The Obelisk

-Epilogue-

“What do we do now?”

Forest swallowed silently, glancing around at his friends. They were back in the cave, the light of the portals sending vibrant light onto their feathers and scales.

His stomach churned as he cast his gaze over each of them, seeing his own thoughts and emotions reflected in their eyes. “I don’t know,” He said quietly.

“It’s over,” Spark whispered. “We did it. Jethezzar was the danger to Fjordur, and he’s gone now.”

Nyx blinked, her tail twitching. “Does that mean this is goodbye?”

The Five all stared at each other, before Spark pulled in Forest with her tail. Nyx stepped forward to hug them, and Forest glanced at Crimson, who sighed and stepped forward to join in. Rust dwindled at the back before being yanked over by Crimson.

Forest sighed and closed his eyes. “We’ll be able to see each other again. But for now, it’s time we all got back home.”

***

“Hello?”

He stood in the cave entrance quietly. The day was cold but bright and cloudless, sending rays of sunlight filtering through the familiar forest.

He scraped a claw against the rock under him, blinking anxiously. “I— I’m back,” he called.

Something sounded from down the tunnel, and Forest perked up hopefully. Then a bat chirped and flew past him and outside of the cave, its tiny wings flapping wildly. Forest turned his head and watched it go.

“Forest?”

Forest spun back around. His mouth opened slightly at the sight of a Rock Drake with plum and grey-brown feathers, her eyes staring widely at his.

“Ri?” Forest exclaimed.

“Oh my gosh!” She ran forward and jumped onto him, knocking them onto the ground as she wrapped her arms around his sides.

“I can’t believe—” Forest began—

“Guys!” Ri called, lifting her head to the tunnel. “Come on out! He’s back!”

There was a pause, and several heads poked out from inside the tunnel, blue and green and grey eyes glinting. Then one stepped out and ran forward, and the others followed.

“Haze!” Forest cried. “Crystal!”

“You came back!” Haze yelled, her blue and grey feathers fluffed up as she squeezed him tightly. “You survived, you crazy Rock Drake!”

He laughed breathlessly, smiling as he returned the embrace to his three sisters. He looked as happy as ever.

***

Forest sat out on a small ledge outside the cave, watching the stars. He breathed in the muddled scents of the ice-cold water and stone, the still air comforting him.

He glanced over at his bag, which was leaning against a rock a pace away. Forest blinked down it, then up at the moon.

A moment later he pulled the rune out. The small stone slid warmly in his talons. No light came from it now.

He hopped down from the ledge and stopped before taking one talon and scraping carefully at the soft ground with his claws, forming a small hole.

The rune was dropped inside.

He slipped the pile of dirt over and turned to go home.