It was a scorching day. The three suns beat their rays upon the sand with harsh brutality. It was the second day Duel Academy had spent in that strange desert world. With a short supply of food and water and regular attacks from harpies, morale was low, and now Blaire was lying in the hospital with a strange, open wound on her arm. Jaden, Jesse, Jim, Axel and Adrian were now making their way across the hot sand in search of an abandoned submarine, hoping it contained the medical supplies needed to improve Blaire's condition and maybe a little food. Jaden stopped and turned to the rest of the group.
"What now?" Asked Jesse.
"Well Jess, since our duel spirits are real, I thought we'd just fly to the sub. Cause it sure beats walking."
"Yeah, but after I summoned my crystal beast Pegasus to battle, my bioband drained my energy, so we really need to be careful when we call out our monsters."
"But with danger lurking around every corner, it sounds like using our decks is going to be something of a last resort proposition" added Adrian. The group turned to look back at Duel Academy on the horizon, a trio of harpies circling the building.
Jaden sighed, "You guys are no fun."
"Jaden, if you don't focus somebody's libel to get hurt." Said Jesse.
"Chill out."
"We've gone way beyond simple holograms of monsters. Things here are real and don't seem too keen on becoming friends." Axel added.
"Yeah, yeah I know." Said Jaden, defeated. The group continued their slow progress across the sand in silence. There was great tension in the air with everyone on high alert for any potential monster attacks. Suddenly, the silence was broken by a low growl from Shirley who started to wave her limbs and tail. Jim stopped and quickly scanned the area.
"Take cover! Something's coming!" He shouted and pointed towards a large boulder embedded in the sand, which the group of men quickly ducked behind. Low rumbles and growls seem to protrude from the ground beneath them.
"I don't like the sound of that." Said Jaden.
With an explosion of sand, a huge creature seemingly made of rock burst from the ground with an almighty roar. Tentacles flailing, the monster moved aimlessly through the sand, growling and roaring as it went.
"Do something!" Said Jaden from behind the rock.
"You do something!" Replied Jim.
Just then, a large shadow flew over the group hidden behind the rock and giant leather wings flapped causing a gust of wind to whip up the sand around them. An almighty dragon had descended from the sky and was now flying at top speed towards the rock monster. The group of students poked their heads above the rock to watch as the dragon flew in circles around the monsters head, disorientating it.
The beast opened it jaws and released a deafening roar, and a small figure was then seen firing an arrow from a bow into the monsters mouth from the dragon's back. The rock monster began to tremble and as if in slow-motion fell onto the hot sand and lied there motionless.
The dragon then descended and landed next the beast. The figure slid from its back and moved towards the creature lying on the desert floor.
"There's someone there." Said Jesse from behind the rock. The group stood and moved from behind their shelter and walked across the sand towards their rescuer only to be halted by a snarling, white wolf which seemed to have appeared from nowhere.
The wolf was much larger than an ordinary member of its species and was a dazzling white. It was also adorned with silver armour around its neck and ankles which were decorated with small diamonds. Its eyes and nose were scrunched in a snarl and its ears lay flat across its head. The beast had its hackles raised to appear larger and was emitting a constant, low, rumbling growl. Jim was first to step forward while the rest took a frightened step back.
"We can handle this pup, can't we girl?" He said as he released the reptile from his back. Shirley ran towards the wolf snapping her jaws, ready to fight. The white wolf readjusted its stance, ready to engage in battle with this giant lizard. Shirley lunged at the canine, jaws open wide…
"No!"
Shirley's jaws snapped shut with brute force onto a woman's arm as she rushed in and pushed the wolf to the side. Blood immediately began to pour from the wound and the woman bellowed in agony. Shirley released her arm and she held it tight against her stomach panting and grunting in pain.
The group of men stood in shocked silence. Jim opened his mouth to say something but couldn't find the words to say in such a situation. Finally, Axel was able to break the silence.
"I've got some bandages in my pack." He said, and treated the wound enough to stop the blood flow then bandaged it accordingly.
"Thank you." She said in a low voice. The woman's accent sounded almost British but was impossible to accurately place. She was adorned in brown shorts and shirt which tied up at the front, exposing her stomach. She wore large, brown hiking boots and carried a bow and quiver over her shoulder. Jim spoke up to offer an apology.
"I am so sorry, I never meant for this to happen! If there's anything…" He began, but was cut off by the woman now rising to her feet, still clutching her injured arm.
"No, no it's ok." She said, waving a hand at him. "I completely understand, you did what you thought necessary." As these words were spoken, more armoured animals appeared an surrounded the injured girl, each one encrusted with a different coloured stone.
"So, who are you?" Said Jaden.
"My name is Maya, and these.." she said, gesturing to the animals surrounding her, "…are my crystal beasts."