Knowing that time was of the essence, they didn’t look into each room of the caves or all of the offshoots. They focused on the larger areas that would have room for the dragon and his hostages, although they did try to peek into every area they encountered just to see if there was anyone being held captive inside.
In one of the caves, they found a cage. Inside were several shifters in human form. They all wore shift-blocking bracelets. It was clear that they had been held for a long time and were in dire need of food and water.
Nick and Lana quickly unlocked the cage, and the prisoners stumbled out. They helped the shifters remove their bracelets, so that they could morph into their animal forms.
The hostages told the pair that they don’t know how long they had been in there, but it had been a very long time.
One said, “We didn’t see Dizag very much, but his pals would come around every couple of days to throw some food and nasty water at us.”
“Did they tell you why you are being held?” Lana asked.
One of the frailer prisoners nodded. She was a young cat shifter. “They told us that we were going to be slaves when Dizag took the kingdom back from Queen Alix. The women would also serve Dizag and his men until they tired of us.”
Her words made Nick’s hackles rise. He could feel his blood start to boil and the rage flow through him like a rushing river. He knew he had to quash his emotions, or he wouldn’t be able to think well enough during the battle. He needed all of his senses gathered about him.
Pointing to the way that they came from, Lana said, “Go that way. Our pride lands are not too far. You should find a creek with water and some food. Hide as you walk the best that you can, because we have no idea if Dizag or any of his army has been following us.”
A few of the shifters wanted to help them, but they were all so weak from being kept locked up without adequate food and water. A few of them could barely stand or walk.
“You are brave, but you wouldn’t stand a chance in your condition. You would be slaughtered. That is just the way that Dizag wanted you to be. Just head back and if you see anyone who might be friendly, tell them your situation,” Nick said.
He could only imagine how frustrating it might be to want to fight back so badly but be physically unable to do so. That would chafe his soul like sandpaper on fine china.
“I wish I could help you more, my friends,” Lana said. “But we have to go find my parents and sister. I know he is holding many other shifters hostage as well.”
All of them wished the pair good luck and started the long trek back to civilization.
As Nick and Lana left the cave, they were extra cautious. They knew that they had to be getting close. They were also very aware of the fact that Dizag was expecting them and would likely have traps or an ambush set up for them. This was not going to be an easy fight, and Dizag wasn’t going to welcome them into his cave like guests and hand over Lana’s parents without a war.
They could see another set of caves coming up ahead. The hair on Nick’s body stood up straight. He felt as though there were a hundred sets of eyes following their every footstep, listening to their every breath, and intercepting every communication between him and Lana.
Suddenly, Lana stopped. She was completely still. She cocked her head as though she were listening to something.
She said, “I can hear my father. They have to be in one of these caves in front of us.”
Looking ahead, Nick saw there were several large caves. They all looked as though they had been used recently. As with every other place the dragons had been, the entire area had been decimated.
He sniffed the air. He could smell the fear of shifters, as well as death. He could also smell the putrid smell of unclean dragons. They were definitely getting close to where Dizag and his crew had been hiding out.
“Do you smell that?” Nick asked.
Lana nodded, but didn’t reply. She was trying to listen for more communications from her father or other prisoners.
They moved even slower as they approached. Not only might one of the dragons attack them from out of nowhere, but they could have set traps, such as pits or nets. Dragons didn’t play fair, especially Dizag and his crew.
Every few feet Lana stopped to listen. “His voice is very faint. He sounds weak,” Lana said.
With excruciating slowness, they continued walking toward the caves. One of them looked to be much larger than the rest.
“There,” Lana said. “Father says they are in the second cave under the growth there.”
“Does he know that you can hear him?” Nick asked.
“No,” Lana answered. “I think that he is simply broadcasting messages hoping that someone is out looking for them and that he will be heard.”
“Do you want to tell him you are coming?” Nick asked.
“No. His thoughts and behavior might give something away to Dizag, if they don’t already know we are close,” she said.
The pair moved silently and slowly toward the cave. Suddenly, there was a loud thump behind them. They turned as one, and Nick’s heart sank to his stomach.
14
Lana
A large dragon had landed behind them. He was huge, with iridescent red scales. His presence would have been majestic, if he hadn’t been there to destroy
