Dedicated to everyone who loves this series!

    Shoutouts to; Kaylan Chapman, Julita Czapska, Favourlove8, Adalee Lightheart, Fara Yusri, Maggierohrer, Delicefleurg1234, and Talitha Schick!!!!

    Thank you all so much!!!

                                Chapter 28: The Secret Plan

    Everyone got a good night's rest that night, but Faye was awakened in the middle of the night by soft footsteps.

    She looked around at the dark cavern, lit by only a few torches.  Her eyes adjusted to the dark light.  Then, her falcon vision took over and she saw the figure sneaking to the exit of the cavern.

    Faye slipped out from under her blanket and shifted to a falcon.  She flew towards the figure quietly and landed on a tree rook sticking out of the wall.  It was still too dark for Faye to make out who it was.

    The figure stared at the wall, as if they were trying to figure out how to 

get out. 

    Faye swooped down and the figure let out a squeal.

    "Abby?  What are you doing?" Faye asked, surprised to the see the girl trying to get out.  

    "I-I . . ." Abby went silent, looking around them as if she was scared someone might hear what she was about to say.

    "Come and tell me outside," Faye said, diving into the stream that trickled underneath the wall.  

    Faye came out on the other side and transformed back to human again.  Abby was soon tossed out after her and the girl got up quickly, "That stream hates me!"

    "Maybe because you aren't a Beast," Faye suggested.

    Abby sighed and sat down on the mossy rock.

    "So, what are you doing?  'Cause if you are trying to escape and tell the Chasers all about us, then you know I will never let you go."

    "Yeah, I know.  I just wanted some fresh air, it's stuffy in that cavern."

    "Hmm, it seems like a storm is coming."

    "Yeah, you didn't figure.  The Chasers are probably super angry now that your queen destroyed all their stuff."

    "No, I meant that there's an actual storm coming," Faye said, pointing to the clouds that were darkening.

    "Oh."

    "But, you're right, whenever they find out where we are, we're in for it."

    "Unless we act first," said a voice behind them.

    They turned to see Queen Thalia coming to sit next to them.

    "Oh, hello," said Abby. "I don't know if you know my name yet."

    "Abby, right?"

    "Yeah, I guess you do then."

    "What did you say first, Thalia?" Faye asked, turning to the queen.

    "We can act first and destroy the army of New Skielie City before they can destroy us.  We just need to sneak into the city.  Faye told me that everything they use uses power.  So if we cut them off from their power then they are helpless, and we can attack them."

    "But we are all still people like you guys," Abby cut in. "If you kill all the regular people then you are no worse than us."

    "I never said we would kill them," Thalia said. "We will help the people 

tear down the unrighteous government that has been controlling them.  For too long we have been asleep, hiding in the shadows as the power of Anoteros has grown stronger.  Now it is time for us to wake up and fight back for our people, but also the people of Anoteros."

    "I agree," Faye said. "Maybe we can run our plan by Denarius - "

    "No, we can't.  If we are to do it, then we need to leave for the city right now," Thalia said quickly. "Besides, Denarius would never let us do it, especially me."

    "What, are you on some sort of restriction?" Abby asked.

    "No, he's just so scared for me.  He thinks that people are going to know I'm a dragon.  But the only people who do know are him, Faye, Cameron, Abraham, and Abby."

    "And me!" squeaked a voice from behind them.

    Dede jumped to where they stood, smiling brightly. "I heard you guys talking.  I'll come with you!"

    "No," Faye said. "You need to tell Denarius where we went in the morning, okay?"

    "Okay," Dede said grumpily.

    "Thalia," Faye said, turning to her. "Can you fly us close to the city so we don't have to walk so far?"

    "Of course," Thalia said happily. "Climb on.  Bye Dede."

    They took off, Abby clinging tightly to Thalia's neck and closing her eyes.  Faye waved to Dede we waved and then disappeared into the stream.

    It wasn't long before the light of New Skielie came into view and Thalia had to drop out of the sky to avoid detection.

    "We need to be careful," Faye said. "They might have put guards in the forest to watch for any of us."

    "We also need to watch out for that storm," Abby said, pointing upward. "It is getting bigger and I think I heard thunder."

 There was a flash from the clouds and a long ripple of thunder immediately afterwards.

    "We need to get into the city as soon as possible," Faye said, walking faster. "People will be going to their homes because of the storm and then we will lose our cover."

    They ran faster and soon reached the metal gate cutting off the city from

the forest.

    Abby and Faye quickly scaled it but Thalia needed more help.  They were all finally over and quickly checked their surroundings.

    Faye noticed a car sitting by the end of the road and Abby ran towards it.  She opened the door, which was unlocked.

    "So many people leave their doors unlocked these days," Abby said as she got into the car.

    "What are you doing?" Faye asked. 

    "Hotwiring it," abby said simply. "My dad taught me how to do it."

    "Oh, that's surprising."

    "What is this tank with wheels?" Thalia asked, staring at the car.

    "Doesn't matter right now," Faye said, opening the backseat door, "Get

in please."

    "Oh, are you sure it's safe?"

    "Yes, I've ridden in a lot of these before.  They're called cars."

    "Hmm, cars.  Strange, but I trust you, Faye."

    Thalia slid into the seat and exclaimed, "Wow!  These are much more comfier than my throne!"

    Abby finished hotwiring the car and the engine started.  "Let's go!" she yelled. "And don't worry, we will return this car later."

    Faye jumped in next to Thalia and Abby hit the gas.  They zoomed forward.  The car was jerked around as Abby made sharp turns.

    "Do you even know how to drive?" Faye asked loudly as she and Thalia were tossed around.

    "Well, I just started learning," Abby confessed, stopping. "Would you like to drive?"

    They quickly changed places and Faye took control, driving much smoother.  They made it into the city unnoticed and Faye headed toward the main power core which sat underneath the city square.

    "Now, we just need to get into one of the sewers and they will lead us there," Faye said, parking the car and getting out.  Suddenly, she heard a cry.

    "Hey!  You!  Stop right now!" someone yelled at her.

    Faye turned to see three Chasers running at her.  She quickly opened the sewers and pushed Abby and Thalia inside. "I will hold them off," she said.  Follow Abby."

    "But what if they capture you?" Thalia asked as the Chasers got closer.

    "If you guys cut the power then I can escape," Faye said, turning into a falcon. "If you go now you can reach the power before they call in reinforcements."

    Abby closed the sewer and Faye turned to face the Chasers.  She leapt and dodged their Electric Rods.  But the strong winds of the storm pushed against her and she was thrown to the street.  A hand squeezed around her neck and a Chaser picked her up.  "Lock this Beast in a cage," he said gruffly. "The mayor will want to see her.  I think she is the Spring girl."

                        Chapter 29: Trek Through the Forest

    Cameron awoke to an angry Denarius shaking him awake.

    "W-What are you doing?" he asked, sitting up.

    "We need to go now.  Faye, Thalia, and your girlfriend have all run away to New Skielie to try and cut their power," Denarius said quickly.

    "Why?"

    "Don't ask me!  Just get up like I told you!"

    Denarius walked off and Cameron saw Abraham slouching against a wall. "Great, "Cameron said to himself. "He's coming too."

    He got up and ran over to Abraham. "Who else is going?" he asked.

    "Just us," Abraham said. "And Denarius."

    "But what if we are captured, then we won't stand a chance."

    "He said that me and him can probably outrun the Chasers."

    "And me?"

    Abraham chuckled, "He said you're expendable."  He began laughing loudly.

    "Hey!" Denarius yelled as he strode over to them. "There is nothing to be laughing about so shut up.  Now you two can go wait outside while I quickly grab one more thing."

    "Ugh, I have no idea why Faye likes that guy," Abraham said once Denarius was out of earshot.

    "Me neither," Cameron sighed. "Come on, let's go outside."

    "Wait!" squeaked Dede's voice. "I am so coming with you guys!"

    "Oh no, not this psycho again," Abraham muttered.

    "I heard that," Dede said. "And it's rude to call people psychos."

    "Oh, I'm so sorry," Abraham joked.

    "Besides, I've seen how terribly you three guys get along.  I think you will need a good therapist along the way."

    "Again with the therapy?" Cameron asked. "We're fine."

    "Fine, I'll ask the captain."

    Dede sauntered off and Abraham said, "If she comes then I am going to lose my mind."

    They walked to the stream and Abraham went first, claiming he knew exactly what to do.  He stepped in the stream and just stood there.

    Cameron snickered and asked, "What the heck are you doing?"

    "I should be going by now," Abraham said, still standing there.

    "Try laying down in the water," Cameron suggested.

    Abraham scoffed, but followed his directions.  He laid in the stream and he immediately disappeared.

    Cameron followed and met Abraham on the other side.  They sat on a rock to wait for Denarius.

    "Cameron," Abraham started after a little while. "Do you really like Abby?"

    "Uh, my feelings are none of your business," Cameron responded.

    "Well, I was just asking because she seems like she likes you, but you don't act like it."

    "No, I guess my feelings for Abby aren't really that strong anymore.  But I still want her to be safe and stuff."

    "Then you do like my sister!  I knew it!"

    "Who cares anymore," Cameron sighed. "She's with Denarius now.  But I don't know if I will ever find another girl that I like as much as I liked Faye."

    "That's sad, but I don't really care."

    "I do," said Dede, scaring both of them.

    "God!  You're quiet!" Abraham yelled.

    "Yeah, I know.  But, I asked Denarius and he said I could come and be a lookout for you guys!"

    "Great," muttered Abraham.

    "Anyways," Dede said, turning to Cameron. "I heard talk of someone's feelings?  Do you actually like Faye that much?"

    "Yeah," Cameron admitted. 

    "Maybe she will like you if you tell her," Dede suggested.

    "No, she already likes Denarius."

    "Captain Denarius and Faye?  No, they don't seem very compatible.  In fact, I thought that the captain liked the queen more."

    "What?"

    "Yeah, he's always worried about her, plus they grew up together."

    "What are you guys talking about?" Denarius asked as he walked up to them. "Whatever it is, you need to stop talking and start walking."

    "Okay," Dede said enthusiastically. "Out into the unknown!"

    "Actually it is not the unknown, because i know every part of this forest," Denarius said simply.

    "Yeah, well, 'Out into the unknown' sounds better than 'Out into the forest'," Dede pointed out.

    "She has a point," Cameron agreed.

    "Whatever," said Denarius. "Here, each of you get a club.  Just in case we meet anyone."

    "Why do you get the daggers?" Abraham asked, pointing to the belt of knives around Denarius's waist.

    "Because I am not idiotic or untrained," the captain said.

    "I don't get anything!" Dede yelled.

    "Dede," Denarius sighed. "You would probably knock one of us out."

    "True."

    They started off and began the steep climb down the mountain.

    "Ugh," said Dede as she walked down the rocks cautiously in her possum form. "It was much easier getting here on the back of the queen."

    "Yep," Cameron agreed. "This is really starting to hurt my arms.  I wish I could turn into an animal."

    "To bad for you," Abraham laughed, descending the mountain with ease. "I do a hundred sit-ups every day and fifty push-ups.  You need to work on your upper-body strength, Cameron."

    They finally reached the bottom where Denarius was waiting impatiently for them.  Then they began their long trek through the forest, Denarius leading the way.

    Soon, they were all quite weary and took a short break.

    "I have never walked so long in my life!" Dede yelled out. "And this heat is ridiculous!"

    "It's only sixty-five," Abraham said, pulling out his phone to check.

    Cameron saw Denarius stare at the phone and then cross his arms.  Cameron started to laugh, "Oh, Abraham, you're in for it now!"

    "What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Abraham asked.

    "How long have you had that thing?" Denarius asked, crossing his arms.

    "Uhh, since I was fifteen?"

    "There is no technology allowed in the forest.  We can't trust you not to rat us out."

    "Rat you out?  Why would I do that?"