Dark Dragon

Chapter 4: Messages and Sewers

ZOË

     After I brought the message to Spyro for his help, I went to the Forgotten Worlds at the same time he did.  Spyro went with Hunter, but I went into a large forest region of the Forgotten Worlds.  This region could not be entered by portal because it was only on the boarders of the Sunrise Spring realm.  My business in the Forgotten Forest (that's what Dragons and Faeries called it) was to bring a message to the Forest Faeries after bringing one to Spyro.

     I fluttered through the branches of the large trees, using my lightning wand as a light.  The Sun light was hard to see through the thick trees.  My search for the Forest Faeries was not going well, for they can hide in trees very well so they can sneak up on intruders.

     "Yoo-hoo!" I called out.  The only answer I got was the chirping of birds.  "Is anyone here?"

     "Yes," answered a voice.  Jumping down from a high branch and hovering in front of me was a male Faerie.  He was a Forest Faerie, I could tell by his green wings, his black hair that reached the middle of his back, and the white and grey uniform he wore.  On his silver belt was a dagger, the green and silver leaf brooch on his grey tunic signified his high rank as a commander.

     "Hi there," I said.  "I have a message to tell the captain of the Forest Faerie's from Lord Charian."

     "I'm captain of the Forest Faeries, my name is Carin.  What message does Lord Charian send to me?"

     I stopped hovering and stood on a branch, Carin did the same.  "What you need to know," I started, "is that strange attacks have happened.  Your people need to be on alert for anything strange.  Hunter, chief of the Patrol, is going to get on the case, but your aid is needed."

     "What can the Forest Faeries do?"

     "First, if you and your men see anything strange, report it to Hunter and he'll check it out.  Second, if Hunter is in trouble, you might have to help him."

     "That seems simple enough.  I must ask, what has been causing the strange attacks?"

     I bit my lip, but I knew that the Faerie captain had to know what was going on.  "There is some vicious beast running on the loose in the Forgotten Worlds.  The first attack happened in Desert Ruins, now every person is afraid to leave their homes."

     Carin nodded.  "I see.  My men shall be on watch, for the Forest Village shall need protection as well.  If I see anything, I'll have it reported to Hunter."

     "Thank you for helping," I said.  "I'll tell Lord Charian that."

SPYRO

     Hunter, Charian, the Professor and I met up with Agent 9 and Tara in the hallway from the entrance. 

     "Agent 9, what happened?" asked Hunter.

     "Tara and I were in the Haunted Tomb and we ran into that... thing!" said Agent 9.  "We made it out alive, but I got a scratch across the back!"

     "Bianca has gone to find a medic," said Charian.

     "Let me heal that," buzzed Sparx.  He flew over to Agent 9, and released some of his energy out.  "Is that better?"

     "Yeah," said Agent 9, "thanks!"

     "Now that Agent 9 is healed," said Charian, "he and Tara can tell us in full detail of their encounter with this beast."

     We all head back to the meeting room.  Agent 9 and Tara told us everything, about how they ran into each other, the glowing eyes in the shadow, the riddles, and their escape.

     "We did try weapons against it," said Tara, "but it didn't work."

     "Your weapons didn't work?" I asked.

     "That's right.  I shot it five times, but it still attacked."

     "Are you sure you shot it?" asked Hunter.

     "Of course I shot it!  The beast must have dodged some or it got hit in places where it didn't hurt!"

     "It was dark," said Agent 9.  "I shot the eyes, which were the only parts of the beast I saw, but I just angered it!"

     "Calm down now," said Charian.  "You both did what you had to do, and you are lucky to be alive.  It's time for Spyro and Hunter to start tracking this beast.  I'll have them set with equipment and they shall start in the Haunted Tomb.  The Professor will use his technology to assist you."

     "Yes," said the Professor, "I have some devices for you to use, Spyro.  I shall explain what they are, what situations they're for and how to use them."  He opened up a metal case and took out several objects.

     "What are those?" I asked.

     The Professor held up a small object that looked like a can.  "This is a gas grenade, you can use this to blind your enemy with the smoke or put it to sleep with the gas.  You just pull the pin and throw it."

     "Right.  What else would I need?"

     "You'll also need power up orbs," he said.  "I'll give you some to start off with, but if you're running out, just find the air raft Agent 9 and I will be piloting and I'll provide more."

     "We're going to need all the help we can get to complete this mission," said Hunter. 

     "That is why Zoë has gone to seek aid from the Forest Faeries," said Charian.  He looked at Tara, "Tara, you have done your share of help.  You may continue to your own business, but do report anything strange you see."

     "Yes sir," said Tara and she left.

     "Hunter and Spyro," Charian said to Hunter and I, "it's time to prepare yourselves and leave for the Haunted Tomb."

     "Come Spyro," said the Professor, "I shall have you equipped with everything you need."  He stood up and I followed.

     My stomach twisted in knots, a chill went up my spine, I did not think that this mission was not a good idea.  It was too late for that now, I decided to join Hunter in finding the killer beast, I could not turn my back.

HUNTER

     I walked through the dark passages of the Haunted Tomb, Spyro followed beside me.  He was equipped with a tunic like mine, a dagger on his belt and a pouch carrying the gas grenades and power orbs.  I was armed with my sword, bow and quiver of arrows. 

     "I think the beast was last seen here," I said, holding up the torch.  "This is the area where Agent 9 and Tara were."

     "Hunter," said Spyro, "Agent 9 said that the beast chased him, so it could be anywhere in here."  Sparx flew around Spyro, buzzing several times.

     "We can still find the dark dragon using our sense of smell.  This is the place where Agent 9 and Tara ran found the beast, right?"

     "Right.  So that means..."

     "We follow the scent trail from here."  I sniffed the air, I could smell Agent 9 and Tara's scent, but a new scent.  It was different, which had to be the dark dragon.  "Do you smell that?"

     "Yeah, smells like a dragon scent, but I can't tell what kind of dragon."

     "It has to be the scent were looking, er, I mean smelling for.  We follow the scent to where the beast has been going to often."  I sniffed the air again, the scent was coming from the deeper part of the passage.  "We'll go this way, it's strong from over there."

     Spyro sniffed the air, "Yes, I can smell it."

     I walked into the darkness, Spyro was right behind me.  Our only light was the torch and Sparx's glow.  The scent trail was strong, then I could hear running water.  When I could see the shimmer of the water surface, I stopped, the trail had ended.

     "The trail has stopped here," I said.  "The beast must have gone into the sewers."

     "Sewers?" asked Spyro.  He stood beside me on all fours.

     "If I am correct, we are at a sewer entrance.  Every realm in the Forgotten Worlds has one, an excellent way to travel unnoticed for a killer beast that strikes in the dark.  From the examining the Professor has done, the beast is a dragon, and dragons can breathe under water."

     "Hunter, are you saying that I should go down there?"

     "Yeah, you can breathe under water and I can't, and you can fit through the entrance.  Before you go down into the sewer, you must listen carefully if you want to come out in one piece.  Take Sparx with you into the sewer, try to make your way to the sewer entrance in the Midnight Mountain Home realm.  Use the map for directions, if you get into trouble, use what weapons you have for a fight.  I might have to go in after you if it's a big emergency."

     "Got it."  He jumped into the water and swam to the dark hole.  "I'll meet you on the other side."  He disappeared into the darkness.

~To Be Continued.