“I can’t see, how is that possible? And why didn’t anyone think to bring a flashlight?” Carson said as they each moved slowly.
“Can you feel your wolf?” Vance asked.
“No.”
“That’s why. And I’m sure it means we’re heading in the right direction. The same thing happens every time I have that crazy dream. And it has to be the darkest for whatever will happen to work.”
“This shit just got way more freaky… Umph!” He bumped into Jerald that suddenly moving stopped in front of him.
“Give a heads up next time you step on the brakes.” He said as he rubbed his head.
“It’s starting.” Margaret said.
“What makes you so sure?”
“Can’t you feel it? The darkness suddenly feels like it’s… alive somehow.” She said.
“Well, we better keep moving before we miss whatever spectacular event is supposed to take place. And before the so called darkness decides to take a bite out of all of us.” Carson said.
“Think man. The only way he would have stopped is if…”
“There’s no where else to go.” Keith completed Raymond’s statement.
“Yes, it’s a dead end. A solid wall I suspect is part of one of the mountains.” Thomas replied.
“Just great, so we went through all this trouble for nothing.” Carson huffed.
“Well, what do we do now?” Jerald asked.
Suddenly, a faint glow came from the ground.
“Where the brightest light’s glow reflects.” Margaret said.
“No offence, but that doesn’t look anything like the supposed brightest light, I can barely see it.”
“We’ll just have to follow it.” Thomas said and crouched.
“How? Break the wall and have a whole mountain crumble and flatten us?” Carson said sarcastically.
“There’s an opening at the bottom of the wall, and there’s a draft coming from the other side, so there must be something there. Probably an underground cave. We’ll have to slide through it, but one at a time. The rope has to go.” They carefully unknotted themselves from the rope that held them together.
“We don’t even know how deep the fall is. We could very well be plunging to our deaths. And without our wolves, we’re almost like humans. No fast healing, quick reflexes or enhanced senses.” Hayden said.
“It’s a risk we just have to take. I’ll go in first.”
“How will we know you’re not dead if it’s too deep to hear your voice? We can’t mind link without our wolves.” Vance asked.
“If something happens to him, I’ll feel it.” Margaret said.
“Okay then.” Hayden said and Thomas began to slide through the opening. They waited several minutes, but she didn’t feel like anything bad happened to him so they began to go in one after the other. Instead of falling on the hard ground like the others, she fell into Thomas’ hands.
“Tommy? How did you know where I would fall to?” She asked as he set her down and he nuzzled her neck.
“You’re my other half, of course I would know.” He pulled back. “Plus, my wolf is back, so night vision and quick reflexes, check.”
“Everyone okay? She asked as the others picked themselves up.
“Mostly, we have more pressing issues. The glow seems to be coming from all around us, I don’t see anything that looks like a reflection.”
“Maybe we wait for the moon to rise?”
“It just did.” Thomas said, his voice deeper than usual. Margaret gasped as his eyes began to glow.
“Tommy your eyes.”
“I think you should be more concerned about your own eyes Margaret.” Hayden said. Her eyes were glowing too.
“The Alpha and Luna of the full moon pack. Of course, the full moon’s power is reflected through the both of you.” Vance said.
They held hands and the glow became brighter till they shone from head to toe. Then it got so bright the others had to shield their eyes. When the glow finally receded, there was a faint iridescence around the both of them and the cavern they were in was filled with diamonds that gleamed and sparkled.
“Wow.” Carson said as he bent to pick up a diamond at his feet.
“Stop!” She said and he paused. “Remember the lines. ‘Hidden treasures but only seek what you find’.”
“Or perish where you stand.” Thomas completed. “One wrong move and the whole mountain will level us.” It was silent for a few seconds as he said that.
“So what exactly are we seeking?”
“According to the prophecy, hidden treasures.”
“This is a cave of diamonds underneath a mountain. I’m pretty sure it checks out the hidden treasures box, but we can’t touch the diamonds or we die.”
“Maggie, can you remember any more clues that could help? Maybe there’s a line missing that you forgot.” Thomas said to her. She tried to think back but her head began to ache. Thomas sensed her discomfort and began to caress her head.
“I’m sorry love. I forgot what happens when you try to remember.”
“Why does this keep happening? I just want to get my memories back.” She huffed and he hugged her, a hand stroking her hair.
“That’s it!” Carson snapped his fingers. “The hidden treasure is your memory Margaret. Think about it, like you said, 7 Alpha’s and a Luna make 8. Do not despise the power of eight.” He added and for a few seconds everyone just stared at him.
“I can’t believe you just said something really smart Carson.” Vance said and Carson smirked.
“It must be this celibacy thing. Nothing else to do but think right? Not as fun as titties though but we can’t always have what we want I guess.” He sighed wistfully and Jerald rolled his eyes.
“Okay Maggie, just look around, see if something triggers a memory.” Thomas said and she moved around slowly.
“All the diamonds look the same, nothing seems familiar.” She turned slowly and her eyes widened.
“There!”