Page 19 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

Before Jonathan had a chance to respond, Sirius vanished into the shadows.

Chapter 12

Airella woke up in her tent, the early morning light filtering through the fabric walls. As she sat up, a dull ache throbbed in her temples, a lingering reminder of the night’s events. Her mind was hazy, memories of the previous night slipping through her fingers like sand.

Stepping outside, a burst of sunlight that warmed her face greeted her, contrasting with the crisp chill in the air. Looking around, she noticed the other soldiers emerging from their tents, each wearing a similar expression of confusion and disorientation. The atmosphere was tense, a palpable sense of unease hanging in the air.

As she walked, a wave of dizziness washed over her, causing her to sink down onto the sandy ground. Watching her comrades, she observed the growing anxiety etched on their faces, mirroring her own inner turmoil.

“This island is haunted. Let’s get out of here!” Darian yelled out, his voice echoing through the eerie silence of the night. He ran in frantic circles, his hands grasping at the shoulders of every man he passed, his eyes wide with terror. “We’ll all be dead! This place isn’t good for humans! Let’s board the ships!” His words were punctuated by a laughter filled with a crazed intensity that masked the underlying fear.

Amidst the chaos, Airella remained composed, her gaze unwavering as she observed Darian’s escalating panic. Each passing moment seemed to amplify the sense of impending doom that hung heavy in the air, infecting even the most stoic of hearts with a creeping doubt.

As the commotion reached a fever pitch, a sudden cry pierced through the air.

“Duran is gone!”

The proclamation drew the attention of all, their eyes turning towards Brenner, who had just emerged from Duran’s supposedly vacant tent. Airella’s expression remained impassive, a mask of contemplation settling over her features as she made a silent decision to investigate the mysterious disappearance for herself.

With purposeful resolve, she approached the tent, the cloth entrance swaying gently in the night breeze. Stepping inside, a sense of foreboding washed over her as she confirmed the chilling truth—Duran was nowhere to be found.

“What’s going on? What do we do?”

The scrambling soldiers seemed frightened and confused, waiting for the unpredictable. Airella felt a surge of responsibility as she scanned the surrounding faces, seeking guidance and finding none.

“Jonathan,” she whispered his name under her breath before she maneuvered through the crowd of men, her heart thudding in her chest.

Her steps quickened as she made her way towards his hammock, her mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.To her dismay, Jonathan’s hammock was empty, adding to the chaos of the situation.

This moment offered Airella an opportunity to embody the leadership qualities her father was known for in the past. She deliberated on her options—she could take charge, rally the soldiers, and seek a resolution to the madness unfolding, or she could succumb to the overwhelming pressure and retreat to the safety of the kingdom. Despite her inner doubts, a glimmer of determination flickered within her. She knew she possessed the potential to lead, to guide, and to protect the remaining soldiers from the impending crisis.

As she pondered her next move, the weight of the decision bore down on her, causing a momentary hesitation. Airella could feel the eyes of the soldiers on her, waiting for her command. In that fleeting moment of uncertainty, self-doubt crept in, clouding her thoughts. She turned away from the expectant gazes and took a deep breath, grappling with her conflicting emotions.

“Jonathan!” a man yelled, drawing attention to a familiar face emerging from the thick brush.

His disheveled yet charming red hair caught the sunlight, giving it a glistening, almost ethereal quality as he jogged up to Airella with a wide, cheerful smile that seemed to light up the surroundings. It was as if a burst of positivity radiated from him, enveloping the surrounding space.

Airella, taken aback by this sudden encounter, stood frozen in place, her mind racing to comprehend the unexpected turn of events. His carefree demeanor completely stumped her, and she found it slightly unsettling in contrast to the gravity of the situation they were in. As he approached with increasingspeed, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of confusion and curiosity.

With a swift motion, he scooped her up by the waist, spinning her around with an infectious enthusiasm that was hard to resist. Airella, though appreciative of the gesture, couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease lingering at the back of her mind. She awkwardly waited for some semblance of an explanation, her eyes silently pleading for clarity amidst this whirlwind of emotions. After all, he had just appeared out of the woods, seemingly out of nowhere, adding an element of mystery to the already bewildering encounter.

“I have so much to tell you, to tell all of you,” Jonathan exclaimed, a wide smile on his face as he raised his arms in excitement.

Airella, noticing his sudden burst of enthusiasm, voiced her concern, “Jonathan, are you okay—”

But before she could finish, he interrupted, “Never been better, actually.” His declaration caught the attention of the men nearby, who stared at him with mouths agape, unsure of what to make of the situation unfolding before them.

As the soldiers scattered in different directions to search for Duran, Jonathan locked eyes with Airella, a look of determination in his gaze. “I’ll take care of him,” she assured the concerned soldiers nearby, her unwavering focus on Jonathan.

He beamed at her, jabbering, “It’d probably be best if I told you first, anyway.”

Intrigued, Airella pressed for more information, “Tell me why—”

“I met him, face-to-face. He is like nothing you’d expect,” Jonathan revealed, the seriousness creeping into his voice as he mentioned Sirius.

Airella halted him mid-explanation, her curiosity piqued.

“Is that where you’ve been?” Her fists clenched in a mix of emotions.

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