Chapter 25: Evacuation

    "Everyone evacuate the village!" Denarius yelled above the screaming crowds. "Change into your animal forms so it is harder for the Chasers to spot you!"

    Everyone obeyed and Faye was soon surrounded by a flurry of animals dashing off, digging into the ground, taking off to the skies.

    "You all know where to meet!" Denarius finished as he turned form and became his black wolf.

    Faye turned herself and flew into the sky. 

    "Stay low so they can't shoot you," Denarius said, then he stopped.

    "Wait, Thalia!" He ran back inside the house and Faye followed, turning back human as she entered.

    They found Thalia in her room, staring around at the ceiling. "What's going on?" she asked.

    "We are under attack," Denarius said, grabbing her hand. "Do you have the Gemstone?"

    "Yes," Thalia said, holding up the box.

    "Then let's get to safety."

    All three of them ran out of the house and back into the chaos. But the village was now almost empty because everyone had heeded Denarius.  

    Denarius and Faye changed to their animals and Faye flew up as Denarius ran alongside Thalia who couldn't transform.

    Faye kept flying and looked behind her.  But Denarius and Thalia weren't there.  She looked father back and saw that they had stopped.  They seemed to be fighting.

    Faye flew back to them and asked, "What's the matter?"

    "Just let me change, Denarius," Thalia said angrily. "My dragon can destroy the Chasers, and there's no one to even see me."

    "I can't let you," Denarius fought. "You don't understand the risks."

    "I do, and you can't control me anymore!"

    Thalia closed her eyes and her form shifted.  Her arms and legs grew longer, scales covering them.  Her hands stretched into claws and horns shot from her head.

    Faye stared up at the majestic purple dragon. 

    "Thalia," Denarius said. "Just calm down and change back."

    "No," Thalia said quickly, sweeping her massive tail across the ground. "This is my home, my village.  I want the Chasers to feel the pain I felt once I lost my parents, and how I feel now."

    She let out a mighty roar and it seemed like all of nature stood still.  Thalia dropped the box holding the Gemstone of Nature into Faye's hands before she took to the sky, beating her wings up and down.

    There was a yell from the Chasers' side and suddenly all their weapons were aimed at Thalia.  But the dragon dived and landed right in front of them, their bullets not doing anything to her.

    "No wonder everyone was so scared of the dragons," Faye said under her breath. "They're indestructible."

    "But they are also quite foolish once they are in their dragon form," Denarius said having heard Faye. "And foolish is dangerous.  Let's go, Faye."

    "But what about Thalia?"

    "She knows where we will be.  But I need to be there to calm all of the villagers down.  And I can carry the box for you."

    He changed into his wolf form, fitted the box in his mouth, and dashed into the forest.  Faye followed.  She could still hear the angry roars of Queen Thalia as she destroyed the Chasers.  It was very strange to see the timid, jumpy queen so angry and destructive.  Denarius was right, she was very dangerous.  And now Faye understood why he wanted to keep her covered up.  'Cause if the villagers saw her like that, they would be 

terrified and might even rebel against her.

    Suddenly, Denarius took a sharp turn toward one of the large mountains encasing the valley.  Faye followed and dived to get closer to him.

    They approached a large waterfall running down the mountain.  The water landed in a small pool that flowed over the rest of the mountain.  As Faye got closer she saw that there was a cave behind the pool of water.  

    Denarius finished climbing the mountain and turned human as he climbed past the waterfall and into the dark cave.

    Faye followed and heard voices at the very back of the cave.

    "It's Captain Denarius!" one yelled and the large group of animals rushed forward.

    "Everything is safe now," Denarius said, raising his hands to silence 

them. "You can all turn back."

    The animals disappeared and villagers took their place.

    "Where is the Queen?" a small woman asked.

    "She is safe right now," Denarius said. "She will join us later though.  Now, we are not completely safe yet."

    Denarius walked through the crowd and to the end of the cave.  There were swirling patterns circling a spot in the wall which looked like it held something.

   He pulled a key out of his sleeve and Faye guessed that he also had a key to the box.  Denarius unlocked the box and pulled out the Gemstone of Nature.  he pressed it into the wall and it glowed brightly.

    Suddenly, water began trickling from the pool under the waterfall 

toward the spot where they all stood.  It slipped underneath the cave wall and Denarius took the stone back and locked it safely in the box.  Then he motioned for them all to follow him as he walked back to the waterfall.  he stood underneath it and vanished.

    Faye was next and she stood underneath.  She shrunk and slipped away with the water and followed the stream of water.  It slipped under the cave wall and brought her with it.

    Faye was then shot up onto dry land by the water.  She got up and looked around her.  Her and Denarius stood in a large cavern.  Along the walls small caves were carved out for living in.  There was a large lake in the middle filled with fish and freshwater.  Even some strange trees grew around the walls, their branches curling and bright orange flowers blooming

from them.

    More villagers began popping out of the water and staring awestruck at their surroundings.

    Faye walked to Denarius and asked, "What is this place?"

    "This place is as old as the Gemstone of Nature is.  In fact, it's older.  This was where the first Beasts were born," Denarius said.  he then turned to the villagers and asked, "Who wants to hear a story?"

    They all gathered around him and he began, "Before this America was ever overrun by Anoteros, the Beasts lived lives of peace and safety.  But that wasn't because of the Gemstone.  It was because of the Master.  He protected them with his powers and healed them once they were sick or wounded.  Everyone looked up to him and they wanted to make him their

king.  But he would always humbly refuse.  He told them that he didn't want to be served, but that he found joy and contentment in serving others.  But another group of people, the ones who could change into dragons, didn't like the Master.  They believed that getting what you wanted was power and serving others was weakness.  They tried to overthrow the Master, but before they were successful, Anoteros came into the scene and killed all the dragons.  The old and dying Master used the rest of his powers to create the Gemstone of Nature.  He entrusted it to Garrison, who he made the king.  The family of Garrison has continued to rule till our present ruler, Queen Thalia, Garrison's great-great-great-granddaughter."

    "Wow," Faye breathed. "Then what is this place?"

    "This was where the Master lived," Denarius explained, and where the 

Gemstone was formed."

    Denarius got up and announced, "And this is where we will be staying for a while.  So every family gets a cave.  But this place hasn't been used in years so you might want to clean out your cave before setting up home in there."

    The crowds dispersed and Faye went to Denarius to ask him one last question. "How did Thalia get her animal if all of the other dragons were killed?" she whispered.

    "Garrison and his wife were dragons, but they never revealed themselves," Denarius said quietly. "It has continued like that forever.  But I am afraid that Thalia may be the last dragon."

                         Chapter 26: Prisoners of Anoteros

    Cameron, Abby, and Abraham were all secured with tight restraints and thrown into the back of a government van.  Abby kept trying to explain that she shouldn't be there but the guard just closed and locked the van.

    "This is a mess!" Abby yelled and then slumped against the wall.

    "I'm so sorry, Abby," Cameron said. "This is why I didn't want you to come.  None of us should have gone."

    "Hey, it's okay, Cam," Abby sighed. "My parents can get us out of this."

    "But my dad's gonna be furious," Abraham said, roughly kicking the wall. "Not to mention my commander."

    They suddenly heard rough voices outside and Cameron leaned to the walls of the van to hear better.

    "Follow the falcon, there's no doubt it was a Beast.  Disgusting vermin," said a sharp voice.

    "Commander!" yelled a second voice as someone walked up to the van. "I found her watching us.  She's a Beast, do you want me to kill her?"

    "Hmm . . . no.  She may hold information.  If not, then we can kill her later.  Throw her in with the others."

    The doors to the van unlocked and a guard threw in a skinny, mousy-haired girl.  The door locked again and Cameron turned on the light inside the van to see the newcomer better.

    "Hey!  Throwing people's not nice!" she yelled, jumping to her feet and 

kicking the door. "You need THERAPY!"

    "Okay, calm down," Abby said, backing away from the girl. 

    "Oh, people?" The girl turned around swiftly, put a smile on her face and sat criss-cross. "Sorry you had to see that.  I am learning to control my anger.  Though I only get angry in certain situations.  My name is Donnie Donna Fite.  My birthday is July 28th and I am nineteen.  And you guys can call me Dede!"

    "Ooookay," Abraham said from his corner. "You seem like a way-over-friendly-person."

    "Yeah, I am sorta like that 'cause I don't have many friends.  Well, my only friend is this girl named Faye Spring.  I helped her through emotional distress."

    "Wait!  You know my sister!" Abraham exclaimed, standing up and bumping his head on the van ceiling, "OW!"

    "Yes, she needed therapy.  And you look like you need some too."

    "What on earth would faye need therapy about?" Cameron asked.

    "There was this boy that she was angry with, or something," Dede said. "I can't remember his name.  It was a 'C' I'm pretty sure.  Maybe Charlie, Cayden, Camden, CAMERON!"

    "She was talking about me?" Cameron asked.

    "You're Cameron?  I thought she liked a stronger, less weak guy."

    Cameron snorted and Abby said, "He is perfect just the way he is." She put a hand on Cameron's shoulder and smiled at him.

    "Do you two like each other?" Dede asked.

    "Yes," Abby answered. "We dated at our old school."

    "Oh, no wonder Faye was so mad.  It sounded like she really likes Cameron."

    Abby started laughing. "Maybe, but now she knows that me and Cam are together.  Besides, she is a jerk.  She just left without even helping us."

    "So you called the Chasers on her?" Cameron said, turning to Abby with an unhappy expression."

    "What?  She completely left us, though you asked her to help.  Besides, she also got angry at us once we were in the bunker!  I honestly don't even know what her problem is."

    "Faye has lost everything! Okay!"Cameron yelled suddenly, making everyone jump and Abby pull away from him.

    "Okay, it sounds like someone needs a therapist," Dede said softly. "Don't worry Cameron, you can tell me your problems."

    "Listen, everyone," Cameron continued. "Faye used to believe in Anoteros and everything they taught us.  But ever since finding out she was a Beast, everything has changed.  She had a family, but now she can't see them.  She has to make new friends, and she only pushes her old ones away because she fears they won't understand."

    "Well, if what Faye said was true about me, then I guess I'm a Beast too," Abraham said moodily.

    "It is not bad to be one of us!" Dede said defiantly. "It is a gift.  Your sister understand better than you do."

    Abraham rolled his eyes and Abby asked, "But, Cam, what do you 

believe now?  Anoteros or the Beasts?"

    "I . . . I don't rely on any of them right now.  But I do know that the Beasts aren't as bad in real life.  In fact, they usually stay in their human form, not roaming around the forest, searching for humans to eat.  They are quite like us, but Anoteros has made us think differently, blinding us to the truth."

    There was silence.  Then Abby said, "How do you know all of this? About the Beast, I mean."

    "Because I went to their village with Faye.  I was there for a while, and I learned a lot."

    Abraham and Abby gasped. "You didn't tell me that!" Abraham said, pointing his finger at Cameron. "I knew you were lying."

    Suddenly, there was a loud crash from outside, that made the van rock back a forth.

    "What was that?" Abby asked fearfully.

    "It sounded like a tree fell over," Cameron said, standing up and making sure to bend his head so he didn't bump it.

    Another crash shook the van, and after this one came a loud roar.

    "Ahhh!" Abby and Dede both screamed.  Heavy feet landed on the ground next to the van and they could hear a long growl.

    "Everyone be quiet," Dede said. "Maybe whatever that is will pass over us."

    "This feels an awful lot like Jurassic Park," Abraham commented.

    "I was just about to say the same thing," Abby said.

    "This is the part where we are stuck and our only hope is to be quiet as possible.  But it doesn't work and the dinosaur tears the van in half to eat us whole."

    "I don't know what a dinosaur is, but it sounds terrifying!" Dede squeaked, backing to a wall.

    There was suddenly a big bang on the door of the van.  Something hard was hitting it, trying to get inside.  Abby squeaked and they all ran to the back of the van.  The hinges to the door snapped and it was torn off the van.

    "I'm too young to die, or to be eaten by a dinosaur!" Abraham yelled.

    "What's a dinosaur?" asked a voice that was familiar only to Cameron.

    "Queen Thalia?" Cameron asked.  "What?"