****Paradise Sagas:  Book 1: Warriors of Paradise****

 

Chapter 2

 

     Kevin drew a line in the sand with his foot.  If she didn't come soon... His head shot up.  There they were, heading towards them.  *She looks so relaxed, so...what's the word?  Regal.*

     The moon illuminated her form and David's.  Kevin drew his dagger.

~*~*~*~

     Near the fire, it was warmer than it had been driving here in her red jeep.  Lexa wanted to take off her sweatshirt.  But she wasn't sure if they'd like it.  So she left it on.

     She heard Daenna growl, but ignored her.  Something important was going to happen.

~*~*~*~

     Kevin used the dagger to etch a large circle in the sand.  He left an opening for all to enter through, then stepped inside.  After the other 4 had entered, he sealed the circle.  David picked up a handful of sand and tossed it into the flames.  Kendra threw in some water from a bottle she had brought with her.  Daenna handed Lexa a feather.

“Toss it in.”  She whispered, then lowered herself to the ground.

     Kendra began to speak, as all settled, “Now that the 4 elements bear witness, and are protecting us, I can talk freely.

     "There are little known legends, that circle through this town.  They are those of its history.  Occurrences that cannot be confirmed nor denied."  She drew something in the sand in front of her.

     She looked up suddenly, "Lexa?  How many points are there in a triangle?"

     "Three?"  Lexa was slightly confused.

     "In a real triangle?  No, Lexa.  There are five."  She raised her hand and blew dust into the flames.  A shape emerged.  The triangle had a square base, each point glowing stronger than the thin white lines that connected them all.  "There are five.  Four at the base."  The four base corners lit up, "And one at the top."  The top lit up and continue to burn brightly after the other lights dimmed slightly.  "One legend speaks of five people who came here, centuries ago.  They fought an evil so powerful, that they never completely destroyed it.  The leader, Lari, sealed it in a cavern of shadows.  She then lead her four warriors, Ens, Adam, Anna and Eravia to this hill where she proclaimed they would meet again, and finish the evil off in another life."  The image of a triangle became consumed in flames.  "If you are one of us, then maybe we will be able to find the warriors."

     "But hasn't the evil been sleeping for centuries?"  Lexa asked, "It couldn't have woken on it's own, could it?"

     Kendra looked at Daenna.  Daenna hung her head, "I released the Evil.  It was an accident, but I MUST wake the warriors and bring them back!"

     "Daenna, calm down.  She didn't know."  David said, a strand of his black hair falling across his face.

     Lexa watched Daenna raise her hand to slap him, but she put it down again.

     "The warriors can only be awakened by the leader of a group of five.  The leader must be a She."  Kevin ignored David and Daenna's glares at each other, "Kendra's not powerful enough to awaken them.  And David and I can't.  So that leaves Lexa and Daenna."

     "Well then, let's go."  Kendra stood up.

     Kevin erased part of the circle, and all exited from it.  Then, they erased the rest.

~*~*~*~

     Kevin ushered the others towards a large hill right off the beach.  "Somehow,” He pointed upwards, "the warriors must be awakened.  They are in there."

     "Or so legend says."  David muttered.

     "How ARE we supposed to awaken them?"  Kendra started to climb.

     Lexa passed by her and stood on a rock that jutted out from the side.  "Is there, like, a door to a cave, or something?"

     "It's probably hollow below us, so be careful, all of you."  Kevin stopped climbing after only a few steps and looked up at the others.

     "What's wrong, Kevin?"  Lexa asked, she turned to look at the ground behind the rock.  She took a step off while saying, "Are you sure this is the right-” Lexa felt the ground beneath her feet collapse and she was engulfed in darkness.