Chapter 7: The Quest Begins

Sparky took it hard. The first few minutes he was looking all over the house and howling for Phantom. Later, he couldn't eat. But the worst was when he finally fell asleep. The zinogre wasn't able to get any decent rest. The missing feeling of a squirming gore magala was missing, the pressure on his paws was no longer there, and the nightmares. His mind tormented him to no end as vision after vision of horrors plagued him. Susan and Richard had to offer him comfort and even then the whimpering didn't cease. This carried on for several days and showed almost no sign of stopping.

"What are going to do?" Richard sighed, pushing a bowl of chopped steak aside.

"Like I know?" Susan growled unhappily, not having the heart to put any annoyance into it.

John and Grace were busy maintaining order and waiting for aid from the different hunting guilds. The monster that attacked them was none other than a shagaru magala, one of most dangerous elder dragons ever discovered due to the Frenzy. Why it attacked and ran off with Phantom was a mystery. But its acts left a terrible blow on the monsters and their owners. That "monstrous thing" may be a threat few could hope to challenge, but if they could get their way with it, they would make it suffer. It was not the magala they knew, not the innocent, sweet Phantom who could never be related to such a hellish nightmare.

But perhaps the ones who took it the worst, were the pets. While both felynes didn't know the depression of their friend, the blow was difficult. Species was not a barrier in this family of misfits and Phantom was an equal member of it. Innocent, blissful, and (if anyone said differently they had to be something wrong with them) adorable all at once. The gore magala brought them all closer together than they realized, just by being nothing more than an infant.

"Maybe we should leave him alone." Susan suggested.

"Damn it all! This isn't right! If I could find that thing, I would tear it apart just to have things back to normal." Richard suddenly exploded, frustration reaching the breaking point.

Sparky stopped sulking. He heard the sudden outburst and strangely felt a familiar fire burn inside. When rival strays became threats to his neighbors and himself, he dealt with them until they learned to fear the alleys he called home. Now, he had a new purpose.

Hide wherever you want bastard, he thought, I know you're out there and I'm coming for you... And when I'm done, I'm bringing my son back.

His heart pulsed with righteous fury. That "thing" took Phantom somewhere and he knew his son was still alive. Self doubt was erased by parental anger. But he would first need a way of tracking it and then getting off the island. Getting up and out the door, he sprinted for the docks.

"What the? Where is he going?!" Susan exclaimed.

Circus was practicing drawing. Most would find it odd to see an ash kecha wacha with a sketch book, but Circus was no ordinary kecha wacha to begin with (even less ordinary than the other ones on the island). A helping hand on a fishing boat and more interactive than overly playful, he often wanted to fit in any way he could. And to do that, he self taught himself how to read, write, and draw.

At the moment, he was drawing a clock tower. It was a work in-progress but artistically done. But he was finding it difficult to finish. Was it because the clock tower in the center of town was destroyed? Or perhaps it was because of the attack itself that lingered? Circus had no idea. The following days were difficult for everyone and not even his playful nature, hardwired into him no matter how weak it is, could fight back the pain and sadness.

"Circus!" a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Sparky. What brings you here?" Circus asked, putting the book aside.

"I need a favor from you," the hybrid zinogre said, voice hard and slightly menacing, "I need to borrow your ship."

"You're joking." Circus said blankly before laughing.

"Actually, I'm hell-bent. I'm asking nicely." Sparky said in the same voice.

That shut Circus up. Sparky was an old friend and he was not one to ask for favors unless he needed them. But why in the world would he need a ship? More importantly, why this one?

Probably because it was the only one where he had someone who was a friend that could control the thing...great.

"Why? You're not asking to just go off blindly and I know you plan on taking me. So spill." Circus said.

"How would you like to go...hunting?" Sparky smiled darkly.

The next few days, Richard noticed Sparky was much busier than even before he came a pet. Susan mostly ignored it but Richard knew Sparky better. Perhaps it was a "guy thing" as John would say, but Richard knew Sparky was being quite odd after recently snapping from a depressed state. Why was he out of the apartment so often? Where did he go late at night? And why were the streets buzzing with excitement from the strays?

Where are you going my electric friend?, Richard thought as he tailed Sparky one night.

"-at? No! I said I need extras...Accidents happen that's why...Come on. I let you have half a thrown out steak once...Alright, I get it. I did cause a mess but I'm asking you as a former stray and an honorable one at that...Thanks." Sparky finished talking with someone.

"You always had a way with words." a ludroth said.

Harpoon?, Richard wondered.

"Is everything all set on your end? I don't want anyone coming after me." Sparky growled.

"Took some convincing but they'll do it. You were quite the company back in the day." Harpoon answered.

"Thanks. I'll pay everyone back when I get back."

"Sparky, I understand why you're going but are you sure about this? You know those hunters will see you as nothing more than a trophy the moment you leave Respite."

"Let me handle that. Besides, who would attack a zinogre who sails a boat into port?"

"With an ash kecha wacha."

"What?!" Richard exclaimed, eyes flashing and tail spikes stretched out in a sudden bout of excitement.

"Richard? What are you doing out here?" Sparky asked.

"What am I doing out here? What in the bloody hell are you doing out here?! And just where do you plan on going with this boat and kecha wacha I hear about, you damn lunatic?!" Richard exploded.

Sparky was taken aback by this sudden outburst. While Richard had a...volatile attitude at times, he couldn't remember seeing a nargacuga this angry before. Then again, has he ever seen an enraged nargacuga before?

"That's something I'd like to know also." another voice stated.

"Great. What's next? We invite a tigrex who's sea sick with us?" Sparky sighed, knowing that Susan was most likely about to threaten to freeze something...again.

This entire meeting was meant to make the final plans to what Sparky had in mind for over a week. Now, he may have to scrap everything. Or did he? He was planning on going alone...mostly alone to be more specific depending on Circus' attitude. But perhaps he had a chance to have some more company.

"Just what is going on here?" Susan asked, voice as cold as the possible outcome of an undesirable answer.

"What are you doing here?" Richard exclaimed.

"Followed you. I believe this is where I say-"

"Will you two stop?! I'm under enough stress as is," Sparky growled before sighing, "I'll come clean. I'm going after that thing and bringing Phantom back."

Both felynes balked at this. They were unsure on what was driving Sparky, now they are unsure if they are liking it.

"If you want to join me then please do. If not...take care of John and Grace for me." Sparky said before heading off.

"Alright you," Richard pointed his attention towards Harpoon, "Talk. Where is he going?"

"Don't know. I don't even think he knows himself. All we are doing is getting him supplies and stalling the fishing fleet." Harpoon answered bluntly.

Both felynes looked stunned before rushing towards the docks. They found the zinogre preparing to step on board a small fishing ship with a kecha wacha waiting.

"We've got company Sparky." Circus warned.

"I'm not changing my mind." Sparky said without turning around.

"Why are you doing this? Damn it Sparky, you're insane!" Susan yelled.

"Huh. This is the longest I've seen you angry without threatening to freeze me yet Susan."

"Stop beating around the bush Sparky. Just where did you get this crazed idea?" Richard demanded.

"From you." Sparky said simply.

"Me?" Richard exclaimed, more confused than angry at this.

"You said would 'tear it apart just to have things back to normal'. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm getting my son back as well." Sparky answered.

"I'm just in for the fun really. Besides, who ever has heard of a bunch of monsters going...well...'monster hunting' after an elder dragon?" Circus said, not liking the fact he was being ignored.

"What he said," Sparky said, "Look, I love both of you but this is something you can't talk me out of. Please don't make this harder than-"

"I'll go." Susan said.

"So am I. We can't talk you out of it so we'll make sure you come back from it." Richard agreed.

"I don't think it works like that..." Circus muttered, still ignored.

"You sure? This isn't going to be going out into the wilds of Respite." Sparky said.

"Stop being controversial and let's get on with it before we change out minds. Just why in the hell are we agreeing to this?" Richard rolled his eyes.

The next morning John and Grace were surprised to find their pets missing. They were also quite surprised to find commotion at the docks. Heading there, they found the fishermen unable to get through a wall of monsters who simply wouldn't move out of the way.

"Move the lot of you! Come on! Move it already!" a fisherman yelled.

"I don't think we're going to get much luck today. Ice fishing anyone?" another suggested, giving up on getting past.

"What's all this?" Grace asked.

"No one knows. They just won't move and one of the boats is missing." someone answered.

"This doesn't make any sense. Most of these monsters are strays. What on earth are they doing?" John wondered.

"That and where are our pets?" Grace followed.

It would take hours for them to figure out that the missing boat was commandeered and already heading south. It would take even longer for the questions to stop since the answers were only on the boat and would only be answered if it and its crew returned.