16 The Eagles

Eamon led his troupe down the dark corridor from which Malakai had emerged with Cassandra and Fred before their confrontation.

At the entrance, he raised his hand, commanding the attention of his group.

"Prepare to enter," he instructed them, his voice firm and steady. Then, turning to Malakai, he added, "Malakai, you go first."

Malakai nodded in acknowledgment.

Roxy stood proudly in the back, but was casting predatory glances at Malakai. Suddenly, she transmitted her thoughts to Eamon, turning her ideas into simple phrases in his mind.

"Malakai weak, Roxy strong. Pass in front."

As Roxy's voice resonated in his skull, Eamon halted his steps in surprise. Impressed, Eamon couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder.

"So you can communicate telepathically", he murmured, amazed by the revelation. "It must be due to your superior attribute of intelligence."

He affectionately patted her flank, acknowledging her request with a warm smile. Roxy chirped joyfully, her excitement evident as she proudly moved to the front of the group.

They proceeded down the corridor, the fluorescent moss becoming increasingly abundant. The corridor brightened as they approached, until the walls and floor were entirely covered in the strange luminous vegetation. The air grew warmer and more humid, a sign that they were likely nearing an underground source.

The corridor opened into a narrow, dark aperture. Roxy, too large to pass through, scratched and attempted to persuade Eamon to let her go ahead. But Eamon stopped her.

"It's better this way."

He squeezed through the opening and realized beyond lay a precipice. Everything was plunged into darkness, and he couldn't even see the depth below. He wondered if this was still the cave's territory. In case of danger, it would be easy to block the narrow entrance with stones.

As they retraced their steps, Eamon led them towards the last corridor in the main chamber, one that none of the group had ventured into before. Once again, Roxy took the lead. In this corridor, the air was remarkably cool and dry, with little to no moss plunging it into darkness.

They walked for several hours, the troupe displaying their strong stamina, unaffected by fatigue and cold. Finally, they emerged into the open.

Eamon stepped forward at the head of the group, passing Roxy. The wind blew fiercely, tousling his hair. Before him, the mountain rose majestically, its sides covered in eternal snow. The clouds below resembled soft, billowing waves, crashing on an invisible ocean. The afternoon sun cast golden shadows on the surrounding peaks. Eamon felt small, insignificant against this vastness.

His keen eyes caught sight of a creature grazing beneath the white blanket. The goat-like creature had verdant fur and formidable horns. He couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. Despite his power of absorption, which spared him from hunger, he still missed the taste of milk and cheese.

"I yearn for the taste of milk," he confessed to Malakai.

Malakai, curious, pondered aloud, "Master, could this creature provide us with such delicacies?"

Eamon nodded thoughtfully.

"Indeed, Malakai. Dairy products like milk and cheese could likely be derived from this beast."

Before Eamon could delve further into the topic, Roxy's presence suddenly became palpable, her mental communication interrupting their conversation.

"Roxy captures goat now," she conveyed in simple, direct thoughts.

Eamon, taken aback by Roxy's abruptness, attempted to interject, "Roxy, hold on—"

But his words were cut short as a colossal eagle, concealed by the glare of the sun, swooped down with lightning speed. With a thunderous rush of wind, the eagle seized the goat in its talons, tearing it from the ground before anyone could react. As Eamon observed the direction in which the eagle soared, he realized it was heading towards the summit of the mountain where they currently stood.

Eamon recognized that if he wanted to establish true control over the surroundings of the cave, he would need to eliminate the eagle. Eamon looked at Roxy, his strongest warrior.

"Roxy, can you handle that eagle?"

Roxy replied in his mind, "Eagle not problem. Roxy kills."

Eamon grinned at Roxy's straightforwardness and nodded.

With Eamon's command, the troupe set out towards the summit of the mountain, their footsteps resolute as they followed their leader. Roxy, ever confident in her strength, led the way with a determined stride. The group pressed forward, the pristine snow crunching beneath their steps. Pine needles formed sparkling stars. Everything was still, as if nature itself held its breath. The surrounding peaks stood like slumbering giants. Their sides were sculpted by wind and frost, their ridges sharp. The group continued, their steps leaving deep tracks in the powdery snow.

Finally, after hours of effort, they reached a pass. Before them stretched a vast snow-covered plateau, bordered by majestic peaks. The sunset pierced through the clouds, casting silver reflections on the snow. It was as if the entire world had been blanketed in purity. At the heart of the plateau, there was an immense eagle's nest. It was as if the mountain itself shaped this sanctuary—a secret refuge for the kings of the sky. The nest's walls consisted of gray and white rocks, smoothed by the elements. They curved majestically, shielding the interior from the harshness of wind and storms. Cracks and crevices marked its surface.

The entrance to the nest was wide, spacious enough to accommodate the outstretched wings of an adult giant eagle. Inside, the floor was lined with moss and feathers, soft and comfortable. Animal bones, remnants of past feasts, littered the ground. Eamon turned to Malakai.

"Can you sense what Fred and Cassandra are experiencing? What they see and hear?" Despite his own connection with the zombies, Malakai's bond with them ran deeper.

Malakai paused. "It's faint," he replied slowly, "but I can catch glimpses of their sensations. I might be able to see and hear what they do, to some extent."

Eamon nodded.

"Eagle nest. Go. Be quiet," Eamon commanded Cassandra, his words short and straightforward, tailored to her limited understanding.

With a simple nod, Cassandra acknowledged the order and began her stealthy approach towards the eagle's nest. She disappeared from view as she entered its confines. Eamon's gaze fixed on the nest with apprehension.

Moments later, Malakai's voice broke the tense silence, relaying the information they had been waiting for.

"She's reached the heart of the nest," Malakai announced. "It appears there are two adults and three eaglets."

Upon hearing Malakai's report, Eamon felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Roxy will take care of one of the adult eagles, and the rest of the troupe will handle the other," he declared. "The offspring of the two eagles shouldn't pose a threat, but if they do, they'll be easy to neutralize."

"It'll be dark soon," Malakai remarked. "When do we attack?"

"We strike now," Eamon asserted firmly.

Beside him, Roxy chirped with unmistakable joy.