Angel Eyes: the Eternal Circle
by Rydia
Chapter 6

"Angel!  Angel come back here!" Aelia called as she ran after the wolf.
All of a sudden, he'd started running.  She didn't have any idea why.

Angel kept running, just slow enough that she could keep him within
sight.  Aelia was gasping for breath and completely lost by the time
she stopped, right outside the entrance to a cave-like place.  It
wasn't the same as the Dark Caverns, though.  No one lived in this
cave; quite the opposite, actually.  It was an underground graveyard.

Aelia was nervous about following after Angel in there.  "Angel?" she
called, her voice shaking.

The silver wolf did not reappear.  She had no choice but to enter the
deathly cave after him.

Her eyes adjusted quickly and she peered around as she walked cautiosly
in.  Once beyond the narrow passage in the entrence, she spotted Angel
at the top of a ledge on the opposite end of the cavern.

He met her eyes for a second and then ran through another passageway.

"Wait!" Aelia gathered her cloak out of the way, spread her wings, and
flew up after him.  As she beat her wings to gain height, she heard a
strange sound below her and looked down.

Decayed hands pushed up on the ground, scattering rocks and dust
everywhere.  After the hands, entire corpses soon followed.  Some were
covered for the most part with decaying flesh and clothing, while
others were all bone.  "The living dead!" Aelia said in a horrified
whisper.  She had defiled this Windian grave site, and this was her
punishment, she thought.  She nearly gave herself up to them, for
disturbing the dead's sleep was among the worst of crimes.  But one
thing stopped her.  Angel had wanted her to follow him, just like in
the forest, and she had to find him.  The Gods' messanger would know
what was right, even if it meant breaking a rule set down by the Gods.

Aelia flew as swiftly as she could after Angel.

The next room was much like the one before, as was the next.  Aelia's
wings were sore when the scenery finally changed.  Instead of a natural
cavern, steps were carved into the far wall, leading up to a man-made
arch.  Halfway up the stairs, Angel waited, watching her.

Aelia landed on the step three below him and followed on foot as they
approached the top.

And at the top was a long, hand carved passageway that appeared to go
on forever.  Aelia sighed with weiriness from the chase, running and
flying both.  Destiny had set a long and tiring path for her to follow,
it seemed.