Chapter 22: Stuck
"They are leaving," Rachel whispered from her position next to the door.
A dull red glow poured from the entrance, bathing the room in an eerie crimson. Their small backpacks lay to the side, in a stack, with Twintin and Daubutim beside it.
Finally, Irwin thought, his gritty eyes staring at the wall of plants. He had been standing there for hours, his feet hurting and his mind a weary mess. Still, each time he would sit down, vines would poke out of the bush, ready to attack.
Glad it seemed over, he looked at Greldo standing beside him. He was the only one who wanted to remain anywhere near him while his flame was up, as the heat just added to their already horrible discomfort. Greldo was just taking a sip from his waterskin, then looked up and nodded.
"I'll check," he whispered after another drink.
As he moved away, Irwin glared at the green plants, wondering how they would react when the sun was completely gone. Hopefully, not at all. Or perhaps they would freeze.
A soft howling came from outside, and Twintin audibly gulped.
"They are almost all gone, and the shadow will be at the portal soon," Greldo said from the door. "Get ready to leave."
"What- what's that?"
Irwin felt his hair stand on end at the fear in Rachel's voice. He was already moving before Greldo's strangled yelp came. At the door, Greldo was pulling Rachel back, who was raising her hands in defense. One hand glowed, and her shield appeared. Daubutim was up and moving, his club out. Twintin sat to the side, startled like a scared rabbit.
"Twintin, warn us for the vines!" Irwin snapped as he reached the others, stepping past Greldo and looking through the door.
The sun was almost gone now, and a cold wind blew over him, causing him to shiver. Shadowy movements came from between the cracks in the stone plates. It took a moment for his dark vision to adjust, but when it did, he clamped his teeth in anger. Vines, long and nimble, were slowly ripping through the dusty ground, rising into the air everywhere.