Shiro left his lion at a run. There was an obvious clearing where the blue lion had set down. Wind blown trees and swirls of dust marked the place. He past the circle quickly not bothering to waste any time on looking for clues there. He would check on his way back if his hunt in the compound was unsuccessful.
His boots thudded over the overgrown landscape determinedly. His puzzlement at the whole situation had been pushed far to the back of his mind. Now, it crept up to the forefront of his mind. If Lotor had hurt the princess wouldn't the lion destroy him? Perhaps Lotor had turned on Allura and she had successfully defeated him? He doubted that. The princess was strong but in other ways. She held a solid foundation in the ways of a warrior but Lotor had struck down Emperor Zarkon. He was a powerful foe not to be taken on one's own.
Perhaps she fled and that was the explanation of Blue's erratic escape from the atmosphere?
He shook himself back to the present, projecting a question to the others in the air. "Any progress, team?"
"I am gaining on her, but she is maxing out. Any idea what is going on here?" Lance said through grit teeth.
Hunk added, "Pidge and I are still unable to pinpoint her location. It's like she doesn't exist. Shiro, we aren't picking up any readings of life in the compound either." The last of the young man's words were shaken.
Shiro's face hardened. "Keep trying," he ordered before clicking off. He launched himself up the staircase leading into the large grey building. Anger was simmering to a constant build. Focus. Patience. It was growing increasingly difficult to follow the advice. It was so much easier to be angry, to fall into rage.
"No," he spat to himself. This temper was getting harder to control. It was strange and alarming. He blamed it on the stress for the moment and pushed the heavy glass doors open.
The large space, heavily overgrown, ancient, and filled with an eerie purple glow held a foreboding aura. His steps slowed as he inspected the cavernous room. "Allura!" He called.
He didn't expect a response, but he called again. "Allura! Lotor!"
The man moved around the circumference of the chamber, which appeared to be a communications center. His grey eyes scanned the various nooks amongst aisles. There was no sign of a struggle. Shiro passed into one of the long, wide hallways coming off the main room. He stumbled quickly through it just to move through another one and another one.
Each one was empty. He was jogging though the last one when he saw her.
Time slowed for a handful of breaths. Her laying there in a fallen heap in her armour, a blank expression set over her face, the sight made him physically ill. He snapped out of the moment and ran the rest of the way over grey rubble.
"Allura!" The name was said with so much conflicting emotion. Fear, relief, anger… all these things flashed through his mind amidst his heart pounding in his chest. There was no mark on her body, but she was pale and unresponsive. Shiro quickly gathered her slim frame into his arms and stood.
"I found the princess, but she is unconscious. No sign of Lotor," he relayed.
There was a short pause before Coran broke the silence. "The blue lion is entering the atmosphere of Euro 1. I suggest you bring the princess on board and we will rendezvous with Lance on the planet."
Shiro began a fast pace back towards his lion. "Copy that." Fire was igniting in his soul. Images of what could have happened played through his mind. Lotor would have much to explain when they found him. He was foolish to let the princess get so close to the half breed. He should not have placed so much trust in him so quickly. Not with the princess at stake. He should not have taken so many risks. This had simply been one to many.
Guilt gnawed at him enough to make his stomach twist. What was wrong with him? "I'm sorry, Allura."