Read Kastori Revelations (The Kastori Chronicles Book 1) for Free Online Page B

he gonna revert to being stupid and go outside the rules again?
    “We need to either create a distraction or—”
    A loud, deep bellow ripped through the air, making Crystil, who had her back to the plains, sure they would die before they even finished discussing strategy. She froze and closed her eyes, waiting for the moment of truth.
    “They’re fighting!” Celeste said in a loud whisper.
    Crystil stood up, pressed herself against a tree and peeked over to see two balicae fighting one pantera. The three large beasts, each easily over five times Crystil’s weight, wrestled with a bloody fury that would end only when one species died. Crystil motioned for the siblings to tip-toe along the right side of the battle, a decision influenced as much by her fears as by her gut.
    “Listen to me carefully. Walk confidently, as if you are the apex predator of this land. If they approach, stand your ground.”
    “Did you just hear what Cortanus told us, lady??” Cyrus said.
    Crystil balled up her right first, but slowly unleashed it as she continued creeping ahead, refusing to turn around.
    “Don’t ever call me lady,” she said. “Or I’ll get you before the balicae do.”
    “Guys!” Celeste said, but in a tone much too loud. She put her hand to her mouth, but it wouldn’t bring the sound waves back. The one balicae not fighting turned to them and approached with its head low, eyes locked, and feet moving slowly, waiting to launch.
    “Stand tall,” she said. “You run, it chases you, you die.”
    No one said a word. Crystil stood with her arms spread wide. When it came closer, she yelled.
    “NO! No! Back off!”
    She had no idea if screaming would work. It sure hadn’t worked on the nakar.
    She turned to Cyrus.
    “If it lunges, you have to punch it in the face.”
    “What?!?”
    “These things want a leisurely lunch, not prey that’ll fight. We’re not invading their territory.”
    “What do you call that?!?”
    She looked back at the battle. The one pantera valiantly fought, but didn’t have more than a minute left.
    “Our impetus to move tall, quietly, slowly.”
    “You sure?”
    Not at all.
    “Yes.”
    She led Cyrus and Celeste with her arms spread wide. Deep, disturbing, but not particularly loud growls came from the balicae, which kept its gaze on Crystil. Crystil’s stomach flipped, and she gulped as she swore under her breath. By her estimation, they had gotten within thirty yards of the ship. Once on board, the creature could lunge all it wanted. But to get there…
    Then it roared loudly, revealing its sharp teeth which looked like Crystil’s swords.
    “Don’t—”
    Before she could finish, Celeste sprinted toward the ship.
    “Celeste!” she screamed.
    She watched in horror as the balicae, previously maybe forty yards from Celeste, gained ten yards for every three that Celeste gained running to the ship. Crystil didn’t have to do any calculations to realize how this would end.
    “END THIS NOW!” she screamed, no longer in control of her controlled side.
    Everything went blank, and a second later, they were back on Omega One. Crystil took several seconds to catch her breath. She tossed off her helmet, taking a knee to fight off the panic attack. Behind her, Cyrus slowly backed away. She saw Celeste with her helmet off and her head bowed. Vowing not to lose her cool as she did with Cyrus, Crystil did not get up until she felt sure she could talk to Celeste calmly.
    She let out a loud gasp which sounded like a cry, recoiling at the memory of her first mission in the swamps of Monda. Her teammate and best friend since childhood, Eve, had suggested they wade through the marsh to get to the magicologists’ base faster. Crystil had a terrible gut feeling about it but went along with it.
    They had gotten about twenty yards from the base when Eve screamed in pain. Crystil turned and saw Eve being dragged. She grabbed Eve and pulled, and for about three seconds, Crystil dragged her away from