Teran recognized the squirrel to be Dalmen right away. "Dalmen!"
"Teran." The old squirrel bowed.
"Who are these two?" Shinx gestured at the Rathen and Deerian that stood behind him.
"They are the representatives of their villages." Dalmen explained.
"Where are the children?" It was Teran's turn to ask a question. Nobody answered. "Dalmen?"
The Rathen stepped forward. "Sir, they are... um... they're fighting four dark Rathen."
"What!" Teran was clearly enraged. "Are you telling me that you left them to fight four dark Rathen ALONE!!!"
"Yes sir." It was the Deerian.
"They persuaded us to leave for help." Dalmen hung his head.
"Then we must leave immediately to help them." Shinx started to fly away when four figures stumbled out of the trees and fell to the ground.
————
After Caleb had awoken, Arianna and Skyler had each taken an arm and, draping them over their shoulders, had continued through the woods.
        Soon, they tumbled to the ground in a clearing choked by all types of creatures. The curious eyes of tens of hundreds of beasts stared at the exhausted newcomers.
       Shinx flew towards them with Mia and Selene close behind.
Reaching the children, Shinx and Mia threw their arms around them.
          "You're alright," Selene shouted.
"Almost," Panting, Skyler slid aside to reveal Caleb's crippled body.
"I'm fine." He tried to stand but collapsed back onto the ground sucking in a breath through clenched teeth.
"Give him here." Shinx picked him up and flew him away into the crowd.
With the last of their strength, Arianna and Skyler moved closer to the center of the clearing. Sweat dripped down their bodies as they sat, trying to regain their breath.
         All the creatures circled around them, waiting anxiously for one of them to speak.
Eventually, Arianna stood. "People of Muria, we are in dire need of your help. Ronan is bringing destruction to our land and we require your assistance in stopping him." Arianna let the statement sink in. "I know many of you have lost something because of Ronan - loved ones, homes, normal lives - but I believe I have a way to undo the darkness with which he has corrupted our land." A murmur passed through the crowd. "There is a wizard in Ronan's custody who obtains the power of light. If we can free him we may be able to use his abilities to convert all the darkened creatures."
"Are you certain that this ludicrous plan will work?" A large sea-blue dragon with fins on the sides of it head, huge gills, and webbed talons emerged from the crowd.
Arianna stared the beast straight in the eyes. "I'm as certain as I can be."
It replied in its raspy voice. "Very well, you have more knowledge of this wizard then me I'm sure. Please continue."
"Thank you." She turned her attention back to the rest of the crowd. "As I was saying..." The speech went on for quite a while, mostly comprised of creatures questioning the plan or the children's reliability or something along those lines. Arianna would, in return, answer to the best of her ability.
          Skyler was taken aback by how well Arianna handled the incessant questioning and she didn't lose her calm tone in front of even the most arrogant and misunderstanding creatures.
         By the end, Caleb had joined them at the center of the crowd and insisted that he and Skyler help Arianna, but Arianna seemed to be handling herself fine without them so they stood behind her literally and metaphorically.
All of a sudden, some creature made an outrageous comment and Skyler, unable to control herself, lashed out at him. In turn, several of the creature's entourage spoke up and wooed the crowd into complete chaos.
"Enough!" A deep yet airy voice called out over the clamor of the crowd. A magnificent dragon clothed in scales that seemed to be made purely of light stood amidst the parted beasts. It had a crown of spikes across the top of its head and a crest of light that outshined its other scales on its chest. The crest glowed impossibly bright but somehow it did not blind them. The dragon approached the children.
"You are brave souls to try to confront Ronan." The voice was masculine and soothing.
"He forced our hand," Arianna looked up at the beast's soft yet stern eyes. "He took their parents and because of him my father is dead." The last word hung in the air like a thick fog.   
         Skyler could hear the strain that it took Arianna to say it, she was still in pain.
"I will gladly give my assistance to such intrepid children." He turned to the congregation gathered around him. "Creatures! Will we stand by as Ronan takes our lands, our lives, and our loved ones? Or shall we fight to take back what is ours?"
A cheer rang up from the crowd, no, not a cheer, a battle cry.