Page 28 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

“We have to find the others before the sun goes down,” Airella informed Jonathan as she rose to her feet.

Recognizing the importance of the task at hand, Jonathan nodded in agreement.

Airella’s gaze shifted upwards, revealing the sun at its zenith in the sky, marking the passage of midday. The urgency of their situation heightened as they realized the looming threat of being stranded in the dark wilderness, surrounded by unknown dangers.

With a shared determination, Jonathan and Airella set off, their steps guided by hope of discovering even the slightest clue to the whereabouts of their missing companions. As they ventured forth, a sudden interruption halted their progress.

“Wait.”

The voice pierced through the air, causing both the redhead and the blonde to freeze in their tracks. Airella turned around, her eyes meeting Sirius, who stood steadfastly in the same spot they had left him.

In the aftermath of their encounter with the obsidian hellion, Sirius appeared to have reverted to his usual composed demeanor, concealing any trace of emotion that might betray his inner thoughts.

“You never answered my question.”

Airella stared at him for a moment, her eyes fixed on his, as she replayed the memory of breaking him out of the confines of the prison wagon. The image of them escaping into the dense forest lingered in her mind, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that surrounded them.

“You’ve proven to have a good heart, Sirius,” she finally spoke. “That’s why I saved you.” She grappled with the weight of her decision to put her trust in a Miscreant, realizing the gravity of the risks they were taking. Airella felt like she owed him a further explanation, but finding the right words felt like an impossible task at that moment.

Turning away, she resumed her steps, her gaze evading any contact with the reaper trailing behind her. Despite her efforts to focus on the path ahead, she couldn’t shake off the lingering sense of his presence hovering over her and Jonathan. With a mix of curiosity and fear, Airella stole a glance towards the enigmatic figure with white hair, their silent companion on this uncertain journey.

“Are you coming with us?” Airella asked Sirius, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern as she awaited his response. Sirius, with an air of nonchalance, gazed blankly at her for a moment before finally speaking.

“I might as well,” he said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. “You humans manage to find trouble pretty effortlessly. I suppose I could offer my assistance. Not to mention I also need my scythe back.” With a casual stride, he caught up to their pace, his presence adding a subtle aura of mystery to their group.

Observing the interaction, Jonathan raised his eyebrows and flashed a knowing smile at Airella. “He could prove quite handy if we encounter any unforeseen challenges,” he remarked, his voice laced with confidence.

Airella, though accustomed to Jonathan’s unwavering positivity, couldn’t shake off a sense of unease. She exhaled slowly, anticipating the reactions of the soldiers once they realized they were accompanied by Sirius, who carried an enigmatic air that often drew mixed responses from those around him.

As they continued their journey, the familiar sound of distress reached their ears, prompting Airella to scan the surroundings. Her gaze settled on Duran, who kneeled on the ground, visibly exhausted and struggling to catch his breath.

He looked up at the trio, disgust filling his eyes once his gaze landed on Sirius. “Why, you... you knew! You knew about that ice Miscreant... he caught at least half of our men!” Duran unsheathed his sword and charged at Sirius, who stood there in silence, a flicker of defiance in his eyes.

Jonathan quickly stepped into Duran’s path, his hands held up in a calming gesture, his voice firm but soothing. “Duran, calm yourself. Violence won’t solve anything here.”

Duran’s chest heaved, and he fell to his knees as exhaustion seeped through his every pore. Sweat dripped from his brow, mingling with the dust of their surroundings. He looked up at the vast expanse of the sky, his breaths ragged, and a deranged chuckle escaped his lips.

“We’re going to die out here, all of us,” he muttered, a sense of impending doom weighing heavily upon him. Shakinghis head in disbelief, he covered his face with a trembling hand, the weight of their situation bearing down on him.

“What are you talking about?” Airella’s voice carried a note of concern as she approached Duran, her steps cautious on the uneven terrain. She reached out a hand to steady him as he leaned against a large rock, the rough surface pressing against his back, a stark contrast to the turmoil within him.

“All our supplies, at least half of our men. It’s gone,” lamented Duran, his voice tinged with sorrow as he surveyed the aftermath. “We’re going to be stranded in this hellhole.” Duran shielded his eyes from the harsh glare of the sun, a tangible symbol of their misfortune.

“That’s right... we abandoned everything in our haste to escape that ice Miscreant,” Jonathan interjected, his tone reflecting a mix of regret and urgency.

“Zol,” Sirius murmured almost imperceptibly, his words barely audible beside Airella, who tried to feign indifference.

“Alright, let’s retrace our steps and retrieve what we lost. We know what to expect now. We can be careful and just take back what we need,” Airella proposed, a sense of determination creeping into her voice. She was fully prepared to do whatever she needed in order to be reunited with Dawnbreaker. She recalled dropping it while freeing Sirius from his confinement, a moment of oversight that now weighed heavily on her mind.

A pang of frustration gripped Airella as she cursed her forgetfulness, the weight of her realization settling heavily upon her. She felt acutely aware of the daunting challenges awaiting them without the comfort of Dawnbreaker by her side.

“Are you stupid?” Duran’s voice growled with an edge of urgency. “Just take a moment to look around. The situation wefind ourselves in is dire! If we backtrack to retrieve our supplies now, the odds of us facing slaughter are alarmingly high!”

“He’s not wrong, Airella,” Jonathan chimed in reluctantly, his expression mirroring the gravity of their predicament.

Contemplating the gravity of the situation, Airella’s voice rose with determination. “Do you honestly believe we could safely navigate the journey back to the ship without essential provisions, such as food, water, and our limited arsenal of weapons? Sirius is without his scythe, I’m without my axe, and Jonathan is without his sword. Returning to camp without our gear would be risky. Our best bet is to reunite with as many soldiers as possible, regroup, and strategically retrieve our belongings.” Airella’s impassioned plea resonated through the group, underlining the urgency of their predicament.

Duran and Jonathan exchanged uneasy glances as they gazed at her, uncertainty clouding their expressions.

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