That’s why he thought he was hallucinating the first time he heard the scurrying. But, as it seemed to get closer, he called out. “Help! We’re down here!” He didn’t know what the sound could be, but if by some miracle it was someone looking for him, he wasn’t taking any chances.
He knew his instincts were right when the scurrying sped up and got closer to them. When it paused, he began yelling again. The running resumed. He did that a few more times before a tiny white fox in a sweater and corduroys wiggled through a crack.
“I’ve lost my damn mind.”
“Keep it down. I’m trying to sleep,” Priest complained, still half asleep.
When the fox wavered into the form of a small man. “Thank the gods we’ve found you!”
“Who are you?” Gage asked through dry lips.
The small man looked around. “Avery Fortier, my mate, is the Founding Family head of Level Five. Is there water nearby I can bring you?”
Gage shook his head. “We haven’t been able to explore. All three of us are unable to move much.” The man’s words sunk in. “Why is the mate of a Founding Family head of a search and rescue team?”
Avery tilted his head. “Because Meryn asked me to.”
“Gods all bless that woman,” he said, closing his eyes.
“Don’t close your eyes! I know that’s bad. In the movies, people die after they do that,” the small man fretted.
Gage opened his eyes. “Do you have a plan for getting us out of here?”
Avery nodded. “Give me a second. I left my bag in the cave on the other side of the crack. It has my phone in it. I’ll call the twins. They were about a mile behind me.”
“Gods, you really are here to rescue us,” Gage said, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
“Absolutely, so don’t close your eyes. I’ll be right back.” He shifted back to the form of a tiny fox and disappeared into the crack.
Oron grunted as he opened his eyes. “I could have sworn I heard Avery.”
Gage laughed. “You did, my friend. You did. They’ve found us.”
Oron’s eyes popped open. “Where are they?”
Gage pointed toward the crack. “He came from that.” Relief flooded his mind knowing Priest and Oron would be okay. “Tell him I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Why?” Oron asked. “Sorry for what?”
“I don’t think I can keep my eyes open after all,” he admitted before they drifted shut.
He felt warm liquid against his mouth. He was simply too tired to drink.
*****
“Hurry!”
“Neil, open the crack wider!”
“Easy now.”
“Gods above, look at his back!”
“We need to get him to Serenity. Now!”
Gage floated in and out of consciousness as his fellow warrior brothers worked to free them from their stone tomb. He must have lost track of time because one moment he could hear Oron yelling beside him, and the next, his eyes were blinking against the light as he was lifted up a transport tunnel.
“Bring him here,” a female voice ordered.