Chapter 5

The next day, I decided to rescue the little girl that was missing from the cave. "I'm bored and lazy," I said to Ash. "Let's just go, you and me."

"What about Artix?" Ash asked.

"What about Artix? The insects are easy, besides, I don't want to travel all the way to Amityvale to fight with him." I said.

Ash blushed. Could it be… NO WAY!

We entered and dim cave and battled several Dirt Rollers. We got to the end and saw the girl. In front of us was a Shelogog. He was hard. Luckily I put him to sleep.

I walked towards the girl.

"You came here to save me? ...from what?" she asked.

"From Monsters!" I said. "This is no place for a little girl! I came to rescue you from these monsters!"

"Yeah, thanks a lot. You just squished my new pet, her name was going to be Thomas." She said, ungratefully.

"New pet? HER name was going to be Thomas? You're a weird kid." I looked her up and down. She couldn't be older than ten.

"My name is Aria and I'm not the one going around saving people from their pets." Aria shot back.

"That…that THING was about to have you for lunch!" I argued.

"You really don't know much about training pets, do you? But I guess I should thank you. Your heart was in the right place." Aria said. That was better, thanking me.

"You're…welcome, I think. Are there any more 'pets' I should know about before I get you out of here?" I asked.

"Sure. I come here almost every day. My Grandma is a great pet trainer. She's teaching me everything that she knows." Aria said.

"Great, well, let me see if I can get you back to town in one piece so you can see her again." I said.

"You worry too much, silly Mage. OK, let's get moving! This will be FUN!" Aria squealed.

Grr. NOBODY, I repeat, NOBODY, calls me silly. How I hate that insolent little girl.

"Since you're such an expert, maybe you can tell me how to beat these things easier?" I asked sarcastically.

"Sure! Arachnida Araneidae typifies its family in its aversion to sources of high heat. You can…" Aria began.

"WHOA whoa whoa! Araichawhatnow?" I asked. I know Arachnida is the family of spiders, but that's all.

Aria heaved a sigh. "These spiders don't like fire."

I really hate her Miss-High-and-Mighty attitude. So what if I don't know the exact genus, class, and order that particular type of Arachnids are? I'm training for a Mage, not a lowly pet trainer.

"AH! OK, what else? Oh, and uh…try to use small words." I said. I don't really want a Biology lesson on Arachnids and Insects.

"Sure! Um…THE BEETLES DON'T LIKE WIND VERY MUCH!" Aria shouted.

"I'm not deaf, large words just BUG me!" I chuckled. Especially large words about bugs.

Aria sighed again. I was cracking a joke because I feel like it, not because I'm thick, or anything.

"Hehehe…" I coughed. "Get it? BUG me?"

"…Oh, I get it. It just wasn't funny. Are you done now?" Aria asked impatiently.

I chuckled. "Yes, sorry. OK, how about the wasps?" I asked sarcastically.

"The wasps don't do too well against earth. Don't ask me what they're doing down here. That's all you need to know, really." Aria said, looking down at me.

I fumed. That kid! That's all you need to know, really! Like I'm an idiot! I'll show her!

"Great, thanks! Now let's get out of here!" I was being sarcastic again. But the proud Aria didn't notice. Ah, well.

After battling some more insects, we finally got out of Critter Cave. All around me, I hear the sounds of buzzing wings and chittering mouth parts. Good thing I brought my stomping boots.