Hey everyone! Hopefully this chapter is much better than the last which was meant to just set the scene for the quest and give you some clues as to what will happen. Also, I'd like to thank everyone who have been reading my story, reviewing and following so far. Thanks so much! Anyway, on with the story :)
I wasn't sure when I drifted off again but I would have forgotten about the quest if it had not been for Bonnie who snuck into the Oceanus cabin and woke me up.
"What are you doing asleep?" She hissed. I slowly opened one eye, then the other to find Bonnie upside down glaring at me. She stood up and yanked the blankets off me. I groaned and a shiver ran down my spine.
"It's so cold" I moaned. Temporarily forgetting about my dream. Bonnie just shook her head and stared at me in disbelief.
"Did you even pack your bag?" She asked. I slowly pointed to a bulky backpack leaning on the edge of my bed.
"Well put it on! We don't have all day." She grumbled.
"But I'm so tired!" I practically yelled.
"Shhh!" She hissed, gesturing to my sleeping cabin-mates. I nodded reluctantly then groaned as I hauled my backpack on to my back.
"Huh?" A quiet voice began. "Whats all the noise for Dylan?" The voice said, a little louder. I sighed and turned around to face my best friend, standing before me with his eyes half open and a perplexed look on his face. Walter raised his eyebrows, asking for an explanation.
"Uh.. We were just.. um.." I stuttered. But Walter cut me off.
"Your going on that silly quest aren't you?" He grinned, back to his usual self. But I stared at Walter in shock.
"How did you-" I squeaked.
"Oh, I just know" Walter grinned at me mischievously.
"Need someone else to come along?" He asked, but it really wasn't a question. I sighed, realising that there was no stopping Walter from coming now.
"Sure" I mumbled, receiving a glare from Bonnie.
For once, I was actually glad the Oceanus cabin was on the very end. Because we could easily sneak into the forest without being seen. As Bonnie, Walter and I entered the forest with ease, I began to think it was just too easy.. There had to be a trap somewhere... And now I can really say I understand the saying "Be careful what you wish for".
As Bonnie, Walter and I trekked through complete darkness in the forest of chunky tree trunks, the smell of damp vegetation wafted through the air. The canopy of leaves at the top of the forest made it hard to see, creating another complication...
A blood-curling howl erupted from further in the forest. The three of us exchanged nervous glances.
"What was that?" I asked, my eyes wide and alert. Desperately scanning the pitch black forest to find the source of the noise.
"Whatever it is, I hope it's not what I think it is!" Replied Bonnie.
"What do you think it is?!" I yelled in a panic. Bonnie was silent for a moment. Walter was as still as a statue and small squeaking noises came from him. But Bonnie ignored him;
"I'v heard... that the border of camp is guarded by..." She gulped for a moment, scanning the trees.
"Hellhounds". She finished and my eyes widened.
"Are you kidding me!" Walter yelled.
"I thought it was just a story to stop people from going past the border". Replied Bonnie franticly.
Before I could try to think of something to do, a dark figure emerged from the trees. At first I thought it was a bear. It had a messy black fur coat and glowing red eyes clearly visible in the darkness. It's drooping ears and dog-like appearance were the only reason I knew it was a hellhound. I stifled a yelp as I remembered this was similar to the creature in my dream.
The hellhound let out another ear-piercing howl which echoed through the forest. Bonnie and Walter glanced at me nervously, I looked back.
"It's not.. you know.." I whimpered.
"Yes" Bonnie interrupted nodding her head nervously. "It's calling it's friends".
A squeak of terror escaped from me. I covered my mouth and watched in awe as more and more black figures appeared from out of the forest. The last time I looked, there were six. However, I didn't have much time to watch as the first hellhound bounded towards the three of us with a murderous look in it's eyes. It's mouth fell open revealing several sharp, deadly teeth.
We bolted from the hellhounds as quick as possible. Yet, one was already on our heels. I began to wonder if all those campers were right, that the Oceanus members could never survive. But I shook it off, now wasn't the time to think about that. I had to concentrate on getting out of here! I blindly ran through the forest, grunting as twigs cut my arms and legs.
I was so focused on running away that I turned to realise Bonnie was no where in sight! Thats when I heard a yell.
"What was that?" Walter whimpered.
"Dylan!" I heard Bonnie shriek. I turned back towards the scream, leaving Walter, to find Bonnie clinging to the trunk of a tree limping, clutching her left leg. I could see a huge gash on her leg and blood trickling down. Her face was chalky white and she seemed to be struggling to stay awake. I placed her arm over my shoulders, supporting her weight. I couldn't help but think I was useless. What would I do if a hellhound decided to attack again? I couldn't use a weapon and there was no water in sight.
"Get the red liquid" Bonnie mumbled pointing to her backpack. I did as she asked and fumbled through her backpack. Eventually, I pulled out some bandages and the red liquid she was talking about which was contained in a small, glass vial. The hellhounds howled from not very far off.
"Hurry" Bonnie breathed in my ear. I nodded, wrapping the bandages around her left leg tightly, making sure no more blood escaped. While I did this, she poured the red liquid into her mouth and sputtered in disgust.
"Oh no" Mumbled Bonnie. I could hear her short, ragged breaths in my ear as I held her up. The hellhounds now surrounded us in a tight circle so we couldn't escape. I desperately scanned the forest for any water, but there was none. I once again fumbled through Bonnie's bag and found a dagger. It was my last option. Clumsily, I pelted it at the nearest hellhound. It landed in its right paw. The dog didn't even wince. It made a deep, horrible growling noise and readied itself to pounce. My heart beat uncontrollably and my hands trembled. I had to close them in fists to stop them. I shut my eyes, preparing for the worst... Where was Walter?
Surprisingly, no pain came. I heard a loud thump and some more howls from the hellhounds but this time they sounded distant and a little panicked. Slowly and nervously, I opened each eye in confusion to find a bulky, metal anchor fixed in the ground. I let out a sigh of relief as I realised the hellhounds were gone. The anchor must have scared them. Grinning, I followed the chain the anchor was attached to with my eyes and saw a huge ship hovering above the treetops! What!? A hovering ship? Was I imagining things? I also think I saw a metal dragon and a scrawny boy with black, curly hair sliding down the chain towards Bonnie and I. But everything that happened after the hellhounds was fuzzy. I stared up at the floating boat one last time, then everything went black...