The River to Hell

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 85475

The wave sailed towards them, uncontrollable and unstoppable.

"Get to higher ground!!" screamed Astra.

The wave smashed into their island, ripping it from whatever mooring had held it in place. The women struggled to maintain their footing as the island was propelled down the molten river, slowly sinking as it did. In a few minutes, they would have nothing left to stand on. Astra watched bitterly as the ledge she had hoped to reach vanished from view.

"Elaine, you have to focus." Astra yelled, grabbing the trembling sorceresse' hands. "You don't have the ring any more, but you still have your own magic. And what about the dragon's flame you got from Minestus?

Elaine shook her head tearfully. "Without the ring, I can't control the flame. I'm not strong enough. It will consume me, consume us both. I can feel it, Astra. It's burning me already. And that's ALL I can feel. I can't feel my own magic at all anymore. It's as though that damned ring has drained me of it." She sank to her knees, defeated.

The island continued to disappear beneath the lava. Astra hauled Elaine to her feet and dragged her towards the center. She looked ahead, left, right, anywhere for a stable point they could jump to. A single jagged outcropping in the center of the "river" looked to be their only option. "Lean left!" she screamed. Elaine managed to do so, and together they managed to alter the course of the island enough so that it impacted the outcropping. Astra had fewer than 10 seconds to practically drag Elaine across to safety before the island they had stood upon broke and was finally claimed by the searing lava below.

"Safety" being a relative term, of course. They had no way off this new platform, and if it were to break free, they would surely sink to their deaths. It was also hotter, darker harder to breathe. They might burn or suffocate even if the lava didn't claim them.

Just then, the world went white. Astra thought she could feel, impossibly, a frigid breeze. Is this what it is...to die?

  1. Astra's vision cleared, and she and Elaine found themselves back in Belboz's chamber. A tearful Adele in a blood soaked gown looked back at them. "Forgive me." she wept.
  2. Astra and Elaine found themselves at the snowy peak of the Shreken's highest point. An ethereal, beautiful woman regarded them. "Keeper of flame of Minestus, and her guardian. I am Euaristus. We have much to discuss."
  3. Back on the road to Pellgar...

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Xavier

1/27/2009 4:26:42 AM

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