The Obelisk

-Chapter 65: Part 1-

Midnight slipped through the shadows. His dark colored feathers helped him blend in with the dark stone walls as he stalked quietly down the halls of the stronghold.

He sniffed the air, catching a stale scent of the Emperor. His eyes narrowed, his night vision finally being put to good use after all that time of sitting in a cold cell.

His senses were finally clear, every sound and movement keeping him alert. His nocturnal instincts were back in action. For the last moon, locked up in his cell, he mostly slept, day and night. all that sleep had messed up his senses.

But now he was back.

He could tell that he was close. When he’d been escorted to the prisons, they taken him right passed the Emperors room. Midnight chuckled quietly. ‘Big mistake.’

He spotted a long strip of grey light coming from around the corner. Cautiously he took the turn, surprised to see that half of this hallway was completely collapsed.

Midnight remembered the small earthquake he’d felt the other night. he never knew it had caused parts of the stronghold to fall. ‘Serves them right,’ He thought bitterly.

He stepped over a pile of collapsed stone bricks, moonlight cascading over his red and grey feathers. He was about to take another step when he noticed a splatter of red among the bricks and rock dust.

‘Blood.’ A few black feathers were scattered around it. ‘But no body. Hmm.’ He stepped carefully around it before deciding to leave it alone. He continued his way down the hall.

More parts of the halls had fallen, he realized as he went on. But he didn’t let it distract him. he had a mission.

Finally he approached the doors to the Emperor’s room. Silently, he edged around to the cracked-open door. there was a conversation going on inside.

“No, you don’t understand, General! I could have told him. Both me and the council had decided that the Five be freed. I should have—argh, I didn’t think he would care,” the Emperors troubled cry echoed through the room to Midnight. “let alone help them

e s c a p e.”

“But I do understand.” The Generals voice said. “You didn’t know. I’m so sorry you had to come back from your journey to see everything as chaotic as it is. But we will bounce back, and we will find your son. He’s missing, but he’s not lost forever. I promise you, I will not stop until we find him.”

A few coughs resonated through the room. The Emperor cleared his throat. “I trust you.”

“I will send a search—” The general began, but was quickly interrupted as the Emperor said, “No, General. There are other matters to attend to. You will be calling a meeting with all of our subjects tomorrow morning. I must tell them that the Alliance is over. Then I will lead the search myself.”

“Wait, what? The alliance is over? Wh—”

“Do not worry. You will hear everything soon enough, along with all of the Terror birds of Runhiemr.” Midnight heard the light tapping of claws on stone. “Until then, make sure everything is safe. Keep a squadron of your best soldiers to guard the gates. You may leave.”

Midnight scrambled silently out of the way, huddling in the nearest corner. The door scraped open slightly, and the strong Terror bird exited the room. As the door closed behind her, she stopped, shook out her wings, and lowered her head with a depressed sigh. Without looking back, she marched away.

Midnight stayed in the patch of darkness for a while more, until all was completely silent. Finally he stepped out and placed his talons onto the stone doors, slowly, carefully, pressing hard until the door opened with agonizing slowness.

He looked both ways. Everything was dark. the Emperor was nowhere in sight. He stalked further into the room, keeping his eyes sharp.

‘Aha.’ The small, raspy breath of the sleeping Emperor came from his right. he turned to see Avalanche laying on his side in a medium sized bed.

One step.

Another step.

Midnight was a few feet away. the Emperor was dreaming, but not for long. Midnights eyes glowed triumphantly. He took a third step. His tail swiped back and forth.

Fourth step. Midnight stopped, standing over the sleeping Terror bird. He held up one talon, flexing his claws.

‘It ends here. His reign ends now. No more of Carrion’s bloodline!’