Chapter 9 Something is in the wood.

Hunter, Stephoine, Chris and Rando were at Showgrid's place ready to help out with the chores to their shock they were going out to the woods in the dark! Showgrid didn't come alone. He brought his dog Mutt. Hunter didn't come alone either. Armed with his Pedigree 9000 and his messenger dragon Helmsley. He knew Helmsley was small, but he packed a HUGE bite! Showgrid looked to the group. "Ok them come along. I warn you now; we have had some trouble as of late. Tonight if you find anything strange, you call out to everyone with you wand got it?" he explained, all silently nodded. Showgrid smiled to Hunter. "You brought your dragon… Good choice!" Showgrid divided up the group. He took Stephoine, Chris, and Rando as Hunter was left with Mutt.

"Are you sure I would be ok with a dog?" Hunter asked skeptically. "I mean could Rando come with me?"

Rando was rather surprised. "Are you saying I'm better than you?" he grinned.

"No, I mean if something were to attack me. It would get you first!" Hunter shot back, Rando glared at him. But Showgrid didn't change his mind. He sent Hunter left and took the other in the opposite direction. The forest did freak him out quite abit. Noises were heard that he had never listened to before. Strange calls and growls came from every which way.

"Yesh, I get stuck with a Mutt" Hunter sighed. His dragon Helmsley growled at him in protest. "Hey I know you are strong and powerful. But would be able to take down something the size of me? Or bigger?" Hunter asked it. His dragon curled around his neck gently. Hunter smirked, as he continued to follow Mutt. He wasn't that bad by him self, I mean Mutt is Showgrid's dog it knows where everything is! The continued along through the forest, it was as bad a Hunter thought. He walked to his dragon, and see what the dog would be doing. Everything was well till he heard it, something loud, and then a scream from a creature of some sort. Hunter went to see, figuring Mutt was right behind him… Oh no, the dog just happened to have ran away! "Damn dog!" Hunter growled. He took out his wand and made light come from the tip, he shined it where he heard the noise. He thought nothing was there at first but when he saw a dark shadowy figure before him he jumped back, this thing looked like a man, however it's face was hidden, on the ground was a dead dragon! Hunter felt his dragon Helmsley curl up even closer to him in fear, this person was going to attack him next however something came out of the wood. Hunter was amazed to see a griffin of all creatures to come from the woods scare off this thing dressed in black. The griffin looked at Hunter seeing his coiled dragon.

"Not many can be as brave as you," he said to Hunter.

Hunter looked at it as if it were nuts. "Ok, first off you can talk? Second. What did I do that was so brave?" he questioned.

The griffin looked down at Hunter. Its body was in the shape of a lion, its head was that of a hawk and it seemed to have the feet of a dragon. The griffin approached Hunter's small dragon Helmsley, extending its claw out.

"Come my friend I need you," explained the griffin. Helmsley slowly uncoiled from Hunter's neck. The Griffin took it to the fallen dragon. "You know what you must do" Hunter watched as his small dragon lapped up what was left of the dead dragon. As it was doing that Hunter looked to the griffin.

"Drinking dragon's blood allows anyone to see great treasure, it also saves lives. Much like the Unicorn's blood. It will give you life on the brink of death; dragon blood is cursed as well. Those who drink it will eventually die a horrible death. I needed your dragon to drink the rest of its blood," the griffin explained.

"But… why?" Hunter asked.

"The blood of a dragon is used for many things, spells, increase one's power. Let one live life a while longer. Dragons are widely respected. Killing one, and you will kill magic too. They are the source of it"

Hunter knew he was in over his head on this, when he hears his dragon coo out loud he figured it was done. The griffin went over to it and took Helmsley into his claws. He passed him back to Hunter. He was amazed to how heavy his dragon was. It fell asleep instantly in his arms. "Will he be ok?" Hunter asked the griffin.

"He will be, just tired. But wait and see and he shall grow with a new strength!" it stated. Hunter nodded back to it. "Come I shall help you get back to your school" The griffin plucked Hunter off the ground and placed it on its back. They flew through the air; Hunter was amazed to how large the area around Ringwarts was! The Griffin landed before Showgrid and the others. Hunter got off its back and looked at the others with a grin on his face.

"Well did you find something?" Showgrid asked.

"Are you blind? I have a griffin here!" Hunter shot back. Showgrid smiled.

"Charlie" Showgrid smirked. He knew it!

Charlie approached Showgrid. "Another is gone to us," he said. Showgrid sighed. He looked frustrated.

"I will hunt this creature down!" he growled.

Hunter stepped forward. "But Showgrid. I wasn't a creature… it was a man!" he explained. Showgrid looked to the others.

"All of you go back inside. I will deal with this; tell no one what you have heard. We can't scare any of the students," he stated. Hunter was getting worried, something was out there, and it wanted the champion stone. For the stone had great powers, and in the wrong hands, it would make everything disastrous.