Chapter Thirty Four ~ Reappearance Of The Black Lion

Cassandra and Melvin worked viciously. Cassandra's other son, who I still hadn't learnt the name of so I must continue calling him 'Shaggy', held me so I didn't run. Not like I would have anyway. Where was I going to run anyway? Where ever I went they would surely find me. It was all just completely hopeless. I was stuck and that was that. The only thing I could do was hope that Wrolfe would jump in to save the day.

Though no matter how much I dreamed, the trusty black lion never came.

I watched as the witch prepared whatever ritual they were going to do on me. A range of materials had been produced and laid out on the ground. Melvin had gotten a fire going and was circling it now, muttering. I guessed it was some part of the ritual.

"Don't worry." 'Shaggy' hissed in my ear. "It won't hurt." A pause. "Too much." I felt queasy as his breath tickled against my neck. I could smell his vile and vulgar stench, though I really couldn't place what the smell was actually from. My best guess would be a rotting dead animal.

Cassandra had now joined her son in the chanting and circling the fire. The whole thing just looked rather odd to me, as I watched it. I would have laughed if I had any energy. An object was thrown onto the fire, sending the flames into a complete mist of crackles. They grew and flashed bright colours of pink and green the resumed normal size and shape.

"What are you going to do to me?" I stuttered, suddenly feeling completely terrified. Was I so eager to die now? Neither of the chanting pair acknowledged my question.

"What you refused to do." 'Shaggy' whispered. I didn't quite understand him.

"But… but you don't have the pearls." Cassandra threw another object into the fire, sending the flames into spasm again. "You can't do the ritual without the pearls."

"Hmm." The sound reminded me much of Robin. Pain shot through me and I closed my eyes tightly. "Looks like we're just going to have to do without." 'Shaggy' sniggered. I suppressed a whimper and opened my eyes.

ROBIN'S POV

"Where are we going?" I hissed. We were running aimlessly through the forest now. Mr Gomez landed in an empty clearing, demanded me off him then changed back to his human form. He told me then that we were going to have to do the rest of the journey on foot, in fear that Cassandra would spot us from the air. Though I thought that was the whole point.

"To save the others." Mr Gomez told me. Did he think I was thick? He gave me a look that concluded that answer. I grinded my teeth together. Just because he was some mystical shape-shifter that could change into a bird, didn't mean he could be all powerful and tell me what to do. He hadn't told me anything of what he planned for us to do. Not even where we were heading. After all, it was him that worked for me. Technically.

"Then where are they?" I asked, trying to be patient with the old man. Suddenly Mr Gomez came to a halt and caused me to nearly run into the back of him. I refrained and stood waiting to see if he would elaborate on why we had stopped. He was gazing around in all directions, a absent look on his face.

"We're lost." He admitted finally, groaning. I stared at him.

"Are you joking?" I cried. I waved me arms about in an impatient fashion. This was all too ridiculous. "Tell me where we're trying to get to and I'll work it out. I know the forest better." Mr Gomez opened his mouth to say something but froze at a noise behind us. We both spun around, simultaneously. Though nothing was behind us, that we could see, I knew something was there. I glanced at Mr Gomez, who turned to me. His chest began to rumble slightly and I guessed he was preparing to transform into whatever creature would be necessary.

Then there was a low growl from between the thick's of the trees, startling me. A deep rumble from some sort of creature. My first reaction was that it was Cassandra or her sons. They had found us.

But then the creature walked out from the shadows and into the light.

There was a great commotion from Mr Gomez and he twisted and transformed quickly into a large dog-like creature. A werewolf, I guessed. He was huge and dark, his claws and teeth sharp and long. I had to say, he looked terrifying. It was a completely different sight from his hippogriff form. He prepared to pounce.

Though when I glanced back to the creature before us, I realised that Mr Gomez was about to make a big mistake. Without a pause, I ran forward and in between both the terror some animals.

"Stop!" I cried, facing Mr Gomez. I saw his eyes scrunch up as he saw me and he let out a snarl and jolted his head to the side. A move that showed, he wanted me to get out the way. "He's not dangerous!" A shudder ran through the large form of my tutor and he retreated a few steps back. I turned towards the creature I had been protecting.

He looked just as beaten as I was. His normal silky black fur was dull and clotted with bits of dirt and what looked to be dried blood. Bald patches covered his body, showing scars of burning. On his face was a long scratch from just under his eyes and down across his snout. More dried blood covered his face.

I knelt down in front of him and reached up towards him to stroke up. He grumbled slightly but allowed me to touch him. His tense body seemed to relax upon contact. I stared into his dark eyes. They seemed so full of sadness. I sighed.

"What have they done to you, Wrolfe?" I whispered. Another low grumble from the huge lion and his large eyes closed.

"Cassandra and her sons must have done this." Mr Gomez's voice said from behind me. Slow, crunching footsteps came to a halt next to me. I glanced up at my tutor. He was admiring the lion with a sorrowful expression. "Poor thing." He muttered. With a light finger, I saw him run it carefully along one of the bald patches on Wrolfe's body. The lion whimpered. "I'm sorry, boy." Mr Gomez said quickly, retracting his hand.

"He's not a dog." I told him. It reminded me of all the times I had called Wrolfe a 'mutt' and Maria would scold me for it.

"He'll slow us down too much, if he comes with us." Mr Gomez said suddenly.

"Not that we're going anywhere." I raised an eyebrow up at him. "Wrolfe can keep up, don't worry." I patted the lion's mane again and he opened his eyes. "Alright, I may be sounding a bit foolish here, but Wrolfe can you help us find Maria?" His ears pricked up at the mention of Maria. He growled in response and struggled out my grip. He glanced around then headed off into a run between the trees. He stopped and turned to face us, then growled again.

"I guess he wants us to follow." Mr Gomez said. I stood up.

"Lucky I stood in between you both, otherwise we could be in such a mess at the moment." I raised an eyebrow at my tutor. He just rolled his eyes.

"What to you want? A pat on the back?" Before I could say anything, he broke out into a run and towards Wrolfe. The lion began to lead the way, now he knew he was being followed. With a sigh, I ran after them both.

END ROBIN'S POV

Chanting.

Fire.

I had been forced to kneel right by the fire. I guessed my part of the ritual had come.

"And now." Cassandra's voice exclaimed. "Our most noble gift. Blood from the Princess of the Moon." Again, a knife was produced from no where and my hand was held over the fire. I heard cries from the others, though they were held securely by the guards. 'Shaggy' held me from struggling. Cassandra sliced the knife across my palm and I flinched in pain. I watched as the blood trickled down and dripped into the flames. There was few short moments of nothing. Then the flames burst, burning my hand and startling everyone around it. I fell back, holding my injured hand close to me and trying to push myself away from the flames.

"What shall we do now, mother?" Melvin asked. "We do not have the pearls for this next part?" Cassandra paused for a few moments, staring down at the bloody knife in her hand. "Mother?"

"Let me think!" Cassandra snarled, silencing her son. It was then when I realised I was no longer held by 'Shaggy'. I quickly scrambled to my feet and made a run for it. "Quick, get her before she runs into the forest!" I heard Cassandra shout. I did make it into the forest but not very far. I felt arms wrap around my waist and drag me back towards the awaiting fate that was held for me.

"Get off me!" I screamed, trying to pull myself from 'Shaggy's grip. I successfully elbowed him in the face and quickly used his loose hold on me to escape again.

Though I headed the wrong way.

Instead of heading into the forest, I ran back into the clearing and towards the waterfall. Quick footsteps were behind me and I scrambled over the rocks and under the waterfall. Before I could make it out the other side though, I pulled back and thrown to the floor. Landing awkwardly on a rock, I cried out.

"Why don't you learn, girl?" 'Shaggy' purred, standing over me. I saw his slimy face staring down at me. I glanced around me and tried to crawl away from him. When a heavy foot pushed down on my back, I cried out again. Reacting quickly, I grabbed a loose rock from in front of me and turned over. I then threw it towards 'Shaggy's' face. It hit him between the eyes and he fell back, instantly blinded for a few moments.

I got up again and ran away from him before he regained focus and came back after me. He would be even more mad now. Though as I exited from under the waterfall, I was grabbed by 'Shaggy's' brother.

"Enough of these games!" Cassandra shouted. "Let's get on with it!" Melvin's grip was much tighter than his brother's.

I couldn't see myself getting away from him.

(A/N) Oh dear! Guys, I'm so very sorry about the long wait! I've just been so busy and I haven't had time for any writing. Please forgive me!

More apologises, I don't think this chapter is very good. I may end up redoing this chapter if I don't like it. But I'll leave it for now and see how everyone reacts to it.

I hope I made the POV change simple for you all. Maria's is first, then Robin's, then Maria's again.

Anyway, thank you SO much for all you reviews. I can't believe it when I saw all the reviews for my story. It is all very appreciated.

Anyway, until next time. Which I will try make sure is very soon!

-jemlou-