The Obelisk

-Chapter 55-

“What do you need?” Prince Coal asked.

“Where are all the prisoners’ belongings kept?” Forest asked him.

The Terror bird thought for a moment. “Uh—follow me.” He turned and marched swiftly down the hall. Forest and the others followed close behind.

“Leaving so soon?” Whispered a voice.

Forest whirled, startled, to see a red and grey Megalosaurus, sitting up comfortably in his cell. He recognized the voice—and realized this must be the assassin.

“I—“ Forest began—

“I’m gonna stop you right there,” The assassin interrupted. “Cause I know what you’re gonna say. And don’t worry. This is

Y o u r epic escape. I’m not gonna waste my time and ruin it like any other prisoner would.”

Forest sighed. “Thankyou.”

“As for me,” the Megalosaur continued, “my escape is coming pretty soon. You’ll see.”

“I hope you don’t kill whoever it is you’re supposed to kill,” Forest whispered.

The Megalosaur blinked, un-answering. “You should get going,” he said. “Before someone sees you. Good luck. Now shoo.”

Forest hurried to catch up to the others. After a minute of walking, he was trailing shortly behind the Prince.

Coal walked swiftly, his memory of the stronghold being put to good use.

Forest had noticed—when he first came out of the cell—that the Prince was very small. He had small set shoulders and a lean, thin body, long legs, and was at least several

claw-lengths shorter than Forest. But Forest knew—despite his small size, that he was a quick and smart prince, and he may be Emperor one day.

Prince Coal skidded to a stop at a large door, quickly checking the dark halls for any soldiers. He then took his ring of keys and pulled out the largest one, then clicked it in.

Forest and Rust slowly pushed the door open, and it mercifully let out no sound. It was pitch black inside, but Forests night vision helped a tad bit.

“We’re here. Now what are you looking for?”

“There’s green and blue sack somewhere in here, right?”

“Most likely. If you had before you were captur—“ the Terror bird fell silent, squinting into the dark room. “What is t h a t?”

Forest followed the Princes gaze, and saw a slight green glow emitting from a box in the far end of the room. His heart sped up.

“There it is!” Spark whispered.

“There is what?” Nyx asked, pushing herself forward. “Ack—what is that???”

“Shhhh,” Crimson and Rust hissed.

“Sorry,” Nyx whispered.

The five slowly entered the small room, trying their best to stay quiet. Forest was the first one there—he sighed and carefully pulled the sack out from the box. He pulled the rune out.

Prince Coal was the second to step next to him. Nyx, a few talon-steps behind, gasped quietly. The others approached as well.

“That’s—“ Coal stared at the rune, it’s light reflecting in his wide eyes. “That’s a rune—how did you get that?”

“We found it,” Forest said.

The prince looked angry and scared at the same time. “You shouldn’t have that. It needs to be kept somewhere safe.” He reached his wings forward to grab it.

“No—don’t touch it!!” Nyx cried.

But the Prince had already reached—and tried to grab it from Forest—when a tiny sizzle of lightning burst from the rune—and struck him. The Prince yowled and fell back.

“What the—“ Forest realized he had clutched the rune harder when the Prince had reached to grab it.

The lightning in his claws slowly died down and disappeared. The runes glow dimmed down slightly.

“You’ve bonded with it well,” Nyx whispered.

“I’ve what?” Forest asked.

The Prince lifted himself from the ground, shaking off his feathers. “I shouldn’t have tried to grab it from you,” he said. “Im sorry.”

Forest realized that Rust, Crimson, Spark, and Bramble were staring at him with horrified looks. He was just as shocked as they were.

“How did that happen?” Crimson

“You don’t know?” Nyx asked. “It—“

“Prince Coal?”

The carnivores turned around.

A tiny Terror bird stood in the entrance to the room—her eyes curious and confused.

“Peak,” Coal blurted. “Shouldn’t you be in the Hatchery?”

“What you doing in—“ she spotted Forest and the others next to him and let out a shuddering gasp. She took a step back, her eyes wide, her tiny, fluffy wings shaking.

“Peak, no, This isn’t what it looks like!” Coal took a step towards her.

“Monsters!” Peak whispered.

“No—“

“Monsters!” Peak turned and fled down the hall, crying loudly.

“Peak, no!” Coal jumped forward to chase after her, but Crimson reached with one talon and pulled him back. “there’s no way you’ll catch her,” Crimson hissed.

“The whole stronghold will know we’re in here,” Coal gasped.

“Then we should get out of here.” Bramble said. “Now!”