The Missing by Kate O'Hearn

Author:Kate O'Hearn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2020-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

23

IT SEEMED AN ETERNITY AS they journeyed to Xanadu. As the time passed, Astraea grew weary. Leaning forward on Zephyr’s neck, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

She awoke with a jolt and felt the ground beneath her moving. When she opened her eyes, Astraea discovered that it wasn’t the ground that was moving; it was Zephyr. She was slipping and sliding as she flapped her wings to keep her balance.

“Whoa, whoa!” Zephyr cried, trying to stay upright. “What’s happening here?”

Jake fell to the ground and was trying to stand up while Tryn was sliding across the black surface on his backside. The two centaurs were also struggling to stay on their hooves. Render finally fell and slid into Darek, knocking him to the ground beside him.

Pegasus was standing still and watching them with a mirthful twinkle in his eye. “Everyone, be careful; the glass lake can be a bit slippery.…”

“A bit slippery!” Darek cried. “I’ve never felt anything like it!”

“Just stand still and do not fight it. If you must fall, then let yourself fall,” Pegasus called.

Zephyr finally regained her balance and stood still with her four legs splayed. Her wings quivered as she tried to keep her balance. “What is this?”

“I told you, it is the remnants of the Xan when they released themselves to the universe. This is very fine glass, but it can be as slippery as ice.”

“What’s ice?” Astraea asked.

“It’s frozen water,” Tryn called as he carefully climbed to his feet. “My dad told me about it, but I’ve never seen it before.”

“Yeah,” Jake called, still trying to stand up. “This is exactly like ice. I’d be better if I had my skates. Ice and shoes never mix.”

Behind them the Shadow Titans were also sprawled on the ground. Cylus was down among them. When he hit the black glass, they all heard him grunt. As Darek made his way over, Cylus opened his eyes. “What’s happening?”

“He’s awake!” Darek cheered. “Everyone, Cylus is awake!”

There were loud cheers from everyone on the slippery glass. Cylus raised his head. “Where are we?”

“We’re on Xanadu,” Tryn said as he slid over to Cylus. He knelt down beside him. “You’ve been badly wounded. I have some ambrosia. I need you to eat it.”

“I—I don’t remember…” When his eyes landed on the Shadow Titans, he screamed and flailed his hooves, trying to get away.

“Cylus, calm yourself,” Pegasus called as he treaded over. “I do not care for the Shadow Titans, either, but these are under our control. Calm yourself or you will reopen your wounds.”

Cylus looked from Pegasus over to Zephyr and back to Pegasus again. “Wow, you two really do look alike!”

Astraea felt Zephyr tense at the comment. She leaned forward and stroked her neck. “It’s all right.”

Pegasus turned and looked at them. There was a twinkle of mirth in his eyes, but he said nothing about it. Instead, he said to Cylus, “We are taking you to Arious to be cared for.”

“I’m fine,” Cylus said, though there was no strength in it.

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