Hawk

As Shauna and Kiser chattered behind us, their voices hushed but not quite enough, I couldn't help but overhear their conversation. Kiser was going on about Torell, calling him "super hot and smart," much to Shauna's chagrin. "He's married," Shauna pointed out, a note of disapproval in her voice.

Kiser's laughter floated up to us. "An arranged marriage. And you know how I am... free game, sis." Her light-heartedness contrasted sharply with Shauna's more principled stance. It was a refreshing reminder of Shauna's strong moral compass, something rare in the circles of royalty.

The topic soon shifted to me, dubbed "tall, dark, and serious" by Kiser, to which Shauna replied, "He's not that serious, and he is sweet."

Kiser's teasing grew bolder. "Sweet? With those twenty muscle bulges in each arm? He's sexy, and you drool every time you two talk. Spill the details!"

Shauna's voice was a mix of amusement and concern. "Yes, he's all of those things. But what if he doesn't feel the same? And with all this Queen business, can I even think about dating?"

Kiser's laughter was clear. "Look at you, knowing him just 48 hours and already thinking about dating. It's about time, though. All those guys back at school and you never gave them a second glance."

As they continued, Cell joined me, having picked up on their conversation as well. His tone was resigned. "Looks like you have this one," he remarked.

I couldn't help a jab. "I hope you didn't think you stood a chance with her."

Cell's response was tinged with a rare vulnerability. "She doesn't see me the way you think."

"She doesn't really see you at all," I said bluntly, puzzled by his attachment.

Cell stopped, turning to face me. "That's where you're wrong. She's made more effort to understand me than anyone else has in my entire life. She's different," he said before walking away, leaving me to ponder his words and my own feelings about Shauna, who was proving to be as complex and intriguing as the journey we found ourselves on.

As Shauna and I walked side by side through the dense jungle, a heavy silence fell between us. Sensing her discomfort, I broke the quiet. "You're unusually quiet," I noted, trying to gauge her mood.

"It's nothing," she responded, though her voice betrayed a deeper turmoil. As we approached a vast abyss lined with trees, the true challenge of our journey loomed before us—a seemingly endless canyon shrouded by thick foliage.

Trevor, voicing the concern on all our minds, exclaimed, "How the hell are we getting across there?"

Viper, ever the audacious one, simply replied, "We normally jump," before effortlessly leaping onto the first tree. Following his lead, Siren, with Trevor in tow, and then Torell carrying a delighted Kiser, crossed with similar ease.

Shauna paused at the edge, her gaze fixed on the daunting expanse below. The hesitation in her eyes spoke volumes about her fear. "You don't have to do this, I can carry you," I offered, hoping to ease her anxiety.

She gave a determined smile. "No, as tempting as that is, I need to try." Then, with a burst of courage, she started her run across the branches, surprisingly agile.

Laughing, almost in disbelief at her own skill, she moved with a grace I hadn't seen before. But just as quickly as her confidence had peaked, a misstep caused her to slip. I surged forward to catch her, but it was too late; I was too far ahead.

In a breathtaking display of reflexes, Cell flipped through the air, catching her arm just in time. Shauna landed on him, and for a moment, there was a palpable connection between them—a hint of something more. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished; Shauna turned away from him, leaving any possibility of what might have been hanging uncertainly in the air.

As we continued our perilous trek through the jungle, the incident lingered in my mind. The dynamic between Shauna and Cell was complex, unpredictable. And as much as I tried to dismiss it, the brief flare of chemistry I'd witnessed couldn't be entirely ignored.

As we navigated the treacherous canopy, Viper suddenly tensed and glanced nervously at the skies. "We have Summers approaching," he announced, his voice tinged with caution.

Shauna, misunderstanding, laughed briefly. "You mean the season?"

We all gathered on a sturdy tree branch, pausing to clarify. I took the lead in explaining, noticing Shauna's confusion turn to concern. "Summers are large, bird-like creatures," I said. "They were once allies, aiding us in past conflicts. But relations have soured, and they haven't been willing to reconcile. This could get tricky."

As we prepared to move forward, careful to avoid drawing attention, our plans were abruptly thwarted. With a flurry of wings and a gust of wind, the Summers blindsided us. Before we could react, they had swooped down and snatched us from the trees, carrying us swiftly to their encampment.

Once there, we were unceremoniously tied up, our situation dire as we found ourselves at the mercy of these formidable creatures, whose motivations were as unpredictable as their swift descent upon us.

Our precarious situation escalated rapidly as one of the Summers scrutinized us closely. "Hominins with two Bellicose, a Sentinel, and whatever you are. The girl is something I have never seen before." Their leader, a formidable creature with expansive wings, then demanded to know our purpose.

"We are on our way home," I replied, trying to maintain a sense of calm.

"You claim a place on this planet as your home, and I am supposed to be helpful to you?" he challenged us with a sneer.

Prince Torell stepped forward, assertive despite our binds. "I am Prince Torell, and I order you to let us go."

"I know who you are, Prince," the leader retorted. "We intercepted a transmission about your presence. It's ironic, given that 225 years ago we were promised our own planet and the freedom to roam, yet here we are, confined and starving."

Torell was taken aback. "Until today, I had no idea you still existed."

"Disappointing for someone who is to be king," the Summers' leader scoffed. "Perhaps we should end you all now."

Before the situation could escalate further, Shauna intervened. "Wait, he is not going to be king. He's unaware of your plight because it's not his path."

"You are the Hominin Sentinel," the leader realized.

"I am," Shauna confirmed. "I wasn't here 225 years ago, nor was my brother. We made no promises to you."

"So, you refuse to acknowledge the responsibilities of your predecessors?" he accused.

"No, I propose a new agreement," Shauna countered firmly. "You were promised a planet, and I will ensure you get one, along with the resources needed to thrive."

The leader eyed her skeptically. "You are not yet recognized as royalty. How can we trust you?"

Before Shauna could respond, he seized her. I struggled against my bonds, fueled by a surge of protective fury. Shauna caught my eye and silently mouthed, "No." Reluctantly, I ceased my efforts.

"I want your promise sealed in blood," the leader demanded.

It was then that I broke free, with Viper, Siren, and Cell quickly joining the fray, each unleashing their fury against our captors. The battle was fierce, and as we fought to reach Shauna, a sudden pain seared through my abdomen—a blade had found its mark. The shock muted the pain initially, but as Shauna's distressed gaze met mine, the gravity of my wound became apparent. Blood soaked my clothes as I faltered, the fight raging around me, my only thought of reaching her before collapsing under the weight of my injury.

As Shauna's radiant energy enveloped her, the Summers began chanting "Phoenix," a term that resonated with awe and reverence. My vision blurred, pain overwhelming me as I dropped to my knees, sensing that my time might be drawing close. Yet, amidst the chaos, Shauna approached me, a fiery semblance of wings flickering behind her. The sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing, but her eyes—those familiar, reassuring eyes—confirmed it was still her.

"Hawk," she whispered urgently.

"I'm good. We should leave," I managed to say, attempting to rise, but my strength failed me.

"Don't move, you need help," she insisted, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Stop, I'll be fine. Hey," I tried to comfort her, seeing her distress. Viper, witnessing the scene, was overcome with emotion, his tears a silent testament to the gravity of the situation. I knew well that if I didn't make it, he might succumb to rage and vengeance.

"Viper, brother, we don't die today," I said, trying to muster a reassuring smile despite the tears forming in my own eyes. He nodded, his resolve firming.

Cell, unable to watch, turned away, visibly shaken by my injuries. But my focus returned to Shauna. I gently brushed her hair back, needing to see her face clearly. "So, where are we going on our first date?" I asked, lightening the mood with a touch of humor.

She laughed through her tears, a sound that was painfully sweet. "I don't know. There's this place I've seen in commercials on Eminence with the Italian waiter."

"Gaustani," I said, remembering.

"Yes, there," she agreed, her voice breaking as she cradled me in her lap.

Regaining some of her composure, Shauna turned to the Summer leader with a commanding presence I had never seen before. "I demand passage out of this place. I can read everyone's thoughts. Phoenix means your Queen," she declared confidently.

At her words, a profound change occurred. The Summers, recognizing the truth and power in her claim, bowed their heads in deference and quietly dispersed, leaving us in peace.

In that moment, surrounded by friends and a newfound respect from once-hostile beings, I realized how profoundly Shauna had changed. From a reluctant hero to a revered leader, her journey was just beginning. As I lay there, looking up at her through my pain, hope mingled with the fear. Maybe, just maybe, we'd get to explore that future together.

As Shauna touched my wound, the intense pain began to subside miraculously. Her eyes glowed with an unearthly energy, and as her hands worked over the injury, the torn flesh started to mend. I could hardly believe it; the closeness to death I had felt was washing away.

"What are you doing?" Siren demanded, his voice laced with fear and alarm.

"I've done this before, Siren. Let me help him," Shauna insisted, her focus unyielding.

"No! You nearly died last time, and we swore..." Siren protested, but Shauna cut him off.

"I know what we swore, but I have to do this," she said firmly, her decision made.

Siren, frustrated and helpless, walked away, visibly upset.

As Shauna's healing energy enveloped me, I felt revitalized, reborn. Sitting up, the first thing I did was pull her into an embrace, overwhelmed with gratitude. Trevor and Kiser watched, holding hands, their expressions a mix of awe and apprehension.

Suddenly, Shauna started coughing up blood. "Wait, what's happening?" I asked in panic, noticing a new wound forming on her stomach, mirroring my own earlier injury.

"I will be fine," she reassured me weakly, but her body temperature soared, her skin burning to the touch.

Siren intervened, placing a hand glowing with a faint energy on her, and she collapsed into unconsciousness. "What the hell is going on?" I demanded, my voice a mix of fear and anger.

Siren turned on me, his frustration boiling over. He lifted me off the ground effortlessly, his face a mask of fear and accusation. "Do you have any idea what could happen to her?" he seethed.

Her ability to transfer pain and heal others, it turned out, came with a grave cost—her own health. "She can transfer pain, energy, memories. Her empathic abilities surpass even mine," Torell explained, as Siren set me down roughly. "Only our father has had similar powers within the Sentinel community. That's one of the reasons they made him King."

Torell, silent until now, looked on, his expression somber. Cell cradled Shauna gently in his arms, his face etched with worry, refusing to speak.

"Will she die?" The question escaped my lips, a whisper of dread hanging in the air.

"I don't know," Torell responded, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "She's Hominin, but maybe her Sentinel heritage will pull her through."

Siren's frustration erupted, and he threw me to the ground, his anger a clear reflection of his deep concern for Shauna's well-being. As I lay there, grappling with the weight of what Shauna had sacrificed for me, I realized how much she had risked—perhaps everything—for my life.