Guardians of the Prophecy

Chapter Ten: Temple of the Skies (Part Two)

Note:  I've been getting a lot of fans recently, despite the fact that I haven't updated in forever. I would like to think that it's because people are reading this story, so if so, thank you so much!  To the new fans, I really appreciate your followings and interest in reading this.  I understand the ending is a bit rushed, but at this point I'm happy it's up.  Good thing it didn't take me a month to finish.  

*This chapter is unedited.

Alistair woke some time later in a semi-dark area, his heart pounding within his chest.  He struggled onto his feet, wincing when he felt his body throb.  He examined his torso and legs and saw several blotchy bruises.  Blood was slowly trickling down the slashes he had endured from the harpies.

As if my body doesn’t have enough injuries, Alistair thought to himself, drawing up to his full height and looking around him.  That’s not important, though.  Got to find Rima.

Caleb stirred not far from him, and at his feet was a feathered bundle.  Alistair squinted and realized with a jolt that it was Rima’s falcon.

He gingerly picked it up, and the bird trembled in his grasp.  Her lids were closed, and when his hands surrounded the bird’s body, she twitched. 

He creased his brows just as Caleb stood up.  Is she hurt?

Alistair slowly turned the Perien falcon around, and that was when he saw that her left wing was oddly bent.  He sighed and cuddled the bird against his body.  His chest throbbed dully, and he took in deep, shuddering breaths.  His bruises and lacerations seemed more sensitive than usual; they stung whenever his body made the slightest movement.  

I need to find Rima.  Need to be there for her.

“Damn, I hate it when this happens,” he heard Caleb grumble beside him.  “We have to find the Guardians as quickly as possible.”

Alistair nodded wordlessly, and followed Caleb down an empty hallway, where light was just up ahead.  He felt Shaheen shaking; when he looked down the falcon was staring up at him reproachfully.  He swallowed.

“I’m sorry I can’t heal you,” he told the bird, knowing she understood him.  “I’ll try to get you back to Rima as soon as possible.  Laurel should be able to take care of that wing.”

Shaheen blinked at him and then slowly closed her eyes. 

When they exited the tunnel some time later, he realized that they were back at the open-air portion of the temple.  Caleb and Alistair, with Shaheen nestled in his arms, attempted wandering down the other tunnels of the intricate network.  Some led to dead-ends and some led to the open-air area.  Some led back to the entrance of the temple altogether.

“Maybe Shan will do a good job,” Caleb commented, though he still sounded rather anxious. 

“He is the Guardian of Form,” he agreed, thinking of the monk’s powerful musculature.

Alistair had to clench his jaw in order to make sure he wouldn’t yell in frustration.  His throbbing wounds weren’t helping either.  The silence between him and Caleb would have felt uncomfortable if it weren’t for the fact that they were both experiencing the same problem.  They couldn’t speak because they were too busy worrying about their Guardians.

Finally, the duo, with the bird, wandered down yet another hallway with a cool breeze brushing their faces.  At the end, a set of stone steps leading skyward greeted them.

An odd tingling sensation spread through his hands as they began to climb.

Are we getting closer?