After the white light had knocked Ray off the giant tree, Harry had let go of the crystal and Van was left holding it in disbelief.

"What have we done?

" He mumbled to himself.

"We? If you had just let me use the crystal or you had learnt to use it properly we wouldn't have been in this mess!

" Harry shouted.

However, there was no time for arguing and only a few had seen what had actually happened to Ray. Everyone else was far too busy fighting the beasts that were launched and still coming towards them from the tree.

'Ray, Ray, we need to get Ray.' With this in mind, the crystal held in Van's hand started to glow brightly, and he charged forward more fearlessly than Van had ever been before. He allowed the white light to shine out and destroy the beasts in front of him one by one.

The beasts disintegrated once shot by the laser of white light from the crystal, and soon the beasts that were attacking them were all dead. When the fighting had stopped, rather than moving on they decided to do a head count and tend to any injuries received in the battle.

This was when they realised that a main figure was missing.

"You two idiots!

" Katie screamed at the top of her lungs.

"I saw what happened!

" She continued to shout as she clenched her fist towards the two boys. Martha, who was flying above, quickly descended and let her wings in, while the others soon started to gather around at the commotion.

"Hey Katie, is this to do with Ray, what happened?

" Martha asked, placing her hand on her armour chest piece. She could feel Katie's heart beating rapidly.

This group of people, more than anyone cared for Ray greatly, and that included Katie.

"The white light from the crystal hit Ray and knocked him off the tree, he fell down to the other side!

" She explained and everyone was stunned with their mouths left open in shock.

"I'm sorry!

" Van sobbed, falling to his knees.

"I didn't mean to.

"

Just as everyone was about to condemn Van for what had happened, a fist came out hitting Harry in the face and chucking him over to the other side.

"Are you really just going to stand there and say nothing?

" Jack said.

"Me and you used to be the closest of friends, the Harry from before would have admitted what happened. I saw what you did. You tried to take the crystal out from Van's hand. That's why the attack strayed and hit Ray. Tell me now, are you infected by the shadow?

" Jack said as he approached Harry, who was still on the floor. Jack's punch had quite a bit of power behind it and it was serious.

"Don't any of you understand, Van was having trouble activating the crystal, but he's not the only one it responds to. When I hold it, it works as well. I was trying to help us! I never thought it would hit Ray either.

" Harry pleaded his case.

"I don't think this should be something we should argue about right now.

" Lenny interrupted.

"First Ray has fallen down to the snowy side of the mountain, we all know Ray is strong, so he will live. However, going to get him is out of the question. Scaling this tree was hard enough, and scaling down the side of the mountain is impossible to go after him. The others are already ahead, I think we need to keep moving.

"

It was true, the others really couldn't do much no matter how much they wanted to help him.

"I can try to find Ray, I can use my nose and scale down the mountain.

" Jack suggested.

"Then who will lead us?

" Lenny asked.

"I am originally an outsider. They will find it hard to take orders from me. Harry used to be a good choice, but his mind is clearly no longer what it used to be. Although you may not be the smartest, you are one of the most trusted Redwing members and you have others that can help and guide you. Besides, communication is no longer available if you haven't noticed.

"

What Lenny was referring to was the system that would allow them to send messages to each other. The system had long become unreliable recently, they no longer could rely on it like before to help them out. This meant the need for a leader was more so than before.

At that moment, everyone was looking at Jack. They agreed with Lenny's reasoning and if they continued forward they would only do so under him. However, Jack couldn't forget about Ray. He didn't think getting to the fortress was more important than going after Ray.

Until a voice had entered his mind.

'I will find my master. You do not have to worry.'

Looking around, Jack was wondering where the voice was coming from, especially since no one else had seemed to hear it, until he saw a wolf standing behind the Redwing army looking his way.

'I am quicker than you, and my nose is just as sharp. I promise to bring him back to all of you, and you must promise to protect the people he cares about.' Noir said through her mind and before he could say anything.

She was already running off back down the tree.

"Alright, we move forward to the fortress. We will find out what happened here and at the village, but be prepared. Our enemy is there and it could possibly be them who had sent the beasts after us, we have to be prepared for anything. And Harry, leave the crystal to Van. That's an order!

" Jack snarled at him towards the end, trying to put Harry in his place.

The group, ready to go, had their morale slightly boosted. They felt like Ray was someone who could never die, and with this in mind they finally had reached the fortress at the very top of the tree.

*******

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