A/N: At Last! I'm done with Chapter 17! It took me so long to conjure up a continuation for this story man..hahahaha...well, hope you'll enjoy it! It's a rather short one this time cause I'm outta ideas (

Chapter 17: A New Companion

Earlith trudged wearily along the rocky roads. Finally, she was at the dense tropical forests of Mount Mjolnir. The huntress had been walking for days ever since she last saw Goddess Artemis.

"Great, figure out the rest for myself, huh?" she muttered to herself as she walked steadily along the path, "So now how am I supposed to find them in this thick forest?" She shrugged her shoulders uncomfortably and hoisted her arbalest on her back to a more comfortable position. Her fingers then readjusted the straps clinging to her barrel of arrows, trying to seek more comfort for her aching shoulders. Finally she held on to her medium-sized satchel for a moment, burdening her arms with its weight instead of her shoulders.

"Drat Alyssa," she continued to mutter to herself, "Why is it that trouble always seek for her?" Even as she walked and muttered, her sharp eyes never cease to keep a lookout for any ambushed danger hidden anywhere close. If there was anything she was proud of in being a huntress, it was her perfectly honed senses that molds with nature. She could detect even a slightest twinge of a lunatic that lie hidden among the bushes and knowing what is was.

Her mind wandered just as she wandered physically. Mentally, she began recollecting her thoughts and pieced them together slowly, trying to gain a clearer picture of the recent happenings. That sage, she remembered suddenly, it had all started from him. Shenzein Zephyrthros, the former magician that had rescued her from an orc that had tried to attack her back then. The huntress frowned slightly. What had he to do with the recent happenings?

Then she remembered her friend's expression when she had first saw him unconscious. "Hard to say, but I seriously think that means something for sure," she said to herself. Her eyes continued to rove around sharply for any odd movements as she thought deeply. Then there were Astrexil and her sister. What did they have to do with all this? Could they somehow be part of the whole weird harum-scarum?

She shook her head in confusion, as though trying to brush off the cobwebs from her head. This is all getting too weird for me, she thought irritably. She then looked up. Her falcon, Stigma, was still flying on higher grounds. She was getting pretty fond with that bird. Stigma was indeed an unusual bird. It could sense when the huntress is distressed and would try to comfort her. Right now, the falcon was becoming her eyes, and would try to locate Alyssa from the skies.

Suddenly, Stigma gave a loud cry. The next instant, the ground began to shake. It was just a slight movement at the beginning, but it was enough to put Earilith on guard. She quickly stood, legs apart, and braced for the worst. Sure enough, the quake grew harsher and stronger. Quickly. The huntress flung herself on the ground. It was wisest to stay low when a quake occurred, for it reduces the risk of being injured.

"Now what?" she exclaimed out loud as she got closer to the ground. Her body was parallel with the earthen floor as she tried to peer out what was going on. Finally, she noticed a small, thin crack from afar. She exclaimed once more and quickly tried to move towards her right. The thin crack that she had noticed was a crack on the ground; in other words, it was becoming a deep hole of nothingness.

The gaping line was getting too close for comfort. Even from afar, she noticed that jagged rocks had emerged from the line, sliding and rising to merge into one large wall. As quick as thought, Earilith moved even further to avoid the approaching cracks and rocks. With a stroke of pure luck, she had managed to escape fatality. A large spiked rock had just emerged from where she was a moment ago. Her heart pounding, the huntress could only stare at the newly-built barrier in front of her.

The wall continued to form as it went on. After a while, the horror subsided and only a tinge of rumble could be heard from afar. She wondered how far would the wall build up before it stops. Picking herself up, she brushed off the dirt from her clothes and scanned the rocky wall. Going closer, she raised her right hand and tapped gently on the earthen surface.

"Hmm," she mused, "It seems real enough. But why would anyone try to build a wall here? Unless…"

Something dawned in her mind. Picking up her arbalest that she had accidentally dropped during the quake, she whistled for her falcon. "Stigma," she called out, "Go scout ahead and return to me, okay?"

The majestic bird appeared out of nowhere from the sky and gave an answering reply before flying strongly towards the east, where the wall had come from. Without wasting any more time, the huntress herself ran behind her falcon.

Her mind raced with numerous possibilities. Could it be at last, she will find Alyssa? Or would it be just another false alarm? But after a few hundred steps, trouble brewed around her. There was a commotion somewhere in front of her. Stopping abruptly, the huntress automatically hid herself behind a clump of bushes nearby and moved ahead silently. To her surprise, she saw a raccoon-like animal crouching in fear in front of a group of leering wolves. A smokie?

Earilith took one look at the poor frightened animal and her heart went out for it. Taking a deep breath, she gripped her arbalest with her left hand and carefully drew out two sharp silver arrows from her bow case on her back. With precise aims, she released the arrows at the same time. Her shots hit its mark. Within seconds, two wolves crashed into an ungainly heap; dead. Caught by surprise, the remaining three wolves howled and backed off slowly, sniffing about for all its worth.

The huntress took two more arrows and fired them once more, causing two more to fall dead on the ground. The remaining wolf growled and whimpered at the same time, backing off from its dead companions. Then it turned tail and fled.

Earilith got up, satisfied. "Hmm, four out of five. Not bad," she murmured to herself. Then she noticed the frightened animal still cowering by the bushes.

"Hey there, little fella. Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you," she crooned gently, stooping down slowly beside it. The smokie shrank back and tried to attack the huntress.

"It's all right, little one. Come on out o-yeouch!" she grimaced as she checked her finger which the creature had bit. Time for another tactic. She slipped her hand into her pouch and brought out a half-baked yam. She had meant to have it for a snack later on, but she supposed that the smokie needed it more than her anyway.

"Here you go, little fella. No need to be scared now," she wheedled as she placed the yam slowly in front of the creature. The smokie backed off a bit, baring its teeth for all its worth. Then slowly, as if attracted to the food offered, it left its hiding place slowly and inched its way closer to the yam. It sniffed the peace offering for a while before snatching it and backing off again into the bushes.

As Earilith watched, the smokie tore out the skin of the yam and started to gobble up the rich contents. "Hungry, aren't ya?" she said caustically. She waited patiently for the creature to wolf down the yam. She didn't have to wait long. The smokie had wolfed down the food given within seconds.

Looking inquiringly at the huntress, it took a tentative step forward. Earilith smiled encouragingly but did not make any move. If she did, the creature would flee in panic. Slowly, step by step, the smokie crept closer. When it was finally a hair's breath from the huntress's hand, Earilith slowly and cautiously moved her hand slightly so that her fingers touched its head lightly.

The creature moved back in alarm. Again, the huntress stilled her movement and made soft crooning noises. After a while, the smokie regained its courage and stepped forward. This time, it did not shrink back when she stroked its head gingerly. In fact, it crooned with delight.

Earilith smiled. The creature was playful after all. "You are really one cute fella, ain't ya?" she said as she tickled it under its furry chin. The smokie was indeed a cute one. With large deep-brown patches around its eyes and a green leaf that seems to be stuck on its head, it gave an aura of innocence around it.

She gave the creature one more piece of her yam. Finally, she stood up. She had just remembered what she was about to do before she was interrupted. "How could I forget!" she exclaimed. Slipping her pouch around her waist once more, she picked up her arbalest and slung it around her shoulders diagonally. Stooping down to pet the creature once more, she began to set off.

She did not even walk more than a hundred steps when she heard a sound behind her. Tensing, her hand flew to her arbalest as she swung around. Her eyes scanned everywhere for enemies but to her surprise, she only saw the smokie she had saved earlier.

"Hey there, little fella. Didya follow me now?" she asked, bending down to stroke its head. The creature looked inquiringly at the huntress and stood on its two hind legs. The huntress petted its head again and turned around to leave.

The creature stared at the departing huntress for awhile with its head cocked on one side. Then it bounded off and followed her from behind. Again, Earilith turned around to find it standing inquiringly behind her.

"Hmm, you want to follow me, little one?" she asked the smokie. The creature looked at the huntress and leapt up onto her chest. Surprised, Earilith managed to grab the smokie right as it reached her chest. "I'll take that as a yes," she smiled. Then she looked at her newfound companion.

"Hmm…now what shall I call you," she mused out loud as she stroked it on its head. Then she snapped her fingers. "Ah I know! I shall call you Shadowdance since you have been following me like a shadow since just now, and that you look like your dancing when you stood up on your hind legs just now!" she said cheerfully.

. The smokie merely licked at the huntress's fingers. Earilith laughed and stroked her new pet. Then, setting it down, she continued her journey. Shadowdance followed her from behind quietly, stopping every now and then to cling on Earilith's leg as though tired of walking. Finally, the huntress bent down and collected the smokie into her arms. Then she continued her journey.