Okay...its been quite a minute! We have been very busy. I know I say that a lot, bear with me! And we got a new comment!

KGWingfeatherFan: I loooved it! I'm a huge fan of the Wingfeather Saga, and PLEASE write more! I enjoy reading this, so please Continue.

-KGWingfeatherFan

RainyDayReading342: Hey! Thanks so much for clicking on this story and giving it a try. We will certainly be writing more, thanks for your kind review!

ElvenQueenLibrary: We are writing more, we've just had a bit of a break because of school. Updates might slow down during the summer, but we will try to keep a moderate update schedule. Thanks!

Thanks for reading, and as always, enjoy the chapter.

Two cloaked figures moved in the shadow of the night outside the Cozy Cuddly Dreamy Inn. The cold night made them shiver, and they pulled their cloaked around them tighter.

They slipped away to the stables, and quietly opened the gate. The first figure gestured to two tired looking horses in the corner and the saddles on the hinges next to them.

They both saddled the horses, praying to the Maker that no one would hear them. Liam threw back his hood.

"Is this all we'll need?" he whispered. Marissa nodded, her face casted in shadow of her hood. They had both agreed that she was to keep her hood on at all times, so if they were caught ahe could slip away quietly while Liam distracted them.

Marissa couldn't afford to get caught.

Before Liam stole away with the horses, he dug into his pocket and pulled out enough money to cover for both horses in a bucket where it was noticeable. His conscious wouldn't allow him to steal like that. His mother raised him to be honest.

Marissa clutched a bag to her chest, clinging to her belongings. It didn't have much, because she didn't own much. But she still wanted to bring it with her.

They both mounted their horses and tried to quietly clop-clippedy-clop outside the stables.

They gripped their reins tightly as they made their way into town under the cover of darkness. Liam blew out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. They calmly made their way though the empty streets of Dugtown, trying to look subtle.

This was the night that they were escaping the Inn. Liam had promised to help Marissa escape and to get the Royal Family to help. So this was the night that they escaped. It had been a couple days of quiet discussions, slipping notes to one another with plans on how to escape.

Marissa had also been persistent on helping Liam as well. Now that she trusted him more, she was willing to help him find Itzel and Arthedor. She was insisting that they should find them before going to Anneira. Liam agreed.

As they trotted through the quiet streets of Dugtown, Liam realized he had no idea where they were going. He didn't have a lead to where the kids were. He glanced at Marissa. Would she be angry?

He came to Dugtown for a reason. This was the direction the boat was headed.

If I were an army of Fangs, where would I go? he thought. Any places to hide. Somewhere not many people knew of. Somewhere-

Liam sucked in a breath.

"The Strander Burrows!" he whispered, clutching his reins. Marissa tilted her head at him questioningly. Liam knew just where to go. His father had told him stories of a sword-weilding, crime fighting dark night. His mission was to fight of Stranders. He might know of any Stranded burrows!

He tilted his head to Marissa and mouthed,

Do you know where we can find the Florid Sword?

Itzel clutched the ragged and torn dirty blanket over her nose. She quietly sniffed. She had seen Arthie after the Fangs took him to the awful "healing center". It was only a snack with stained bandages and suspicious remedies with weird ingredients.

But she had seen the courage in his eyes and hoped he would be okay. She didn't know exactly what time it was, but she could tell it was very early in the morning.

Maff, her Fang babysitter, was slumped against the wall and snoring loudly. Itzel rubbed her eyes and sat up. She didn't feel like sleeping. She looked around the small dirt room, missing her comfortable and homey bed.

Suddenly, a gush of warmth and energy filled her. She gasped, then yelped. She clutched her heart as excitement filled her lungs and a burning sensation tore through her.

Maff woke up with a snortle, then glared at Itzel.

" What's wrong with you, sweet?" he sneered. "Nightmare?"

Itzel started shaking. She shook her head and tried to stuttered out words. But her mouth felt like it was glued shut! She hugged herself tightly, wishing with all her soul that the feeling would go away.

Maff growled, but then looked up when he heard another yelp. It came from the room next to them. Arthie!

"A-a-a-r-th-th-" Itzel tried to scream, but the energy and burning sensation filled her body, making her shake uncontrollably, and she lost all senses.

Snort came bursting in, cradling Arthedor on his arms and a wild look in his eyes.

"The kid! He just-" Snort glanced at Itzel and his face fell to absolute horror. "Oh, no...not her too!"

Maff roughly grabbed Itzel by her arm and yanked her down. "They've been rendered useless! We needs to tell the Sssssstone Keepers 'bout this!" he hissed.

Snort glanced at Itzel. She could have sworn there was a flash of pity in its eyes. But she must have imagined it, because when she blinked it was all completely gone.

Snort cradled Arthie tighter and rushed out the door, snuffling and sniffing. Maff sighed exasperatedly and grabbed Itzeland swung her over his back, knocking the breath out of her burning lungs.

Poor Itzel wondered why Snort was much nicer and gentler with Arthie but Maff seemed to hate her. She decided Snort was a better Fang than the others.

Then she realized she was being jostled along and being taken to the Stone Keepers. They rounded a corner, and suddenly, as they passed the cove where Eggy was being kept, Itzel screamed.

The warmth felt like it was overflowing and burst inside of her. The feeling was so strong now. So strong that she could finally scream,

"EGGY!!"

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she reached our for the door. She wiggled in Maff's arms, then started beating his back.

"LET ME GO, YOU BIG WORM!! EGGY!! EGGY NEEDS US!!" she pounded his back with curled up fists. Her screams were hoarse and were ruining her throat.

"SHUT YOUR GOB, YOU LITTLE-" Maff started, but then was crashed into by Snort and Arthie! Itzel was flung off of his back and landed on the ground on her bottom.

She crawled over to Arthie. The buzzing of the feeling was so strong she wanted to scream and scratch her skin away. And as he met her eyes, the same expression he had on his face matched hers.

It had something to do with Eggy.

The children both scrambled to their feet and dragged themselves to the door. Arthie turned the knob and they stumbled in.

Snort recovered first. "Oy, what are you-?!"

The door was slammed shut before he could finish.

"Eggy," Itzel croaked out, dropping to the floor and a few tears squeezed out.

Arthie gasped, and Itzel forced herself to look up. That is when she saw Eggy, pulsing and vibrating and rattling.

Warm. Warm. Warm. Warm, Eggy repeated.

Itzel shot a dreaded look at Arthie. She felt like her lungs weighed a ton, and she tried too drag herself along the floor to Arthie. He was on his hands and knees, barely keeping himself from hitting the ground.

"Eggy...Eg-g-g..." Itzel squeaked, and the burning sensation grew hotter. "E-gg-g-gy i-is..." she tried again, but her voice failed her.

Eggy vibrated once more, and a CRACK! noise rang around the room. A small crack spread from the top to the bottom.

And then, Eggy uttered a new word that neither of the kids had taught it.

Fire!

"Eggy...is h-hatch-ch-ch-ing," Arthie finished, collapsing on the floor and wheezing.

The door burst open, and Amrah and Murgah stumbled in.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" Murgah demanded.

And just then, the eggshell split open completely, unleashing smoke everywhere.