The Sentinels pearl

Well this is long. Haha

Light sleep is all he had known for the past days. The mute cloudy night sky Iaghe slowly recovered but still did not utter a word. She remained guarded, but he could sense that she was warming up to him.

Still, in such a fragile state, he worried for her well-being. Waking every few hours or so to look over and make sure she was still with him, a few lengths away. But this time she wasn't...

He lifted his head and looked around. No sign of her. He stood up quickly and circled around again but saw nothing. Any fatigue he had was replaced with adrenaline and concern. Nose to the ground he scented the place she had made her bed. No blood or signs of struggle. A small amount of ease washed over him as the worst possible outcome, that being her death, was ruled out.

Though she was her own person, and he knew she was not his, he followed her trail. Leaving her on her own did not feel right. Her tracks didn't display any signs of haste and thus he trotted behind sure that with time he would catch up.

----

Then a cracking ball of light emerged in the sky. Seemingly a piece of the sun broken off and hurtling to the earth in the middle of the night. It touched down ahead of him within The Sentinels forest. A large cloud emerged and a bright light stung mading him look away and tuck his ears. Then the earth rumbled beneath his feet.

The sound of moaning wood, timbering trees, and the pounding of his heart was all he heard as he opened his eyes again and looked into the forest... Iaghe was in there... and so was he.

Running he dove into the forest and weaved through the trees and shrubbery. He no longer followed her scent. The light and thickening clouds of smoke were his destination. A tree fell down before him and created a wall of fire in his path. It stopped him in his tracks and the embers flung onto his chest. Stepping back to avoid singeing his coat he looked into the burning woods.

That's when he heard it. A horrifying cry breaks through the flames and hits him in the chest. It's her. He knows it is.

With an uncontrollable urge surpassing logic, he runs forward and leaps over the flaming tree. Tumbling and rolling onto the ground covered in ash.

----

Opening his eyes he sees her. 'There you are' he tried to say but instead heaves a mouthful of soot and gasps for air. Sore, he slowly rises to his feet. He takes a step forward unconsciously wanting to be at her side, then see her gaze, and upon it, the wounded large dark and sandy-colored female.

In Iaghe's eye he can see a cry for help and he rushes to the side of the unknown female on the ground with fresh burning skin. "Up... *cough cough*... You need to... *cough... UP!" he forces through the compromised air. Ready to pick her up if she couldn't and carry her out of the forest on his back, as he had done for Iaghe the first day they had met, if needed.