Chapter 8, Part 2. Eos's plan

  Eos knew that if she missed it'd all be over. She had caught a glimpse of the rope when she was dodging the fourth head that appeared when one of the other prisoners thought it'd be a good idea to cut off a head. The beast that stood in front of her had glowing red eyes and smelled foul. The beaks were serrated and sharp, but the Goosdra was chubby and couldn't run as fast as Eos.

"This better work..." Eos muttered through gritted teeth as she dodged the giant goose and started running towards the large cave with the gate being held up by a rope. "Run in, dodge, rope, run, trap. Easy, just don't get eaten. Then the king will give us the next part of the passkey." She thought. 

Her leg burned with every step, but she couldn't focus on that. Eos ran into the cave and turned to face the Goosdra, which had followed close behind. There were bones scattered across the floor, the small ones crunching as she stepped on them. The giant goose took a slow step into the mouth of the cave. 

"Few more steps...come on.." She whispered, eyeing the rope, trying to calculate the best way to throw the spear she was holding. She needed to pull this off, there was no room for mistakes. 

The beast took another step. If she didn't pull this off, Lonely would be kept here, a prisoner to eventually be eaten by this creature. Eos was never one to abandon anyone. She fights as best she can to save the people around her, even if they hurt her. It's not in her nature. 

The Goosdra took the final step needed for Eos's plan to spring into action. It snapped at her with all of its heads, and as she dodged, she caught a glimpse of something glowing in its mouth. The passkey. She slid underneath the goose and stopped to stand right in front of where the gate would trap the beast. 

"HEY UGLY! COME AND GET ME!" She yelled, ready to throw the spear. The Goosdra roared, and all four heads went to bite her. She threw the spear, and it tore through the rope like a pencil piercing through paper. The gate pinned the heads to the stadium floor. Trapping the ginormous goose, but not killing it. 

The arena erupted in choruses of surprise, some applauding and cheering while others jeered. Eos walked over to the heads, forcing her shield in the first one's mouth, propping it open to check it for the passkey. Nothing. So she tried again and found it shoved in the roof of the next head's mouth. It looked like the end of a key with sharp points instead of blunt knobs. She grabbed it and pulled hard. The piece came out, and the goose head honked in pain, snapping its mouth shut, destroying the shield. The red left the Goosdra's eyes, and it passed out. 

Eos grabbed her spear and raised the piece in the air in triumph. Looking over at Lonely, she smiled as the stadium erupted into cheers.

Chapter 8, Part 1. Eos's plan

 Lonely couldn't believe what he was seeing: a ginormous goose with three heads entered the arena. He saw Eos grab a spear and shield from a weapon rack that was pushed up against the wall. The giant goose was the size of a two-story house, and it had a ferocious honk that shook the stadium. 

"Brilliant, isn't she?" The bird boy Eros smiled.

"The goose?" Lonely asked, quickly going to look at the floor as the goose head ate one of the warriors in the arena.

"Hmm, I suppose the Goosdra is an extravagant creature, but no. I meant Eos; you can watch the gears turning in her brain. It's quite fascinating, don't you agree?"

"I've never thought about it. I haven't known her that long. I still don't really know much about her." Lonely admitted, wincing as he heard a squawkish scream. He wanted to watch to make sure Eos was still alive, but he couldn't bring himself to look up, fearing that as soon as he did, he'd watch her be eaten.

"Care if I fill you in? Eos and I used to be close." Eros said.

Lonely was pretty sure that Eros would tell him whether or not he wanted to hear about Eos's past. He thought it was hers to tell. Lonely also didn't like this bird boy; he seemed full of himself and willing to make mischief when it could hurt a lot of people. He didn't like how Eros talked to Eos; it was clear something had happened between them, but Lonely wasn't sure what. 

"She came here on a diplomatic mission with her father about maybe-. You are a human, right?" The winged boy asked.

Lonely nodded, finally bringing himself to look up just in time to see Eos roll out of the way of the Goosdra's jagged beak. There were four heads now, not three.

"Yeah, to humans like yourself, it would have felt like four years ago. Eos's father and the Emperor had decided to try and form a peace treaty, this was before her father rebuked her and made her take a job as part of the king's guard. I didn't like her at first; she was snippy and hot-headed, but I started getting to know her better when I saw her in the library. She was reading a book I hadn't seen before, and we had a long conversation about it. The forming of the peace treaty took weeks, and we got to know each other better, pulling pranks, telling jokes; we were a good pair. It didn't take me long to fall for her. The day before they were going to sign the treaty, I told her how I felt. When she told me she didn't feel the same way, I got angry. I still am; I might have done one of the most dangerous things I could have done to her. I made the kitchen bring her eggs for breakfast. That's offensive here, by the way. The Emperor could have had her killed, but instead declared that there would be no peace treaty between Ancient Geese and Starlin. She left mad at me, how could she not, but her father was furious. Claimed she did it on purpose and was no longer his daughter. He made her into a soldier so she could learn discipline and respect. That's the last I heard about her until now." Eos sighed.

Lonely might not have taken his eyes off Eos, but he had focused on every word the boy had said.

"Who's her father?" He asked, watching the arena. Eos was the only one left. Every time she rolled out of the way, she tried to stand on her injured leg, almost falling over each time. Just seeing her do that made his chest hurt. "Why did she choose to fight for me?" Lonely thought.

"Why, she hasn't even told you that?" Eros laughed. Eos was running now, she was running toward the mouth of the gated cave that the giant goose came out of, limping with each step. 

"What are you doing...?" Lonely whispered, watching her run into the cave, the Goosdra close behind.

"Her father is the King, the King of Starlin, of course." The winged boy was laughing. Before Lonely had time to react to this statement, the Goosdra had entered the cave with Eos, and it had cornered her.

Lonely shot to his feet, "EOS!".

Apologies

 My dear readers,

I know I haven't posted in a few weeks, and I apologize. The start of school has made me busy and focused on other responsibilities. I promise I'll keep writing when I get free time. I won't mysteriously cut off this story, leaving you to wonder about our lonely Eos and their adventures to come. 

I asked that you be patient with me as I try to get all of this done. Thank you for waiting! I'll send new ones soon!    

Love, Z.D.