Theo licked his lips nervously. He was still wearing the flower crown. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“The dragon stone is for bravery, right? Stop being a chicken shit.” Delmare urged Stefan ahead. They led the way through the tunnel, while Emma and I brought up the rear.
The sunlight faded as clouds overcast the sky. The dead trees with spindly branches created shadows upon our faces as we walked, and the farther we ventured into the dark woods, the eerier it became. I heard no birds chirping, nor the sound of other animals. I could only smell dust.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” Theo asked, snorting a few times.
“Of course it is. Look, the trees break up ahead,” Delmare said.
The trees did indeed break, but the sight before us was anything but pleasant. The woods expanded into a meadow, filled with dry yellow grass that was darkened by the gray clouds up above.
There were deer in the meadow, but they were made of nothing but bone. They raised their heads to look at us, skeleton bodies clicking. I feared they’d attack, but they simply ran off, jumping into the sanctuary of the hollowed trees.
“Look up there. Ruins,” Emma said. A short distance away were a collection of large black stones. Looked like a castle had been here at one point and it’d deteriorated over time.
We approached the ruins on high alert. I heard the sound of stamping feet, and gave a growl to let the other Companions know to be cautious. The girls dismounted, and we crept around the corner, keeping low to see what was hiding within the middle of the ruins.
An owl-like creature at least thirty feet long was skulking around the room. The creature had the body and face of an owl, with bat-like wings that ended in claws, and the back legs of a bird with vicious talons to match. The monster walked on all fours, and had deer antlers that twisted out of its head. It had a long, plumed tail, with feathers that would cut skin if one got too close. It was guarding a small silver box, placed on a stone tablet on the other side of the room. I bet anything the dragon stone was inside.
“What is that thing?” Kiara asked in fear, and Alexei shivered beside her.
“It’s an awlya,” I said. “A type of forest demon.”
“What did your dad say about awlyas?” Stefan asked.
“Don’t fuck with em.” I sighed. “I suppose we have to fight it to get the stone.”
“It shouldn’t be hard. There are six of us here,” Emma said.
“We should surround it, before it sees us,” I said. “Let’s move.”
We did— or at least, we tried. Delmare and Stefan were the only ones who were able to cross further into the ruins. The remainder of the group was stuck, unable to venture through. The girls placed their hands against something invisible, as if held back by glass, while myself and the other Companions found our feet glued to the spot. We couldn’t advance.
“Stop messing around. What the hell’s the matter with you?” Stefan demanded.
“It’s not us! We can’t cross through!” Emma hissed.
Delmare’s eyes cleared. “Stefan and I can walk through the barrier,” Delmare said. “The rest of you can’t.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” I growled in frustration.
“This is a test by the gods,” Stefan said in realization. “A test for dragons.”
“It is the dragon stone,” Delmare said. “It’d make sense if dragons are the only ones that can obtain it.”
“But awlya’s are dangerous! We can’t allow you to fight it on your own,” Theo objected.
“You don’t have a choice,” Stefan said. “Just sit back and relax. We can handle it.”
“Stefan,” I growled. “Don’t do this without us.”
He didn’t listen. Stefan proceeded forward, Delmare at his side. She summoned a red orb of battle magic in both hands as she walked toward the awlya. The rest of us could do nothing, so we crouched beside the ruins and waited for this to play out.
The monster saw them coming. It paused as they advanced, observing Stefan with blinking eyes. It made no move to hurt them.
Delmare was holding her breath as she crossed the room. She proceeded toward the silver box while the awlya was distracted. She reached out a hand, placing it on the lid.
It was then the awlya attacked. The owl-creature let out a cry and dived toward Delmare with an open beak. Delmare rolled out of the way, and the silver box