Till the end

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        Tempters continued to rise as each and every Dreamstone burned and charged in the volcanic pit, while the hunters watched in dismay and horror as each passing moment lava began to rise, and blocking their only way out while also stripping away their life energy.

“Phoenix” rasped Artemis, who curled herself up against a rock; her sliver jade scales reflecting off a red glow from the heat.

“Yes Artemis?” he answered, leaning against the unbearably hot rocks that burned and melted through his fire red scales, forcing him to shift around.

“Is this how we were meant to die?” she asked, tears swelling up into her eyes “Because...I don’t want to….not like this….” She choked out, while little rivers of tears steamed down her scaled cheeks.

         He was taken aback by this question. Is this really how it ended? Us failing and dying in the worst way possible...He thought bitterly. Slowing he stood up and walked towards Artemis, and curled his body around hers and wrapped one of his black wings on her small body, this took her by surprise, causing her to stiffen a bit but soon relaxed, touched by his kind gesture.

“I don’t want to die like this either…” whispered Russet, who had his bat wings wrapped around his brown body, while his grey furred bat ears flopped to the sides, and turned to the two with a sad expression “I really don’t……” he whispered, burying his snout deeper between his wings.

“But we are going to die…..and we did fail…” said Kindlewic with a harsh tone “…and there’s nothing we can do about it…”with that he curled himself into a tight ball, all head spikes pointed upward.

          Phoenix was horrified at such loss of hope in each and every hunter; Pika continued to mope and sigh. Russet cried soundlessly, while hugging his legs. Kindlewic laid belly up, steam rising from his ice like body. Artemis began to shiver violently at the thought of death. And finally Thorn, who just sat there like a rock while all her leaves began to wither, and white fur becoming burnt. But there was one more….Bonecheast… he thought bitterly…How could he betray us? After all we did for him?.....after we gave him our trust… thoughts of him viciously ripping his head off came in, followed by the Master wearing all seven Dreamstones around his thick scaly neck soon followed.

  Suddenly the sound of a stone being moved came from above, and all turned their heads lazily to sound, only to find the black boulder of which was used to plug the small volcanic cave begin to move, inch by inch.

“You don’t think it’s the Master?” whispered Pika, slowly getting up and walking to where Phoenix and Artemis sat, not taking their eyes away from the gigantic rock.

“Hurry up you lazy slugs! They could probably being dying!” yelled a familiar voice

“Okay! Don’t get your tail in a knot” growled back a deep and raspy voice

“Yeah! It’s not like your doing anything important in saving them” snorted a husky female voice

   Then with great force, moved the gigantic rock, reveling a bulky dark purple furred bear with a white strike of fur and an orchid colored like neck, and beside him a heavily built boar who looked like a male but was surprisingly a female, with maroon colored fur, and mahogany tuffs of fur on both head and chest.

“Moonstealer!” cried out Pika with joy, running towards the great big bear, and embracing him, who embraced her back.

“Nice to see you too kid” he said softly.

“Hey Bettsy” saluted Russet with a sly smile, with his right ear tilted to the left.

“Hey short stuff” she responded, walking right up to his weak body, and nudging him lightly with her left tusk.

  A few moments later came in Bonecheast who was gripping the end of his tail in both paws, and slowly walked in. Suddenly with new strength Phoenix ran at full gallop, and stopped right in front of him, head held high and eyes narrow.

“Why?” he asked, making eye contact.

 Bonecheast released his grip on his tail “For….her...” he said, gesturing towards Pika who cried tears of joy into Moonstealer’s belt

“And us too?” he continued, rising an eye ridge

“Maaaaybe” he answered, moving his white soulless eyes away from his emerald colored ones

“Well then…thanks” Phoenix said reluctantly, then turned towards the other “Alright everyone, we must leave now so as to face the Master in the final battle” he spoke, with the voice of a king leading his men into battle.

“So that there can be finally peace in the land of Red Ridge” Artemis spoke up

“And peace in Blue Harbor, along with Coral Sea” piped up Pika

“Don’t forget about Shadowlich forest” said Russet, wings out stretched

“Also Green Villa” Thorn said proudly

“Along with the Artic kingdom” came Kindlewic’s voice

“As well as the Dragon kingdom too” Phoenix finished, suddenly swelling with pride.

“Well then? What are we waiting for, let’s go!” Artemis roared energetically 

  “Then let’s” said Phoenix, leading the others with both courage and pride. This is how I wanted to die…fighting for my people and friends… he said in his mind.