By the time PD had landed in the dry bed of the Salt River, the sun had already completely set. An odd silence had fallen over the region. PD, still in dragon form, began to search for his contact. He soon found it eating crickets in a nearby bush.
PD cleared his throat. The bush stopped munching.
"Who isssssss it?"
"Uh, this is the Arizonan Dragon. I'm looking for…"
"You are looking for me."
Just then, the mysterious voice revealed itself. From under the bush crawled a huge, black and pink Gila Monster. PD knew that these creatures could grow to very large sizes, but this one was particularly fat."
"Pleasssssse, call me Sussspectum. It isss a great honor to meet you, Arizonan Dragon."
"Uh, just call me PD." Even though he was a great deal larger than Suspectum, PD knew to be weary around Gila Monsters. "What's the problem?"
"Oh, it isss dreadful. Today wassss the day we were to have the venom ready."
PD's jaw dropped. "Oh no! What happened?"
"They came, wearing green and black uniformsss. They demanded to know where the venom wassss. When we said that we were not giving it up, they took our leader."
PD heaved a great sigh. "Oh, great. We may never find them!"
"Don't be so sure, my dragon friend. I, the great Sussspectum, am an expert spy. I followed them to their desssstination. I know exactly where they are."
Finally, PD had something to be somewhat happy about. "Good job, Suspectum! We'll head out first thing in the…"
The Gila Monster interrupted. "There issss no time for ressst. By the looksss of what I saw, they are planning to move our leader soon. We mussst go tonight."
This was not what PD wanted to hear. He was in desperate need of sleep. However, seeing who he was dealing with, PD chose not to argue.
"That's a good idea. Er, where is it exactly where we're going?"
Suspectum raised one pudgy paw and pointed it towards the nearest mountain. "There."
And with that, the Dragon and the Gila Monster set off towards the foot of the great Tovrea Mountain.