The Quest for the Temple Key

Danielle could not sleep. Her head hurt as she tried to sort out all that happened. There were too many things to worry about…so many people she loved who were in mortal danger. But as she glanced over at her friend, a smile stole across her face. Freida was breathing deeply, sound asleep, exhausted from her perilous kidnapping and rescue and despite her still being very hungry.

Careful to not snap any sticks, Danielle slowly got up to go check on Ercen.

The gargoyle had remained unmoved since they’d landed in this place. Danielle, trembling a little, laid her hand delicately on Ercen’s neck. It was as if she was, in fact, stone, except that she was warm to the touch. Not knowing what else to do, she wept for her friend. Although her spiritual experience was more limited than she wanted to admit to herself, she prayed for Ercen. In the stillness of the night, stars circled overhead, and Danielle fell asleep, nestled up against Ercen.

She hadn’t slumbered long before being awakened by screaming. Startled, she jumped up, fearing it was Ercen. But the wounded gargoyle was still unconscious. So, she ran over to Freida, who was bathed in the brilliant moonlight. Yet she, too, slept. Where was the screaming coming from? Trembling, only in part from the cool night air, Danielle ran towards the frightful sounds.