Chapter 31: Captured again

Carefully I crawled up through the narrow passage, piece by piece. With every step my hands and feet sank deep into the sticky mud. Once I struggled so much to get out, I almost lost my shoe.

Nevertheless, I continued to creep further without knowing where the tunnel even led to. All I knew was that it led outside. Once or twice I thought I heard voices and footsteps nearby. Each time I froze and waited breathlessly for the noises to go away before I dared to continue. I was afraid that at any second a rat's snout would come through the earth wall and catch me.

Finally, the surrounding darkness lightened up, and a breath of fresh air rose in my nose. But another, far more unpleasant smell quickly overshadowed it.

''Yuck!''

The further I walked, the worse the smell got until I ended up in a mountain of rotten garbage.

''Ugh! Disgusting!''

I wanted to get out of here as quick as possible. Feeling like I was about to throw up the longer I stayed in that trash. I discovered a passage that Romulus had dug through the garbage and crawled through it. Above me, the night sky opened up, and I hurried to leave all the dirt behind me.

After a while I was finally outside and made a run into the protective darkness of the woods. At an old fir tree, I paused in exhaustion and sat down for a moment on one root.

Now I needed to think. To catch up with my friends was impossible, I knew that. Also, couldn't I just stay here and hope that someone would find me and come to my aid.

With a sigh, I wondered where Orestes might be now. However, the probability that the young owl would find me here soon was equal to zero. He was looking for Ursa, who could be who knows where. I would rather freeze out here before he found me. Or anyone else.

I swallowed.

By my escape to the outside, I had completely forgotten that other dangers were awaiting me out here. Dangers that I was completely exposed to all by myself. With eyes wide open, I looked around me alert. Ready to sprint should anything in the cover jump at me. For the moment, however, I seemed to be safe. Yet I remained cautious. Who knew where Goth and Throbb were or Brutus and his owls? Should they catch me, it was over. I knew that.

''Maybe I should have stayed with Romulus,'' I mumbled to myself but didn't dare to turn back.

Since there was no sign of danger at the moment, I risked continuing my path. I had to reach this river Shade saw in his sound map and hoped that it would take me to him and Marina or preferably directly to Hibernaculum. Though this was easier said than done.

In my original size, I had already struggled to orientate myself alone in the forest. In my current size, it was a thousand times worse. How was I supposed to find the river? If only I could fly.

The snow-covered ground beneath my feet glittered in moonlight and it was still bitterly cold, but not as cold as in the mountains. We must have traveled far south on our journey. How long before we finally reach our goal?

Further and further I walked until I stepped out into a small clearing. There I stopped for a moment and took a short break. I had no idea how far I had come, probably not too far. Yet I did not give up. I had to find this river at all costs. No matter what.

A rustle caused me to flinch. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a movement in the fern and crept carefully past it without letting the bush out of my sight. My heart was pounding violently in my chest as I slowly walked on. But as nothing happened, I inspected it closer and immediately stopped. My neck hairs stood up. Something was right behind me. I could feel it. Slowly, I turned around and... froze.

Right in front of me stood Goth. Arms crossed before his muscular chest and a devious grin on his face.

''Hola señorita, so we meet again.''

''No, no ...''

''What? Not happy to see me?'' he shrugged. ''Well, too bad. However, I'm sure your amigos will be overjoyed to see again.''

My eyes widened. ''What have you done to Shade and Marina?'' I demanded to know. Goth chuckled.

''Oh, don't worry. They are fine. For now. But I found it quite odd that the trio wasn't complete. So I went off to find the missing piece. And there you are.''

I totally should have stayed with Romulus. How could I have been so stupid? Of course I had to run into the worst person I could run into.

''Now then, let's not waste more time dawdle around.''

Before I knew what was going on, Goth leaped off into the air and digged his claws painfully into my shoulders to take me with him. I tried to struggle and protest, but it was no use. The Vampyrum had me firmly in its grip.

The next thing I knew, I got roughly thrown into a flat cave. With a moan, I picked myself back up and rubbed my sore shoulders.

''Vanessa!''

Hearing my name, I turned around and smiled in relief, seeing Shade and Marina. They both looked scared, but seemed unharmed. I quickly ran over to them and hugged them both.

''What are you doing here, Vanessa? I thought we agreed that you' d stay with Romulus.''

I didn't miss the reproachful undertone in Marina's voice, but for the moment I cared less about it. I was just happy to see them both again.

''Never mind that now. How did they find you?''

''They just appeared out of nowhere and dragged us here,'' Shade told me.

''You know,'' Goth interfered, ''As much as I enjoy following your little conversation, there are more important things to do.'' He turned to Shade, looking him straight in the eyes. ''Finding your colony, for example.''

Shade gulped.

''Tell me the rest of your sound map.''

Shade tried to retreat, but the cold stone of the cave wall was already pressing itself into his back. ''I... I have forgotten the rest,'' he said. Goth didn't back down.

''You are lying.''

''No. We got lost.''

Goth looked at Throbb and nodded. The smaller Vampyrum grabbed Marina, opened his mouth and closed it carefully around her neck. I watched her become paralyzed with fear and flinched briefly as Throbb's saliva thread ran down her face. The Vampyrum's teeth closed a little more and pressed on her.

''It's a river!" cried Shade. ''Through the forest. A river and we must follow it.''

''Where to?''

''No idea. We can't figure it out. The picture doesn't make any sense.''

I could see that Goth was far from convinced of what Shade was telling him. Even if it was the truth. Then before I knew what was happening, I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck and dragged out to the edge of the cave.

''Wait! What are you doing?'' Shade asked with panic and rushed after us.

Still in his grip, Goth tore me up by my cloak and held me over the gaping abyss. The scream stuck in my throat when I saw how far away the ground was below my feet. I clung to the front of my cloak with both hands with all my might to prevent myself from slipping out.

''Let's try this again,'' Goth looked down at Shade. ''Where is your colony?''

''I already told you we need to follow that river...''

Goth let go of me for a second, causing Shade to scream. But he quickly caught me again by my hood. I swear at that moment, my heart skipped a beat.

''I'm slowly losing my patience, Shade,'' he said still menacingly calm, ''Tell me where this river leads to or your little human friend here is about to take a trip down.

''He can't be serious?!'' I looked desperately at Shade, who was struggling to find a way out.

''I swear Goth, we don't know much more than to follow the river. Honest!''

The Vampyrum prince looked at him intensely, then one by one he glanced at me and Marina.

''Actually, I don't know why I should let all three of you live. The loss of one of the two señoritas should be enough to get you to tell the truth.

''What? No! Wait!''

But Goth didn't listen to him and held me lower over the edge. Ready to let go at any moment. ''No, no!'' Fear tightened my throat, and I felt tears filling my eyes. "Don't!" I screamed in horror as I felt Goth releasing my hood a few inches.

''NO!'' Shade stared at Goth with his eyes open wide. ''Please, don't drop her! I swear I have no idea where the river is leading to. All I know is that we have to find and follow it. Believe me, please.'' He cried in distress and begged Goth to believe him. But the Vampyrum still didn't seem convinced. Or at least he saw no reason why he shouldn't kill me, anyway. Out of sheer desperation, I shouted: ''Without me, you won't get into Hibernaculum!''

Silence. For a moment, nobody said a word until Goth brought my face before his.

''What are you talking about?'' he asked. ''Shade's the one with the map. What would I need you for?''

''That's true, but..." frantically I pondered what to say. "But only I know the codeword. Without it, you'll never get into winter roost.''

''And you expect me to believe that?''

I frowned. ''Well, go ahead and kill me then. You'll see what you get when you reach the place where Shade's colony hibernates without being able to enter. The place has to be safe from all kinds of danger. You can't just walk in through a simple entrance.''

''So you need a... What did you say? Codeword to get in?'' I nodded while Goth rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ''Interesting. But why don't you just tell me what it is?''

''So you can drop me right here and now after that?'' I frowned at him. ''Forget it! Besides, who says I'm gonna tell you the right word? The only way for you to be sure I'm not lying is to let me live and get me to Hibernaculum as well.''

''And why doesn't Shade know the codeword? Or does he?' Goth looked over to the little Silverwing, who looked back at us totally confused.

''He... he doesn't know because there was no time'', I quickly explained. ''His mother could only give him the sound map before we both got blown away in that storm.''

Goth stared at me distrustfully. "I see," he finally said. Then for a short moment nothing happened, and I was afraid he would just let go of me, anyway. But then he pulled me back over the edge and threw me right into Shade's arms, who got knocked to the ground by the impact.

He then gave Throbb a head signal to let go of Marina for the time being and turned back to Shade.

''Show me that river. We have wasted enough time.''

Goth and Throbb flew close by our side. Wingtip to wingtip. Escape was hopeless. Even if we tried, the two giant bats would have caught up with us in seconds.

It was not long before the gentle sound of flowing water came to my ears and I started to feel sick. Ariel, Frieda, Mercury. They and all the other Silverwings were in great danger. Danger that Shade and I were about to deliver into their home.

I shivered at the thought of Goth killing them all. One by one. All winter long. I could already hear their cries and the wails and Bathsheba's curses that this was all my fault. Mine and Shade's.

With concern, I looked up to my friend while Marina carried me through the air.

Since our departure neither of us had said a word, which was mainly because of our captors. There was no way for us to speak without the two Vampyrum hearing every word. But a conversation was urgently necessary. We had to make a plan for our escape. Besides, I felt Marinas reproachful look in the neck the whole time and knew that she also had something to tell me.

''When are we finally there?'' Throbb asked, shivering after we followed the course of the water for an hour.

''Maybe another night or two,'' replied Shade. ''Once we reach the landmark, I'll know it.''

''I hope you know what you're doing," Goth hissed at him. "If this is another one of your tricks, think of your friend Marina.''

After the thing with the codeword, Goth didn't want to risk losing me. However, he had no use for Marina, except to use her as a leverage in case Shade or I refused to do what he said.

Silently, we flew on for a while until the horizon brightened in the east.

''I'm hungry,'' said Marina. ''We haven't eaten for a long time.

''She's right,'' I thought, feeling the yawning hole in my stomach. What I'd give for a pizza.

Goth looked at us. ''All right, eat some of your little insects, but stay in sight of the river. We're watching you.'' Shade nodded and dove, followed by Marina.

While the two giant bats circled above us, Shade and Marina searched without enthusiasm for insect eggs and snow fleas. I for myself crouched next to a sparsely vegetated blueberry bush and picked a berry. None of us dared to speak in a normal tone.

''Guys, we need a plan, and we need it fast,'' whispered Marina. ''We can't lead them to Hibernaculum.''

''I know,'' Shade whispered back. ''But there is nothing we can do at the moment. Unless you have an idea how we get rid of them again.''

Marina let out a sigh, obviously not having an idea right now.

''How come they even caught you two?''

''They ambushed us in the forest,'' said Shade, ''We didn't even saw them coming.''

''I see.''

''And how did you get caught? I thought you were at Romulus place?''

Shade's eyes went huge. ''Vanessa, don't tell us that...''

I shook my head. ''No, Shade. Romulus is fine.''

''Then how come you aren't with him right now?'' Marina asked.

''I- I couldn't bear to stay behind and do nothing besides wait for your return. So I ... followed you. But as soon as I reached the forest Goth found me.''

''You did what?'' Marina had trouble keeping her voice in check. ''We told you to stay with Romulus for a reason and still you decided to wander off?''

''Marina, shh. They can hear us.'' Shade nodded towards the Vampyrums and watched them nervously. But Marina didn't care.

''We had a deal Vanessa.''

''A stupid deal,'' I retored now getting angry myself. ''From the very beginning we three wanted to make the journey to Hibernaculum together. Why should I suddenly stay behind?''

''Maybe because you are hurt and sick? And maybe because we care about your health, which apparently you don't.''

''I'm not sick,'' I said, crossing my arms.

''Oh, you sure you aren't.'' Marina rolled her eyes. ''I'm sure you feel perfectly fine and your arm is not even hurting at all right?''

"Guys, listen," Shade tried to smooth things over. ''Following us may not have been the best idea. But discussing it won't help us now. We'd better figure out how to...'' He couldn't get any further, because in that moment, Goth swooped down on us.

''That's it,'' he said, ''We need to find a place to sleep.''

A while later, Shade, Marina and I cowered in the furthest corner of an abandoned den in an old tree. Throbb hung sullenly at the entrance, keeping watch, and Goth was out hunting.

I was still mad at Marina for snapping at me earlier. Honestly, what was her problem? She acted like I had pneumonia and was about to die or something. I only had a slightly infected wound on my wrist. Which also didn't hurt at all. Well, at least not if I didn't move my arm too much. Other than that, I was fine. ... Well, thinking more clearly about this I had to admit that I did felt quite tired and weak since I woke up. Also did I barely ate anything from the raspberry I picked. Plus, my body felt uncomfortably warm. But was that fever? Marina might be wrong. Then again, unlike humans animals have a better sense of smell. So maybe she acted like this, not because I was looking sick but because she could smell it.

''I just can't believe how you could be so reckless,'' she said.

I looked at Marina and frowned. ''Would you stop that already?'' I hissed back. ''I'm fine. There is nothing to worry about ok?!''

''Of course there is,'' She crawled over to me in the cramped room and looked at me harshly. ''You may act like your injury's nothing but a scratch, when in truth...''

''When in truth what?''

She huffed. ''Forget it. You won't listen to me, anyway. You're probably just feeling a little over your head with the fever. Otherwise, you'd see reason.''

''For the last time, Marina. I don't have ...''

''Who is having a fever?''

I turned around and saw with shock that Throbb was staring at us. He must have overheard our conversation.

''Oh, uh. No one.,'' Shade quickly said, ''No one is sick or has a fever or anything.'' But the Vampyrum wasn't buying it.

''I know what I heard.'' He looked at Marina and then at me. ''She said that you are ill. Is that truth?''

Without waiting for an answer, Throbb got closer and took a sniff on me. I flinched back, but he still came up to me and then grimaced. ''I thought so. You smell different from before. And not very well, I might add.

"What was that?" I asked indignantly.

Throbb nodded in Marina's direction. ''As she said, you smell of sickness, señorita. And it would not be good if Goth were to find out about this.''

''He won't and I'm not sick.'' I said now frowning at him, but the Vampyrum just shrugged. ''Alright, keep telling that to yourself.''

I wanted to say something in response, but then Goth showed up at the entrance of the cave. The carcass of a finch in his claws. Throbb licked his lips and was about to pounce on the prey, but Goth held him back with a growl. The three of us watched in disgust as the giant bat tore the meat from the bird and devoured it hungrily. Only when Goth had gotten his hands on the best pieces did he let Throbb join in the meal.

Moments later Goth looked over to us, his muzzle stained red with the blood of the Finch. ''My eating habits still seem to make you uncomfortable, I see.''

''You eat bats. It's against nature,'' Marina replied.

"Is it?" Goth tilted his head. However, he didn't care much for her words. ''At least better than having the desire to become a human.'' He snorted and gave me a brief disdainful look. ''Those banded bats in the mountains. They made a religion out of worshiping humans instead of the almighty Zotz.''

''Why don't you two just travel south to your jungle?'' I asked. ''Haven't you had enough of stuffing your bellies with mountain bats?

''Don't be silly. Those few dozen were hardly more than a snack. And even if we had rationed them out and fed on just one of them at night, it would hardly have lasted the winter.'' Goth shook his head. ''Oh, no. What we need is a warm place and plenty of food. Like the winter roost of your colony, Shade.''

The young Silverwing backed away, and I noticed how uncomfortable he felt right now. Betraying his own colony. He couldn't do that. They needed to come up with a plan to get rid of Goth and Throbb, and that fast before Goth runs out of patience and kills us all.

The cannibal looked at Shade vividly and licked some bird blood from the lips.

''You know, Shade, should you actually keep your word and really lead us to Hibernaculum, I would be willing to reward you.''

''Excuse me?''

''I could take you to the jungle and teach you how to hunt and fight. You could live among bats who possess true power. Free from the owls and their stupid laws.''

Was he for real? Why did Goth make him such an offer all of a sudden? I gazed at the Shade and saw him staring blankly at Goth.

''Don't believe a word he said,'' Marina said with a sinister look at Goth. ''He's a liar. Once we reach Hibernaculum, the three of us will be the first he and his cousin will kill.''

Goth wasn't paying attention to her. Instead, he tore a piece of bird flesh from the bone and offered it up to Shade. ''You could grow Shade. Just try it. The birds are not your friends.

''You are wrong. Orestes is a bird too, and he is our friend,'' I said.

''Oh yes. Where is this owl chick, anyway? Probably got tired of you and fluttered home or something.'' He laughed.

I glared at him angrily, but said nothing. My eyes drifted back to the almost completely gnawed off bird carcass, and for a short moment the desire for a roast chicken or something similar arose in me. To live only on berries day in day out was nothing in the long run. But I could not hunt. And even if I could, I would not do it because I knew that my friends wouldn't approve.

I felt Goth's gaze on me as I continued to look at the Finch whose guts were steaming in the cold air.

"What about you?" he suddenly asked me. The slice of flesh still in his claws. ''I don't know much about the eating habits of your kind, but you look like you'd like to have some, don't you?''

''What? No, I...''

Goth smirked. ''Try talking your way out of this one, Vanessa. I saw the look on your face. It's the look of a hungry predator forced to hold back.''

I froze, unable to object. Much less I wanted to know what Shade and Marina must think right now. Nor did I want to see the expression on their faces.

''So what is it? Just say it. I'm more than willing to give you a share.''

"As if.'' "No,'' I repeated myself. Although I would have loved to eat some meat again. But not today.

"Not even a little bite?" He held the meat right in front of me, but I shook my head.

''I said no. Besides, I can'! eat this, anyway. It's raw. We humans can't eat raw meat.''

''I see. Well, your loss.'' Goth devoured the meat himself and then went after the Finch's remains.

When the bird was gnawed off, Goth pushed its bone into a corner and looked outside. ''It's getting late. Time for us to get some sleep.'' As if to answer, Throbb gave a big yawn. I too, was growing tired and Shade and Marina were just about to flutter up to the ceiling to roost upside down as usual.

"Not so fast, you two," Goth stopped them. "We can't take any chances of either of you slipping away.'' He spread one of his huge wings and nodded Shade over to him. "You will sleep under there. Throbb, you take Marina and... "Thoughtfully, his eyes wandered over to me.

''Uh, I can take her too,'' Throbb quickly said. Which surprised me a little. At the same time, I remembered that he had not yet told his cousin about my so-called illness. Goth, however, thought otherwise. ''No, you'll probably nibble at her in your sleep. And we need her as much as we need Shade. Assuming she is telling us the truth about this codeword.''

I swallowed and looked helplessly over to Shade. But he just gave me a helpless look in return and walked towards Goth. I hesitated for a moment, then followed him. With a queasy feeling in the stomach, we both lay down next to the cannibal who wrapped his wings tightly around us. It took some time, but after a few minutes I finally fell asleep. Lulled in by Shade's soft breaths and Goth's regular heartbeat at my ear.

AN: And there we go a new chapter ^^. I'm really happy I got this done. Even though it was tricky not too get too close to the book.

Anyway I hope you like this chapter as well. ^w^