Getting to Know Your Local Dragons

"Wow, who would have thought it would be so hard to ride a parrot?" Fred wobbled as they walked along.

"I dunno Freddy, maybe anybody with a sane mind?" Pietro snapped. Due to all the vines he was forced to walk at a normal pace. "Toad can you see anything?"

Todd was happily hopping in the trees. "Yeah I see trees," Todd remarked. "Trees to the left of me! Trees to the right of me!"

"Not this again…" Fred sighed. "Is it me or is it getting warmer in here?"

"Yeah it is hot," Pietro panted. "I'm sweating like you!"

"And it's getting foggier too," Fred remarked. "It's as thick as clam chowder!"

"That's pea soup Blob," Pietro told him.

"Well you eat what you like and I'll eat what I like," Fred said.

"I didn't think there was any kind of food you didn't like!" Pietro said.

"Hey I may not be as picky as you but I'm not a human garbage disposal like Toad!" Fred snapped. "Sorry little buddy, no offense. Toad? Toad?"

"Where did he go?" Pietro blinked. "This fog is so thick! Even if I could run with all these vines this fog's keeping me from running. I could end up running into a tree or something. Hey Blob why don't you…?" He looked around. "Fred? Freddy? Where are you? Where are you guys? Come on this isn't funny!"

Then he felt something entwine his legs. "Oh no! Not another snake!" He looked down and saw huge vines wrap around his body. "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOWW!"

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"I heard something!" Granny remarked as the party walked along the woods. "What was that?"

"That's Pietro!" Wanda said. "I'd recognize my brother's girly scream anywhere!"

"I have a bad feeling about this," Granny said. "Come on!"

They rushed over with Lance trailing behind. "Come on Lance!" Kima encouraged him.

"I'm coming! I'm just not used to running around in sandals like this," Lance told her. "I mean these clothes are comfortable but not what I'm used to. Thank goodness Summers or any of the others aren't here. I'd never live this down!"

"Come on we'd better…" Kima looked around. "Oh no! Fog very thick! We lost them!"

"Wonderful," Lance sighed. "HEY!" He felt vines entangle his legs.

"I got you!" Kima said. Instantly fire came out of her mouth, blasting the vines.

"Hey watch it!" Lance gulped nearly getting scorched. He managed to shake off the vines.

"Orochi has power over certain plants in this area," Kima explained. "We must be close!" She used her firepower to blast some more vines. "There. That should hold them for a while."

"Well that's a handy talent," Lance blinked. "YIKES!" He stepped back as he saw a huge ant walk up to him.

"Fire ants!" Kima yelled. She grabbed Lance and flew with him up to a tree hollow. "We have to hide here until they go by! Don't worry! We safe here!"

"Can't you just uh…you know? Barbecue them?" Lance asked.

"No their hides are too tough," Kima said. "Trust me you do not want to fight with them! Too many! Look!" She pointed to the huge line of ants below.

"I see your point," Lance sighed. "Well I guess we're stuck here for a bit. Uh…So, what do you do on this island for fun?"

"Oh many things," Kima said. "Kima like to fly and pick flowers, swim in ocean and spear fish, fight with giant horned lizards, train for combat and bake cookies."

"O-kay," Lance blinked. "Well every girl need hobbies. I mean this is nice getting to know each other like this."

"Oh you wish to get to know Kima?" Kima giggled. "Yaia!" She then embraced him. They fell to the ground with Kima on top.

"What are you doing?" Lance yelled.

"Getting to know you," Kima said cheerfully.

Oh boy…What do I do? Lance's mind raced as Kima kissed him. I mean Kitty and I have broken up. I think…and I'm pretty sure Tin Grin isn't wasting any time! But this seems so…fast!

"Now hold on a second!" Lance broke away. "I didn't mean it like that! I…" He was interrupted by another kiss. "I mean you don't have to if you don't want to…" She kissed him again. "Then again…"

"Ahem!"

They looked up and saw Granny in her true form with Althea, Xi and Wanda on her back. "Kima will you drop him?" Granny sighed. "This is no time for playing!"

"Um…I can explain!" Lance gulped, not to thrilled about having an angry dragon blast him.

"Oh relax kid," Granny said. "Unlike humans we dragons don't have any sexual hang ups!"

"Yes, we don't even choose mates until we reach 250," Kima said.

"Yeah and by 275 is when we usually split up," Granny said. "But right now I think we'd better concentrate on your friends. I think the Orochi has them in her lair."

There was a loud shriek. "Okay now I know she has them in her lair," Granny muttered.

"The fog is lifting!" Xi pointed.

"And the moon is full," Granny looked at the night sky above them. "Curses! I've lost track of the time! We have to hurry if we are going to save your friends and prevent the Orochi from getting loose!"