Andrew’s brow furrowed. If he had not just heard the voice in his head again, he would not have believed it. “It said, ‘Come find me.’ Then it showed me this tiny hole at the base of the giant tree.”
Stepping away from the wall, Raptor snorted. “The one in Nagun’s crown has to be a fake.” She crossed her arms and then uncrossed them again, letting them hang at her side.
“She is right: I am the real one.” The voice echoed clear as day in Andrew’s mind.
“It’s talking to me again,” Andrew said, biting his lip and trying to process what it meant. He hoped he had not gone crazy.
The flap flew open and four warriors stepped in.
Raptor tensed at their appearance, her hands clenching into fists.
The voice returned. “They will obey you. Tell them to take you to the ground.”
“Raptor, wait!” Andrew said, waving a hand at her. “Take … take us to the ground,” he stammered to the warriors.
The warriors bowed to him. One of them said something he could not understand.
Raptor gawked at him, but then her mouth closed, and she pressed her lips together into a thin line.
“What did she say?” Andrew asked.
“Roughly? Yes, sir,” Raptor whispered. She relaxed her stance but her jaw tightened.
A growing sense of unease filled him as Andrew shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“It is only a formality. Do not be concerned,” the voice said.
The warriors led Andrew and Raptor out of the pit and through the hallway, taking them outside. As they walked, the guards standing in the hallway bowed low to them.
Andrew avoided their submissive gestures by staring up at the ceiling. His face became warm, and he tried to ignore them. At the end of the hall, they entered a basket and started the slow descent to the ground. He noticed Raptor clenching and unclenching a fist at her side, but her expression remained blank.
Andrew fidgeted. He leaned over to Raptor and whispered, “I don’t know what to do.”
“Do what it tells you,” Raptor said.
“Yes, she understands. She knows this will make you more powerful, a better Keeper. That is what you want, is it not?” the voice spoke in Andrew’s mind.
Silently agreeing, he knew he could help the Keepers more if he was a Quester.
Andrew picked at the edge of the basket, trying not to look down. In the distance, he could see the orange sun hanging just over the horizon. He did not stare at it for long.
The Stone’s call pulled on him the closer they came to the ground. “Is this a good idea?” he asked Raptor. “I mean, what about that fight with Nagun?”
She turned to him. “I like this plan better. Fighting Nagun would be risky.” Stepping up beside Andrew, she stared out across the forest. “You will be the Quester of Life. Imagine just how powerful you will become.”
“My thoughts exactly.” He envisioned himself being the ruler of a city of trees, basking in the power he drew from them.
Raptor set her hands on the edge of the basket, but she kept her eyes on Andrew.
A quick glimpse of the ground revealed they still had a ways to go before they reached it. His heart skipped a beat, and he took a step back from the edge.
Eventually the basket hit the forest floor. Andrew stepped out first, glad to stand on solid ground again.
The voice spoke in his mind with more urgency. “Tell them to leave.”
“Go away,” he told the warriors. The four of them bowed to him and then reentered the basket. They retreated into the canopy.
Raptor watched the warrior women as they rose higher into the air. She turned back to Andrew and smiled at him. “Lead on.”
He walked around the base of the tree until he felt a compulsion to stop. Located at the base of the tree was a small hole. Unlike his dream, he could not just float into it. He leaned down to reach into it instead.
Touching him on the shoulder, Raptor said, “I’ll do it. Shouldn’t stick your hand into holes you can’t see into.”
Andrew took a step back, motioning slightly toward the tree.
The voice spoke again. “You should do it yourself.”
“Trust her,” he thought.
Raptor crouched down near the hole. As she did, her form changed into a large rat. It was white with a black hood and a black stripe down its back. This time, the change happened a lot faster than when she had become the horse or the gorilla.
The rat scurried into the hole.
Wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans, Andrew waited in silence. Another minute passed when suddenly a pathetic screeching sound came from the hole. The voice boomed in his mind, “It lies! It is trying to hurt me! You must kill it. Take control and kill it.”
Andrew knelt down near the hole and put his hands on the tree. A sensation of a heavy weight sunk down on his shoulders. He closed his eyes as another feeling overcame him—information flooding into his mind. The tree extended for hundreds of miles in all directions. Life covered every surface of its platform. He could sense each organism touching the tree. From the smallest to the largest, he could feel everything.
Before he could dwell on it much longer, his mind dragged him back to the present and to the hole in front of him. He peered into it. At the end of a long tunnel filled with roots rested a brilliant green emerald. Just an inch in front of it, a rat struggled against the roots, gnawing on one. The root snapped in its teeth, and the rat crept a little bit closer to the Stone. It chewed on another root.
Andrew clenched his fists, outraged that the rat would harm the majestic tree. The roots tightened around the rat, and it shrieked. The voice in his mind cheered, “Kill it, kill it! Become what you are meant to be.”
“I’m supposed to be a Keeper,” Andrew thought. A memory flickered across his mind, reminding him the rat was Raptor. What was he doing? He unclenched his fists, and the roots untangled.
The rat leapt toward the emerald and then wriggled behind it. Raptor pushed the Stone with her nose and paws, making her way toward the exit of the tunnel.
The voice wailed in Andrew’s mind, “Stop, stop! You must not let it take me. It won’t let you have me.”
“Yes, she will,” Andrew thought.
“I will take care of it myself, foolish creature!” the voice responded. The roots mobilized again. They latched themselves around Raptor and the Stone.
Andrew fought back. He tried to wrench control of the roots from the Stone and force them to relax. The Stone shrugged off his efforts. It felt like he was trying to knock down a brick wall by throwing a tennis ball at it. The roots continued to tighten.
The rat squealed, its eyeballs bulging out of its skull.
Andrew quickly thought through how he could weaken the tree. Plants need water for their roots to grow. He scanned the area around the roots, feeling the different connections with his mind. A small cluster of them drew water from an underground pool not far below the surface. He focused on them instead and strangled off the connection. Then he drew the water away, causing the roots around the rat to shrivel.
Out of the hole tumbled the emerald. Just behind it, came the rat.
Andrew removed his hands from the tree and went to pick up the Stone.
The sharp teeth of the rat sunk into his hand.
Andrew yelped and jerked his hand away. “What did you do that for?”
Returning to her human form, Raptor crouched on the ground between the Stone and Andrew. She snarled, “Keep away from it.”
“Geeze, all right, but did you have to bite me?” He pressed at the wound, causing a few drops of blood to ooze out. It was not deep, but it stung like a paper cut.
Raptor grabbed the Stone off the ground and slipped it into the pocket of her pants. Taking ahold of Andrew by the arm, her face contorted into a sneer, and her eyes narrowed.
“Has it said anything to you?” Her tone tainted with anger, she gazed firmly at him.
Andrew leaned away from her. �
�Not recently. What’s the matter?”
“Good.” She slowly released him. “It’s mad at you for betraying it.”
“But, I didn—” Andrew stammered, taking a step back.
Raptor pointed a finger in Andrew’s face. “Oh, yes, you did. You led me right to it. Once I touched it, it knew we were here to take it. Then you stopped it from trying to kill me.”
He had not meant to betray the Stone, he just did not want her to die. “Well, maybe if you give it to me, I can make it understand.”
“You must never touch this Stone. Not for the rest of your life.” Her hand sliced through the air, eliminating any doubt about how she felt.
Perplexed, Andrew asked, “I would become a Quester though, wouldn’t I?”
Letting out a slow, calming breath, Raptor said, “Yes.”
“But aren’t you one? Wasn’t Bringer? You gave me the Stone of Fire,” Andrew protested, throwing his hands up.
“This Stone is different. It’s awake; it’s sentient. My Stone and the Stone of Fire are dormant, so they aren’t as dangerous. The Stone of Life would never let you be both a Keeper and a Quester.”
“You said this was a good idea.” Andrew swept a hand over his head, wondering where things had gone wrong between him and Raptor.
“No, I didn’t. I told you to imagine how powerful you would become. I appealed to your ego.”
Andrew cringed. He did not want to admit she was right. “I can control it.”
Raptor snorted a laugh. “You need to listen to me. No matter what it promises, no matter what it says, you must never touch this Stone. You will lose yourself to it, and it will take over your mind and your body.”
“I can make it understand.” Andrew felt the Stone belonged to him; it had chosen him.
“These Stones can’t be reasoned with,” Raptor said, her voice rising. “They aren’t people; they have limited emotions, and are single-minded.” She flicked a hand out. “Remember Arachnid? That was the Quester Stone talking to us. His Stone destroyed him. You might control it at first, but eventually it would break you.”
The earth under them groaned and burst open as a giant root ripped itself free from the soil. It swung itself at Raptor and Andrew.
Andrew backed away several steps and then turned, running out of its reach. Shifting toward Raptor, the root tried to slam itself down on her. She leapt of the way. It swept across the ground toward her, taking her legs out from under her and sending her tumbling. There was a grunt, and she disappeared into the ferns covering the ground. The root lifted upwards and brought itself down at full force right over Raptor.
Andrew yelled.
The root came down with a heavy thud, sending up a cloud of dirt and leaves. It peeled itself off the ground, leaving a muddy trench behind. Andrew expected to see Raptor’s body in the trench, but it lay empty. Andrew started to run back but stopped when he saw a flash of movement.
A small bird with pale blue feathers flew up and over the root, chirping harshly as it went. The root tried to swat at the bird, but it nimbly flew out of range. Making its way over to Andrew, it landed among the purple plants near him.
The bird transformed into Raptor, crouching low on the ground.
Andrew’s brows shot up, questioning how she had managed to survive.
Raptor stood up. “No time! Nagun’s not the Quester. The tree is.” She grabbed Andrew by the arm and ran with him. “Can you get control of the tree?”
“I don’t know how.”
Raptor chanced a glance behind them. Pulling Andrew to a halt, she said, “Settle down and focus, just like before, but instead of information, you want to manipulate it to your will.”
Andrew turned and faced the tree, trying to swallow his fear for a few seconds. The root that had attacked them could not reach them. It repeatedly slammed the ground in frustration. Andrew could feel the anger pouring off the tree and feeding out to the roots under them. He focused on the closest roots and tried to strangle off the water.
Nothing happened. Water pumped into the roots, giving them the strength they needed to push their way up from deep underground. Another root near them would erupt in a few more seconds.
Raptor’s words echoed in his mind. “You will lose.”
“I-I can’t. It’s too powerful,” Andrew stammered.
“Focus! What can you tell me?”
Andrew swallowed. “Run. Run away.”
The dirt shivered and a long, whip-like root emerged. The root lashed out and landed on Andrew’s shoulder. It coiled around his arm, tightened down, and tried to pull him backwards to the ground. Raptor grabbed him around the waist, keeping him upright, and with her free hand, seized the root. A hard yank gave Andrew some slack, but the root compensated, throwing the loose coil around his neck.
Raptor pulled out her gun, pressed it into a meaty part of the root, and pulled the trigger. The root splintered apart, sending chunks of wet pulp everywhere.
The blast was deafening, but Andrew pulled himself free. He threw the limp root to the ground.
“Keep talking,” Raptor said. She pulled him into a run again, keeping a hand on his back. “A portal takes a few seconds to form, and I want no part of this tree in the base. So you need to tell me when it’s safe.”
A terrible rumble shook the ground, causing them to stumble. Andrew grabbed hold of Raptor’s arm and braced himself against her.
“It takes time for the roots to emerge,” Andrew said. “We should leave, now.” The tree was preparing a massive attack. Dozens of roots forced their way upwards toward them. It amazed him how the information popped into his head when he needed it.
An arrow whizzed by, sticking into the ground just a few feet away from Andrew.
Dozens of baskets descended from the treetops. Inside of each of them, several warrior women waited. They leaned over the wicker, sending arrows raining down, but they missed, the arrows falling short of their targets.
“Mouse. Portal us!” Raptor yelled as she touched her ear. She put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. The delay lasted a few moments before he felt a small electrical tingle pass through him. They vanished from the forest with a faint popping sound.
Chapter Seventeen
Andrew breathed a sigh of relief as he and Raptor stood in the teleport room. A few seconds longer and the full strength of the tree would have unearthed itself.
Raptor pulled the Quester Stone of Life out of her pocket. “Stupid tree,” she muttered. To Andrew, she asked, “Are you all right?”
Putting his hand to his forehead, Andrew said, “I’m …” he started, “I’m sorry. I should have trusted you.”
He knew Raptor had tried to protect him, not hurt him. She had good reason to react the way she had. Quester Stones were treacherous. Disappointed in himself for having doubted her intentions, he hung his head. She had put herself between him and harm’s way several times already.
“I don’t want that Stone anymore,” Andrew said, glimpsing the emerald in her hand.
“You sure? The power to create life isn’t a good idea anymore?” She held it up in the air, giving it a wiggle.
In a firm tone, he said, “I’m sure. All of a sudden, weariness came over him, causing him to yawn.
“You need to get some sleep.” Raptor slipped the Stone into her pocket again.
“Just a little, then I’ll be ready to go again.”
Raptor grinned at him. “We don’t have a room ready for you, but I’ll set you up in Gadget’s room since I know she’s not here. Are you hungry?”
“Not really.”
“I didn’t expect so. That sandwich you had a few hours ago is meant to provide you with more calories and nutrients in a smaller package. You won’t be hungry for a while longer.”
“Anything you can do about being tired?” He felt that he could lie down on the floor and fall asleep right there.
Raptor laughed. “Just let you sleep.” She walked out of the teleportation room and took a right.
&
nbsp; “Any word on Christine?” he called out as he trailed behind her.
“No, I’m afraid not. It could be awhile, and we have time.”
“You’ll wake me up the second you find her?”
“I will.” Raptor turned to walk backwards for a few steps, giving him a reassuring smile. “The moment I know anything, I’ll come get you.”
Andrew glanced around as they passed a few doors. “What are you going to do?”
“I have to go to the Arctic to get the Stone of Malice.”
“Sounds cold,” Andrew said, imagining himself bundled up in bed while she trekked through the snow.
“Deadly cold, and it’s winter there. It should be boring otherwise.” Raptor entered a hallway with several doors down it. She went to the first on the right and stepped inside the room.
The room was laid out similar to Raptor’s. A bed rested against the near wall, next to the door. Sitting on the desk was a number of tools, circuit boards, and the pieces of a small metal box. Pinned to the wall next to the desk were technical drawings, detailing out how various things fit together, including spacing and multiple viewpoints of the same object. Andrew did not recognize any of the devices, but the drawings were beautiful in their precision and attention to detail.
Raptor picked up a few pieces of equipment sitting on the bed and moved them to the desk. “Don’t touch anything in here. Gadget has everything laid out just so.”
“You said she’s not here though?” He had met all the people that had attended the meeting.
“If you recall, a communication satellite malfunctioned. Gadget and Selena went to check on it. It’ll be awhile before they are back.”
Andrew sat down on the bed and bounced on it once. It was firmer than he liked, but he felt too weary to care. “Oh, right. Uh, can I go take a bath?” He felt uncomfortable sleeping in someone else’s bed covered in sweat and grime.
“Do you remember where the bathroom is?”
“Yeah,” Andrew said through a yawn. He forced himself to stand up, even though he would have rather laid his head down on the pillow. He followed Raptor out of the room and down the hallway.
Stone of Power (Keepers of Earth Book 1) Page 22