Everyone stared in shock. Lunar was the first to spring into action.

     "Annika?!" She cried to the shaking figure on the ground. "Are you oka-"

     Annika's body jumped around and struck Lunar in the arm with a..... body part of some sort. Everyone jumped back and pulled out their weapons.

     The thing, it wasn't even Annika anymore, scurried deeper into the cave. It's legs clacking against the walls that winded into the dark.

     Pluto broke the silence and whispered to the group, "What. Just. Happened?"

     Everyone turned their heads to her and just gaped at Pluto, unable to speak.

     "Well?" Solar started, "We need to find  her! We will just go through . . .," She looked around at all the tunnels spiraling through the cave system. She pointed at a tunnel, one to the right. "There! That tunnel."

     No one had a better plan so they walked onward. As they trudged deeper into the cave, Solar's bright yellow stone started fading into a small fraction of the sun.

     Flare's eyes darted around the rocky walls, searching for a source of light. She clasped her hand on to someone else's; she didn't know who's.

     Lunar called out for Flare, "Flare? Where are you? Come find our hands!"

    Aren't I already holding your hands? She thought.

"Oh!" Solar cried. "My whip!"

      A crack blew through the cave and a trail of fire lit her whip aflame. Lunar, Solar, and Pluto were all huddled up against the wall, the opposite wall Flare was against. Their eyes widened as they glared beside her.

     Her eyes trailed next to her; where her hand stayed clasped with boney fingers. She followed her wandering eyes up to the head; dead as a doornail.

      Flare screeched and tore her hand away from the deceased person, pushing down the urge to vomit.

     It's eyes were oozing out of the sockets and its mouth hung open; filled with foam and blood. The patchy hair fell in a tangled heap around the shoulders and the clothes were shredded beyond repair.

      The Guardians locked wrists and bolted forward. They didn't care where they were going, as long as it was away from that.

     The worse thing was, it looked fresh. The blood was still wet and the skin was only a slight green.

     "Why is it that bad things always happen?" Lunar spoke.

     Solar replied in a heartbeat, "I don't know, but we can only hope, only wish, only fight, that we can keep our people safe."

     With that they slowed to a walk, and went on in silence.

~~~~~

    Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

     Footsteps clattered through the cave. Weapons clanked against the walls. Tired girls huffed, trying to catch their breath.

     Howls barreled down the tunnel as creatures chased them around the network.

      Rounding a corner the girls stopped and held their breaths, waiting for the monsters to pass. Agonizing seconds passed; the padded footsteps growing louder.

    Nails scratching the floor, drool falling down their chins. As if a dog was mutated; 10 times, a Polk as they like to call it. The only resemblance between the a Polk and a dog was their body structure. But no dog could ever be this vicious.

    With one last breath the Pack rushed past the corner into oblivion.

     Pluto released a breath she didn't know she was holding. Flare let out a sob as she saw the sight of Solar.

    During the chase Flare tried to throw a poison star at the head Polk, but missed, knicking Solar's shoulder, who screamed in pain.

     "Oh lord, This is all my fault! Solar, it's my fault. We are here to save people, not hurt them." Flare sobbed.

    Empathy flashed over Solar's eyes, yet she remained quiet. Pluto dug in her bag and pulled out a paste.

    Walking the the silent queen she opened the bottle and went to dip her finger in.

     "No. I'm fine." Solar interjected. "When you're sick and you recover, you'll be stronger than ever." She chanted; something they were taught too young in Lunar's opinion.

    "Let's go," Pluto called, "We must waste no time in saving Nebula. She would do the same for us."

     Right on que, Pluto's stone pulsed to life, casting an eerie white glow throughout the Beast's lair, but a puny candle compared to the overwhelming darkness of the cave.

      They could barely see 10 feet before them, but shuffled on.

     " I see a hundred little bees, floating in the meadow. A hundred little bees, making their honey. A hundred little bees, floating to my home. Ouch! One stung me," Flare sang.

     It was a silly little rhyme they sang in school to learn numbers. Now, the silence was overbearing. Solar jumped in and Flare began the next verse.

     " Ninety-nine little bees floating in the meadow, ninety-nine bees making their honey," They sang together. Joining with a sigh, Pluto jumped in. "Ninety-nine little bees, floating to my home. Ouch! One stung me."

     They all looked at Lunar, the only one not singing. Pleading eyes stared into Lunar's. She whispered, "Ninety-eight little bees floating in the meadow," They joined together and made a glorious symphony of voices.

     "Ninety-eight little bees, making their honey. Ninety-eight little bees floating towards my home, Ouch! One stung me."

     They giggled like little children and continued on with the song. Once they reached forty-six bees they noticed a voice missing.

Solar.

    They looked around only saw each others frightened looks.

     Dashing behind them they decided to split up. They couldn't risk losing two guardians. With a final nod, they ran into their respective tunnels, calling for their lost queen.

~~~~~

     Solar walked. And walked. And walked. No matter where she looked she couldn't find them.

     "Sol, we love you. Come home, stay with us. Forever."

     Solar glanced up and responded, "Mom, just tell me. Where are you? Please, I-I need to see you." She sobbed to the abyss.

      "I'm in your heart. Always. I'm also where you'd least expect, down, down, down,"

     "Stop! Stop! Stop!" Solar cried.

     "Down, down, down,"

     Solar yanked at her hair and tears streamed down her dirtied face. "Stop! Stop! STOP! STOP STOP STOP!" she yelled.

   The voice stopped and Solar felt empty again. A wretched crack sounded about the cave.

     With a worried look. Solar glanced at the ceiling where a shining stalagmite hung, cracking. All fibers of it's being let loose and it fell. The only noise being the sound of rock peircing through air. And a broken girls screams.