"We did what?" Yusuke yelled. "How did we do that?"
"It's easy." Nadia said. "Seeing as we just did it."
"What she means is, the fog thins out because if it's too thick the Larva will die." Zelda explained. "But this also makes it seem like we're leaving the hive behind us so we just end up walking right into it."
"Great, so what do we do now?" Yusuke asked.
"That's a stupid question." Hiei said. "We kill them."
"No, we run." Zelda said. "Though I would like to agree with Hiei, there is only one way to get out of here without wasting time and getting injured. Caliber and Rain will do it."
"Why me?" Caliber asked.
"Because you're the only other one capable of it." Rain said. "I need your help and you know it."
"Fine." Caliber grumbled.
"Let's go then!" Nadia yelled.
They ran off, leaving Rain and Caliber behind. Hiei looked back to see Kazu flying straight up into the air while Caliber and Rain stood closer together. The tattoo on Caliber's face was turning from black to red in a pulsating beat.
"Will they be alright?" Kurama's question brought Hiei's attention back to running away.
"They'll be fine." Zelda responded. "They've done it before. You should be more worried about us. We need to find a place to hide."
"There's a cave up here." Nadia said.
"How do you know?" Yusuke asked.
"We're near the border." Nadia said. "When I was younger I used to cross it a lot and hang around in it."
"That's real smart." Yusuke mocked.
"Hey, it was fun!" Nadia yelled.
"Well, until she was caught." Zelda laughed.
Nadia stuck her tongue out at her and Zelda replied with the same gesture. The group ran on until they saw a cave on their right. They ran into it and hid behind some rocks. Just as they did they heard a loud roaring sound. In that instant a wave of fire blasted past the opening of the cave, and then it was gone.
"What the hell was that?" Kuwabara asked.
"What we were running from." Nadia said. "You don't want to be caught by that"
"They didn't give us much time, did they?" Kurama commented.
"There really wasn't much time." Zelda said. "One sting and you would be dead within hours without treatment."
"So those are the creatures I've heard about." Kurama mumbled. "never thought I'd ever see one, let alone a hive of them."
Movement at the cave entrance distracted them. The group cautiously walked out of the cave to see Caliber and Rain standing to their left.
"Figures you'd hide in here." Rain smiled.
"All gone?" Nadia asked.
"Looks like it." Caliber said. "Most were incinerated before the attack could fully begin.
"So I'm assuming no wounds on either of you." Zelda said, walking over to them.
Before Rain could reply a loud buzzing noise came from behind. The girls turned to see one remaining Sky Killer flying at them; stinger pointed in their direction.
"Watch out!" Kurama yelled. He ran and pushed Zelda and Rain out of the way but he wasn't fast enough to move himself. The stinger pierced him in the shoulder and he fell backwards, yelling in pain. The stinger detached from the Sky Killer's body. It flew a little ways only to fall to the ground and die in front of the cave.
"Kurama!" Zelda exclaimed. She quickly went to his side. "Don't you listen? I told you not to get stung by one."
"That's why I pushed you out of the way." He said while trying to get up.
"Don't move!" Zelda gasped. She put her hand on his shoulder to stop him. He listened and stayed still.
Zelda took off her bag and frantically rummaged through it. She finally pulled out two shriveled up seaweed-like leaves.
"Damn it!" She yelled. She threw them on the ground and rested her head on her palms.
"What is that? Yusuke asked.
"The only cure for the poison." Zelda sighed. "It's called Rue. It's an extremely rare plant that only grows in equally rare ancient lakes. I've only come across two in my lifetime. These two leaves were the last of my supply from them."
"So why didn't you get more?" Kuwabara asked.
"The plant last a long time once they're dried." Zelda sighed.
"Hey!" Nadia exclaimed. "There's a rally old lake just before the border. Maybe we can find some in there."
"It's worth a shot." Rain agreed.
"Caliber, you know where it is, right?" Zelda looked at her hopefully.
"Yeah, why?" Caliber said.
"You can get there the fastest." Zelda commented. "Can you go and look for it? I want to make sure the poison doesn't spread before we get there."
"If it means getting away from all of this, then fine." Caliber sighed.
"Thank you." Zelda smiled. She went back into her bag and pulled out a long, white cloth and a small, palm length, metal rod. Zelda tossed the rod to Caliber.
"You might need it." She advised. "The plant grows very deep and you might be down there for a long time."
Caliber nodded. She took off her mask and tossed it to Zelda who put it back in the backpack.
"What are you crazy?" Yusuke exclaimed. "You'll be poisoned without that!"
"If you had been paying attention to your surroundings you would know that the poison is gone." Zelda retorted. "Once the hive is destroyed and most of the creatures are dead the poison will disperse within minutes."
Before Yusuke could reply Caliber ran off.
"Geez, she's fast!" Yusuke exclaimed.
"No one has been able to catch her." Rain remarked.
"I bet Hiei could." Yusuke challenged.
"I doubt it." Nadia put in.
"Does is matter?" Zelda snapped. Nobody spoke and she grunted in satisfaction.
"Hiei." Kurama sighed. "Go after Caliber and give her a hand."
"Why should I?" Hiei asked.
"Because if you don't you'll just be in the way!" Zelda snapped. "Now Go!"
She tossed him a small rod and he reluctantly turned and ran off. Zelda went back to work. She finally was able to get both their masks off and worked on his shoulder again. She took the white cloth and tied it on his shoulder.
"Tight?" She asked.
"Any tighter and I think it might fall off." Kurama grinned.
"Good." Zelda smiled. She helped him up and looked at Rain and Nadia who were taking their masks off.
"Ready?" She asked.
"We are, but they're not." Nadia pointed to Yusuke and Kuwabara who were having a hard time getting the masks off. Zelda laughed at them. When the two finally got the masks off their faces turned red with embarrassment. They realized the rest of the group was either laughing or staring.
"Don't worry." Rain teased. "The first time is always the hardest."
The boys nodded and the group headed off.
OH NOES! Kurama got poisoned! Stay tuned to find out if they find the cure or not!