Chapter 09 - An Ambush

Echo looked around the field. The grass looked much different now that she was standing on it. She had seen the fields when she flew to the Protectors Manor from the Witches Coven, but it was still a magical sight.

Everyone began opening their white wings, ready for take off. The commander checked on his wife, Jane, and gave a glance at Echo.

Sebastian was already airborne. Echo opened her wings, and pulled her hood down, knowing that the breeze would make her hair messy.

Each one took off one after the other. Echo was the last to take off. She flew behind the team, keeping an eye out for anything moving around them. She noticed the commander checking in on his wife every now and then.

Sebastian was talking with Jane, as the two flew close to each other.

After about an hour of flying at full speed, Echo saw the white mountains. It was beginning to get cold, and she wrapped her leather cloak around her.

The commander pointed to a mountain in the center. Everyone landed where the commander had pointed, to find a hidden cave.

Echo looked at the mountain that was very tall, compared to when they were flying. The entrance to the cave was at the bottom of the mountain, and was made of ice.

The ice around the cave was shining like glass, Echo could see her own reflection. She was not the only one awed by the ice, and cave, even Jasmine and Jane were admiring the magical place.

The commander turned to the group, "Let's move in, stay close, and don't make too much noise. The last thing we want is an avalanche."

The group followed the commander's lead. Echo was once again at the back of the group, while Sebastian walked beside the commander in front, with their swords drawn.

They walked along the only path, with no sign of demons anywhere.

"Are you sure you got the right cave?" Jane asked, craning her neck to the left and right, searching for any sign of demons.

The commander had been searching for any evidence too, "This is the correct place. Maybe they cleared it out before we came here."

"Or it's a trap," Jasmine added.

The commander turned to Jasmine, who gave him a worried look. He fell back a bit to talk to her quietly.

Sebastian stopped walking, but Jane casually walked past him.

"WAIT!" Sebastian called out, as Jane stepped on a trip wire.

Echo looked at the wire that was connected to large boulders of rocks that were right on top of her. The nets holding the boulders opened up, and the boulders came down. Echo dodged forward, missing all the boulders.

The boulders stacked up one over the other, blocking their way out. Sebastian turned to Echo with a cold glare.

"How stupid are you? You could have rolled back, and got out before the boulders came down!" Sebastian yelled at Echo. He moved swiftly, pointing his sword at her neck.

With a swift movement of her wrist, Echo brought her sword up, pushing Sebastian's sword away from her neck. Echo returned the glare, and walked forward.

Everyone else looked at Sebastian and then at Echo who casually walked deeper into the cave.

Despite not saying anything, Echo knew that what Sebastian had stated was true. She should have moved behind, so that she wouldn't be blocked, at least then she could find a way to aid the group from the outside. But she had already made her move, and it was too late to argue. Moving forward was the only thing they could do now, and find another way out… if there was one.

The commander followed Echo, along with the rest of the group. Echo walked forward, and stopped at a large ice wall. She turned around, and found another. They were trapped. The only thing around them was thick ice.

The commander investigated the small space they had, "This was a well planned trap."

"Did I not tell you it was?" Jasmine stated. She shuddered as a cool breeze drew into the space.

Echo widened her eyes, as she searched for the source of the breeze.

Sebastian paced the area, one hand on his hip, and in the other he had his sword. "That breeze could be anything. It could have creeped through a small opening that none of us could fit through."

Echo turned to face Sebastian, "How did you know that?"

Sebastian smirked, "I know a lot more than I'm given credit for. How do you think one becomes the captain of the elites?"

"If you're a captain, why not bring the whole squad with you?" Echo asked. She turned around before he could reply, and continued searching for an opening.

Sebastian stopped pacing, and turned his gaze to Echo, "Being a captain doesn't mean you rely on your team. Your team relies on you."

Echo did not say anything, as she kept searching, with one thought in mind, 'I need to find a way to get them out… I can't fail them too.'

A few minutes had passed, and the commander was seated on the ground next to his wife. Jasmine was huddled up to him, as she was shivering from the cold.

Sebastian took off his overcoat, and gave it to Jane.

Jane looked at the overcoat, and then at Sebastian, "Aren't you going to be cold?"

"I can survive the cold," Sebastian blurted. He too sat beside her, and leaned his head back on the ice.

Echo was still standing. She kept searching, until she heard a tiny roar. 'What was that?' Her eyes widened as she gripped her sword. Another tiny roar, this time less stronger than the previous.

Sebastian and the commander glanced at Echo.

"I'll check it out," Echo replied, feeling their gazes on her. She stepped towards the side the boulders were, since that's where the roars came from.

Cautiously stepping forward, Echo scanned the area. She took slow, steady steps, until she finally heard a whimper. A tiny white paw was sticking out of the boulders.

Echo was fighting between thoughts of helping whatever the paw belonged to, or to stand still, and be prepared for whatever it was. She finally decided to help, once she saw a second tiny paw. Rushing to the boulders, she bent down, and checked the place where the paws were.