"Haelyn and I will slip into the cave while the rest of you keep an eye out. The parents are out hunting but they won't be for long so we need to be fast," Evanora said as she pointed to various objects scattered around a circle drawn in the dirt. She moved a leaf and a small orange pebble towards the backside of the circle. "Weylyn will lower us down and we'll scoop the flower into the vial and be gone before the stem even knows it's been cut."

"It's important we get the wyvern's gift into the vial as quickly as possible. Eva enchanted the opening to pull it in as soon as the cork is removed," Haelyn continued. The greenhand pulp in the basket at her side lessened as they all took turns dipping their hands in to apply it to themselves.

The group had been up since dawn to prepare for their intrusion on the beasts' territory. They'd carefully rewrapped and numbed Evander's leg while he showed Weylyn the proper knots he would need to lower the two women into the cave. Originally they'd planned to send him up with the rope but the slope would prove too difficult for his leg. Even with it numbed he ran the risk of reopening the wound.

Wren sighed and pushed a stick towards the cave's entrance. "I don't see why I can't just toss Haelyn over my shoulder and run in with her. I could easily clear bones along the front," he suggested for what seemed to be the tenth time. The front entrance of the cave was large enough for the wyverns to easily enter and exit and appeared to be the most logical way in. The problem came in the form of a five foot slope studded with the bones left from the wyverns' various hunts. It would be impossible to get back out if the parents made a sudden reappearance.

"As much as I love to play the part of a sack of potatoes, I don't see you jumping the five feet back out with as much ease," Haelyn countered. She pushed herself to her feet and dusted her knees off. "We're sticking to this plan and that is final."

Yophiel immediately followed her lead and moved their travel gear to a space they'd dug out from between two trees. With Isra's help he covered them so they would be safe until they could come back for them. The longsword he kept strapped to his back glinted in the sun as he straightened up.

The walk to the cave took close to an hour thanks to the sudden sharp incline. The area around the entrance was completely clear of trees thanks to the constant flights and fights. They could see straight to the other side where the clearing ended in a sharp cliff. Nothing moved in the sky and not a sound came from the direction of the cave.

"Looks good," Eva whispered. "Let's go." She and Haelyn stood to make their run to the back of the cave to climb up with Weylyn and they immediately dropped to the ground when an arrow whizzed over their heads.

"I was beginning to wonder when you lot would show up," Kris called, Cathian mercenaries fanning out behind him.

Another arrow hit the tree where Yophiel's head had been briefly before Wren pulled him back down. "What now?" Haelyn muttered.

"I can distract them with magic if I fly overhead with Isra," Eva offered. The mage fished out the small crystal vial from her small bag and pressed it into Haelyn's hand. "You'll have to handle this solo, princess."

"No, it has to be both of us," Haelyn argued. She reached to pull Evanora back and grabbed only air. The mage was in the air in seconds like a practiced rider setting off on a horse trail. Haelyn scrambled to pull Weylyn further towards the cave while she struggled to replan. "You'll have to come down with me, that's all there is to do. Yophiel can-" she was cut off from cementing the last member of their trio when she heard Yophiel shout as he ran towards one of the mercenaries with his sword drawn. Wren was nowhere to be found but the occasional arrow told them all they needed to know about his location.

"Looks like you're stuck with me. I'll hold the rope and lower the two of you in," Evander said. There was no room to argue the point. Even with one bad leg, Evander was still a better choice than trying to tie the rope to a tree.

Between the magic raining from the sky and Yophiel's sword swings, the mercenaries kept far away from the wyvern's cave. The only one who had managed to make it close enough to spot them now lay dead with an arrow through his neck.

At the very top of the mounded roof was a small hole the wyverns had carved out to act as a ventilation hole in the warm summers. Having steady airflow was essential for hatching and raising their young. It was also their way in. Evander made a loop at the end of the rope and secured the other end around his waist. He was able to kneel on one leg and brace himself against the side of the hole opposite himself and lower first Weylyn and then Haelyn down. The rope dangled where they'd left it so he could pull them up immediately. Once they gave it a tug he'd brace himself again to pull them up. Meanwhile, he'd flattened himself down with his sword drawn in preparation for any Cathian's who might find their way up.

"Remember, as soon as the flower is in, you must cork it. The magic will pull it in as soon as the stem is in the neck," Haelyn whispered her instructions to Weylyn again.

For once, his reply was devoid of snark. Weylyn leaned forward and kissed her cheek before settling into a crouch hunched over the wyvern's gift. "For luck," he told her.

Haelyn adjusted her feet, highly aware of the warm eggs surrounding her. As long as they could leave without leaving their scent on any of them, or worse, damaging one, it would all be fine.

Getting the flower into the vial proved easier than anyone could have imagined. The corked vial glowed blue in Haelyn's hands as she and Weylyn made their way to the rope. A warm draft lifted the hair on the back of her neck and the moisture in the air settled on her skin. The low growl vibrates in her stomach and set her heart hammering.

Bit by bit, the adult wyvern's body pooled into the cave from a tunnel hidden in the back. It was recognizable as the father thanks to the bright red scales that cascaded down its soft neck. From outside came panicked screams and an ear-splitting roar. The male was inching forward on a direct path to put himself between them and the rope.

"Weylyn, you're going to run," Haelyn called out to the thief who was a few feet ahead of her. The wyvern had its eyes fixed on him and the hand that he'd begin inching towards his dagger. "As soon as you can, you're going to run for the rope and go. Do you understand?"

He shook his head and planted his feet. "You run, it's closer to me. I'll give you time to..." Weylyn trailed off when he saw the beast's attention shift away from him in a sharp jerk of its massive head. He turned as well and felt his stomach drop.

"Take the vial, and get to Eva," Haelyn said, louder now. She tossed the glowing glass vial, knowing his deft hands would catch it without fail. Now with both hands free, Haelyn was able to cradle the pumpkin sized egg against her. "Go, Weylyn." Each careful step backwards was carefully tracked by the wyvern as he inched after her.

The steep incline at the mouth of the cave gave her a little trouble but the adrenaline coursing through her kept her feet steady and sure. Sunlight enveloped her as she stepped into the clearing where everything had gone still. There was no need for her to look around to know the mother had locked into her as well. Haelyn shifted the egg to be more visible to both parents as she continued her backwards trek.

After a few feet, she risked a glance up and spotted Weylyn waving his arms desperately for Evenora's attention. As soon as dracontix and mage had the vial in hand, Haelyn stooped down to set the egg on the ground in front of her and backed up several more paces. The mother immediately lowered her head to turn the egg and inspect it, but the father moved himself and made a lunge for Haelyn.

"Haelyn, run!" The unnecessary instruction came from all of her companions as she spun on her heel and sprinted towards the tall trees. A jet of scalding hot steam scorched the air and earth in her path and she just managed to stop herself before she fell into it as well. She was lucky it was the male attacking since they lacked the ability to breathe actual fire. Haelyn spun herself around and sprinted back across the clearing, shots of steam keeping her from reaching the safety of the closely growing trees.

Dimly, she recalled the sharp drop-off and the long fall behind the scattered bushes she was running at. The others were trying to get the attention of the wyverns while still fending off the Cathians. The male wyvern's focus was unwavering and she wondered if it would be more painful to burn to death or break every bone in her body when she made the jump. Maybe there would be a ledge she could grab on the way down.

While she was going through the possibilities and coming to terms with the approaching end of her life, a voice flickered across the back of her mind. "Jump, it will be alright." The voice faded in and out but continued to urge her towards the cliff. Taking a final deep breath, Haelyn dove through the bushes and head first over the cliff as someone screamed her name and the wyvern's hot steam withered the leaves where she'd stood seconds before.