10
Deja vu struck me as the sky became my view forward. As before, Shade’s dark shape lunged over the side after me, but what followed him was different. Two thin shadows, the staffs of our foes, followed him over the edge and struck him in the back just as his leathery wings began to sprout. The force of the blows knocked him into a tumble.
There would be no saving this time. I twisted around and shut my eyes seconds before I hit the water. The shock of the cold liquid meant I blacked out.
I don’t know how long I drifted in the dimly lit and cold waters of the pond. The surface was far above me, and around me were large boulders stacked one on top of the other. Faint visions came to me of culverts in between those rocks, and a slight tug that drew me closer to them.
Strong arms
