Toxic Tales: Chapter 22

Fear

Elpis hated being this close to her. The microraptor unnerved her, her feathers, small stature, and deep blue patterns reminded her of the troodons. She felt bad for being afraid of a little creature that had only ever helped her. They were all eating the gallimimus Asclepius was sharing one with her and Eris and Achelois were splitting one. Achelois had gotten quieter and her brilliant yellow eyes had lost that shimmer they always had. Elpis didn't know what happened when they were at the arena but she was different, Elpis wanted to help her but didn't know how, after all, Achelois was always so happy and outgoing, Elpis wasn't used to trying to start a serious conversation with her, and she clearly wouldn't start one on her own.

"We need to go the Scorching Sands," Eris stated.

"What, why," asked Achelois.

"I had a vision. We need to find a mantis apparently."

"Do you believe that this vision is true," questioned Elpis.

"Yes, they've always been true and I've had them for years."

"Ok, do you know where in the Sands?" Asked Asclepius.

"Near the border, nothing else."

"Alright, we'll start moving in the morning, we can stop for the night at that cave back there," Asclepius stated. They walked back to the cave, it was small, only just big enough for all of them to fit. It had a nearly solid layer of moss on the ground and up the walls, the entrance was blocked by a waterfall, making it difficult to see into. Elpis and Achelois huddled together in an attempt to stay warm.

After a while of sleeping, Elpis woke up, quickly noticing that Achelois was also awake.

"Can't sleep," Achelois asked.

"Yeah, I've had a lot to think about lately," Elpis responded.

"We all have, especially after the arena."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"

"I had a fight, against a magmasaur and won."

"Isn't that good though?"

"I killed him Elpis, I killed somebody." Her eyes had started tearing up.

"I'm sorry that you had to do that, but you didn't have a choice, it was you or them."

They were interrupted by the sound of a large creature outside, and then when I sounded like it was on top of them, Elpis noticed it, the bright orange eye gleaming through the waterfall.

- Sol