Disclaimer: TinySprite owns nothing of Dragon Flyz, which is owned by Gaumont Pictures. Only the plot is hers.

Prompt: Search

Part One

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Z'neth slowly edged his way around a cluster of boulders, nerves painfully tight and his windjammer at the ready.

Peak had been caught yet again by Dread Wing and once more Z'neth wasn't too sure on how that had happened. Again, they'd been taunted by the mutant Lord of Old Earth, who had quickly set down the terms for Peak's return.

But this time was different. There was no demand for Airlandis, no sudden ambush at any time through the discussion and most worryingly, no Peak in sight. Dread had instead gestured towards an odd looking landmark and made a remark on how he found it so interesting that humans had at one point obsessed over mazes.

It had clicked then in Z'neth's head, and from the sharp intake he'd heard behind him, his other siblings realized it as well. Dread's mocking smirk came out then and he finally set the terms.

Peak had been placed in that maze not long after his capture. Dread was going to generously allow them each one day to search it and find him. If the five days passed without finding Peak, Dread was going to permanently seal the maze's entrance.

The other conditions were even less favorable for them. Apex wasn't allowed to participate in the search due to her powers, so they would have to find a replacement for her. Also, whoever went into the maze would be followed by a dark dramen and a mutant, to help prevent cheating.

Z'neth spared a glance over his shoulder to see Nocturna and the dark dramen following him slowly at their own pace. The teal mutant's eyes met his briefly in the light from his helmet's flashlight and he caught the slightest hint of apology in them before she steeled her gaze into one of slight twisted amusement.

The eldest Dragon Fly ignored the sudden pang in his chest and returned his gaze to searching the tunnel. He knew Nocturna would have given him some help if she could, just as Dread knew it. So why had he made her follow Z'neth in?

Hearing something move further down in the tunnel, Z'neth pushed those thoughts out of his head to focus. His helmet light caught nothing, but he still didn't lower his arm, not trusting this area.

The maze was a natural one, made from centuries of water and wind carving through the various underground caves until it became the confusing, ever twisting mess that it was today. Even if they'd been allowed to use the dragons (they hadn't), this maze was too small for them.

There were other worries as well. After Z'neth had agreed to go in first, Dread had made an odd comment about how they'd want to hurry. At that, the red mutant had tossed a bundle at the Dragon Flyz from his position on Black Heart's back. It popped open once it hit the ground, the roughly wrapped package revealed to be Peak's gear. His windjammer and communicator, his helmet, his zoomerang and the upper half of his body armor.

At that time, Z'neth had gritted his teeth and continued on into the maze, but now, here in the dark, those nagging little worries were coming back. First of all, it was pitch black in the maze, and Z'neth had found evidence that creatures lived in here though he hadn't seen any yet.

Add in to that that the increasing chill of the maze for another worry. Without his gear, Peak was unlikely to last long down here. Firmly stamping down the mental whisper that his youngest sibling could already be dead, Z'neth pushed forward into the maze.

They would find him. They would not give up.