4
"Hurry up! Drop your pack, it's weighing you down!"
Zidane's desperate shouting was drowned out by the thundering rumble of heavy footsteps. Vivi was running with his cloaked head lowered forward. He clumsily attempted to widen the gap between himself and the two pursuing green dragons, but slippery mud seemed to slide under his feet. He wasn't gaining ground fast enough to outrun the vengeful dragons and Zidane knew it. Zidane dropped Freya's limp form as carefully as the little time allowed and picked up his staff sword. He lined himself up with the nearer of the two dragons and began to run at it. He was running at full speed, his light footfall acquired from his thieving profession giving him an edge in the wet and muddy conditions. The massive bulk of the dragon reared up, its scaly hide blocking out the late afternoon sun. The second dragon was further behind, slower in its pursuit and still bewildered by the death of its sibling. Vivi was sandwiched between the dragon and his savior. Sweat dripped from below the shadow of his face.
Zidane was but a footfall from leaping to Vivi's aid when he was suddenly knocked back by a wave of energy. He flew back and hit the ground hard. Looking back up, he was shocked to see Vivi turned and facing the oncoming dragon. He soon realized why. Vivi's entire body was pulsing with a purple glow that illuminated the forest clearing. His eyes were suddenly wreathed in crackling electricity, and his whole body glowed with a static hum. Zidane watched on in awe. The dragon slowed down, startled, and slipped on the mud. It skidded uncontrollably towards Vivi's squat form. But Vivi didn't flinch. He stood directly in the path of the dragon, the hum off electricity growing to an audible buzz. The gargantuan form was bearing down on him, unable to regain a foothold.
Suddenly Vivi lunged forward, thrusting forward with his short oak staff. The electricity bathing his body seemed to rush into the staff all at once, gathering at the end and releasing in a massive lance of brilliant energy. The dragon twisted its body but the mud dragged its body straight into the path of the bolt, driving a hole through the creature's stomach. Black blood gushed out, carving rivulets down the rubbery hide of the slain beast. The incredible weight hit the ground all at once, slowing to a halt next to Freya. She feebly tried to roll away, but she couldn't move properly. The black blood soaked into the mud and crept towards her, staining her clothes an inky blue-black.
The party's troubles were far from over however. The second dragon was regaining its composure after the slaying of yet another sibling. It howled
in rage, straightening up to run at the exhausted adventurers. Zidane wearily lifted himself up and ran to Freya, stumbling with the pain shooting through his legs. He collapsed, crawling along the ground. He made it to Freya and grabbed her by her arm. With the last of his energy he dragged her the last few paces to the hole in the ground that they had come through from the Grotto, and into their predicament only minutes earlier. He hoisted her onto his back and slid down into the hole, grabbing onto the thick rope ladder that descended down into darkness. He looked back to the clearing.
Vivi was running again with newfound strength. The dragon was still fast, however. Vivi was focused, his eyes never leaving his goal. His legs pumped faster and faster, maintaining the distance to the dragon behind. The dragon's nostrils lit up with flame, jets of heat forking forward and singing the damp atmosphere. Vivi was close to the hole. He could feel the heat on the back of his head. He sensed the growing flame behind him and at the last moment kicked his legs out and dropped into a slide, careening towards the hole. The dragon belched out the flame a moment too early and the heat wave streaked over Vivi's head, scorching his hat. But he made it to the hole, just in time to avoid the second blast, looking up as the searing flame flew across the mouth of the hole. He clung to the ladder. Zidane loosened his grip and slid down the hole, landing in the darkness with a dull thud. Vivi followed quickly, but lacked the courage to slide like Zidane. He was climbing as fast as he could, a fear growing in his ears with a painful thump-thump. He soon replaced that fear with one of the dragon looming over the hole. He realized that if he didn't drop the dragon would surely toast him alive. Summoning all his courage he let go of the ladder and fell. He landed with a crunch on the cold stone floor and rolled a short distance away to the left. Tongues of flame danced around the opening for a few moments before the dragon stalked off to mourn its fallen companions. Finally the three companions had time to recover.
"I never knew this Grotto led to such a dangerous forest, I've never heard tales of it before…" Gasped Vivi through deep breaths.
"Maybe that's because we're the first to come out alive!" Replied Zidane.
Suddenly a low, loud growl shook the cavern.
"Oh no…what next?" Strained Freya, pressing her hand to her wounded chest.
The stone around them began to crumble, and through the falling dust, during the brief respite in action, Zidane could have sworn he saw a cloaked figure dashing through the back of the cave.