I gathered together my team, heading to the place we had first arrived within the city. I spotted a few griffins ahead of us, one was obviously Rockray’s partner. I still found it amazing seeing so many sacred animals free from being trapped within a talisman and luckily no one had asked questions on how such grand beasts became talismans.

“Everyone ready.” I said.

“Your highness.” Rockray indicated for her to climb aboard one of the griffins.

“She flies with me,” I said. “Safest place.”

“Are you saying they are not safe.” Rockray glared at me.

Tigra smiled. “Fang can sometimes take his duties a bit too seriously”. I’d already told her that she would fly with me, while Link and Zack rode Raziel and Arata. Dash would ride the griffin, which he was nervous about. “You can understand one so wilful to protect the one there in charge of protecting.”

Rockray stared at me, slowly nodding. “I do.” I had this feeling, especially when I thought about the vision, I had of Rockray accompanying the princess, he had been set as her Champion.

Everyone climbed upon their mounts and Tigra stood in front of me, whispering. “I do enjoy our flies together.”

“Tigra.” I responded blushing, picking her up in my arms. “Rockray lead the way to the closest and best landing place.”

“Right, this way.” He took off.

“You’re in for a treat.” I told her as the winds blew around me and I followed. Link, Dash and Zack not far behind.

Rockray flew around the edge of the land formation and went into a dive, in seconds we were looking down into the jungles underneath Anamothra. I heard a surprised gasp from Tigra.

“What is that place?” she asked.

“The home of sacred animals,” I said. “A safe place where they have lived for thousands of years.”

We saw sacred animals of every kind flying amongst the skies. There was a nice sized space between the two great parts of the mountain that protected this place. One past that point it became even more vast, far deeper down than I had thought, filling every part of the inside of the mountain.

“Beautiful,” said Tigra. “Couldn’t sacred animals live in our caverns.”

“Perhaps they do, just haven’t seen any,” I commented.

“Stay focused, the energy this place gives off can surprise those who have not felt it,” warned Rockray. Not long after his words my body felt this energy go straight through it, so pure and light, this was the power of the goddess, she was everywhere here.

“This way.” I heard her faint voice. I stopped in flight, looking towards the opposite direction Rockray wanted us to take.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Fang.” Rockray called. “We mustn’t dawdle here.”

“The goddess,” I said pulled in that direction.

“Goddess?” He sounded confused.

“Just go with it,” said Zack, the others nodded in agreement. “He sees and hears far more than we do.”

“The goddess is the creator of this world, her light grows weaker as the darkness grows stronger, this place being so pure must be related to why he can hear her here, perhaps this is even a safe place with what is left of her power.” Dash went on with his random knowledge.

“You are quite correct,” spoke the griffin he rode upon. “I am surprised one so young and not born amongst our kin know this.”

“I have studied many rock formation around Cathopia which tells her story, but most have been destroyed in recent years.” Pairing Dash up with him seemed to be a good idea.

“Is this route safe?” asked Tigra.

“It’s her,” I said. “Remember what I saw when we visited Fang’s resting place. She was so weak, if I can connect with her here, she’ll tell me all I need to know.”

“Go then,” she encouraged. I picked up the pace and flew in that direction.

“Alex,” she called my name. “Hurry, this way.”

Rockray suddenly flew in front of my path. “You can’t go that way.”

“And why not?” I asked.

“No one is allowed in those thickets,” he said. “Guarded by the most powerful and wild of sacred animals, not even Emperor Skyrus is allowed there.”

“Well, I am going.” I glared at him.

“What is over there, Rockray?” asked Tigra politely.

“No one knows,” he answered.

“What never been curious,” I commented.

“We follow the rules of the sacred animals,” he said.

I glanced over at the griffin. “You know what’s over there?”

“All stay clear, so not a single soul can corrupt what’s inside,” he responded. “You as Fang can enter but we must not, you alone, but be unhesitant there is no danger here.” I nodded, heading forward. “You cannot take her.”

“Watch me.” I went straight ahead, gliding on Larana’s wind, heading towards the ground where I would enter the thicket of the forest. I glanced back. “Take the others to see who we were meant to, all the information we can get the better.” Arata and Raziel transfers Zack and Link to the griffins before following after me.

“Stay in contact,” said Link, lifting his hand sending out a little of his energy. “Stronger than wind.”

“Thanks.” I looked at Rockray. “Look after my team, no my friends.”

“Alright.” He nodded and they headed off.

“Why are you taking me?” asked Tigra as I placed her upon Raziel’s back.

“Because I don’t want to go alone,” I replied. “I’m tired of fighting alone.”

“Alex.”

We landed on the edge of the thicket of the forest. I would have flown in deeper, but I had sensed a force preventing me from doing just that. It was most probably what kept most of the sacred animals away.

The energy flowing throughout the trees was pure, light and refreshing. It made my whole being feel relaxed, was what the griffin said true, there was no danger here.

“I can sense a portion of her here.” I heard Fang. “Her power once covered all the lands of this world, giving it warmth and brought light to all those she passed her protection to.”

“Then the darkness consumed the world, weakening her into almost nothingness,” I continued. “She made you with her power to combat the darkness.”

“Huh.” Tigra gazed at me.

“Mumbling to myself.” I shrugged, leading us into the forest, still hearing the goddess’s voice calling out to me.

“Alex.”