Danger?

Seperate tents had been set up for the wounded, everyone else was just lying on the ground enjoying the starlight. Visha glanced up to see a sky full of stars and she was amazed at how bigger they looked than in the city. Same sky could look so different from different places. She thought.

Then she heard slight rustling of leaves and turned towards a tree on the side, Nati was sleeping there. Being a tree spirit, she was more comfortable on one than the ground.

"Plus, it was a great place for a lookout." she had added to convince Visha to let her be. And she knew that Nati wasn't a pet she could keep on a leash, and considering her strength not someone she wanted to offend either. So she had just let it be, not like she had any problems with that to begin with. She knew Nati was fast and strong enough to capably do her job even from there, so she had no objections. Visha started to feel sleepy after that long day and closed her eyes. She instantly began to drift off to sleep slowly.

Just then, something landed on Visha's stomach and she grunted in pain. She got up to see Mr Feathers sitting on her stomach staring right at her. It started squawking in a serious tone and Visha just looked blankly at him. Mr Feathers sighed and squawked again, louder this time. Visha heard a small movement and turned to see Nati landing on the ground soundlessly and walk towards them.

"He has sensed magic power swirling in some distance. Something is happening, we need to keep moving or it might get worse." Nati said seriously as she waited for orders.

"I'll wake everyone up and let's get moving." Visha got up and dusted away the dry grass stuck on her clothes. She remembered something and turned back, "Nati! You're not to show yourself until I say so."

Nati instantly became alert and nodded. The journey will be getting tougher from now on. She could sense that.

Visha went and woke everyone up. The priests immediately got up after hearing it was Mr Feathers' command. Shaurya, Ashwin and Trisha were still unconscious. Priest Dharma had gained consciousness just a few hours ago. The old priest was tougher than he looked. Soon the entire camp was up except the injured ones.

"What should we do?" Priest Dravya asked Danish. He could sense by now that Danish was a wise man and the only person he'd trust other than the assigned leader.

"I have an idea!" Visha jumped into the conversation. Both Priest Dravya and Danish were ready to listen to her before storming their own brains. She'd proved to be the most useful by now. Danish nodded and gestured her to go on.

"Me and Danish could conjure up a cart. Pulling them might be easier than carrying them." Visha said.

A soft smile appeared on Danish's face, he had the exact same suggestion. It was good to see a newbie catching up that well. He agreed and they held hands as they started chanting. Priest Dravya was excited yet again to witness this. The last time he had seen a bridge being conjured and now this would turn out to be fascinating as well. The vines started entwining with one another as they roughly started to take shape. Soon, a simple hand-pulled cart was completed.

Everyone hurriedly worked together to put the unconscious ones on the cart and convinced the stubborn Priest Dharma to be on the cart as well. Danish and Laksh went up front to pull the cart, while Priest Dravya and Visha stayed behind to help push it. This would be the fastest way to make this work. Mr Feathers sat upfront as it directed them with its tiny wings. The aloof and sleepy swan was nowhere to be seen anymore, he had a domineering aura around him like the time he 'talked' with Priest Dharma before. Mr Feathers had chosen to stand there as it had to be somewhere close to everyone, so they could pass through the chambers.

The dawn was about to break, they had been pulling the cart all night. Priest Dravya had been changing positions with Danish and Laksh one by one so they could get some rest. Even then, walking all night had took a toll on all of them. They were tired and on the verge of giving in but Mr Feathers refused to quiet down. It would start squawking angrily as soon as they slowed down. Laksh couldn't help as the hatred for that bird became deeper. He felt like a slave being thrown around by that damned bird!