The Blue Mountains

[Ithaeliel]

Ender ducked her head as the horse tore her way through the trees, all the while being pursued by what Ender knew to be the beast. Looking back at Mattius and Calentoliel, she saw the shadow of the beast flying behind them in its terrifyingly swift gait, waiting for the opportunity to pounce. Turning her attention to the road ahead, she saw a brief glimpse of light that flashed through the woods, and then it was gone.
"The others must be lighting the way for us," said Mattius as he ducked a tree branch. "I knew they'd come through!"

A ray of hope escaped into Ender's heart... but it was only a moment before all of it was ruined.

A familiar shadow-- one Endereth knew as her guardian spirit-- stumbled suddenly in front of the mare. She gave a whinny of fright and bucked, sending Endereth flying into the ground. Mattius tried to turn the horse around, but Ender saw that this was her guardian's way of saying, "It is time."

"Ride, Mattius!" she screamed after the horse. "Ride! Ri..."
As she spoke the last word, her limbs seemed to freeze, and she would have been taken had the spirit not driven the black beast at bay. Pulling out her sword with much pain and labor, she stood and turned to face the aura that was her enemy. "So here it ends," she muttered. "Or does it begin?"