows about the towers of fire!''
My eyes widened in shock realizing what that meant while Shade froze completely.
''No,'' he gasped, ''Oh no...no!''
AN: There you go, chapter 15 updated ^^
Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to read and review. :)