Hey guys! Welcome back to Hear a Tale! Before anything else, review time!

Thanks so much to CitrusChickadee for reviewing! Poor Therion, absolutely baffled by Cyrus' emergency disguise protocol XD And yes, Tressa and Therion always have fun interactions/travel banters! Glad you enjoyed!

And with that, on with the tale!

Relevant Events: H'aanit's Chapter Three

25. Trouble Lurking

"Why, and I believed that herb-of-grace was gone from this world!" Cyrus rambled to H'aanit as they trudged through the Whitewood, closely followed by Therion and Alfyn. "Even botanists believed the plant was long extinct! To think, it still grows in these wintry wastes…'tis a miracle, or near enough!"

H'aanit released a soft sigh, sharing a knowing look with Linde, who padded along at her side. The scholar had been like this ever since their band of eight had visited Susanna's house, and his enthusiasm for finding the elusive plant had led to him insisting that he accompany the huntress on her excursion to collect it. Alfyn had also volunteered due to his own knowledge of medicinal plant life, while Therion had been dragged along as an extra source of fire magic to ensure none of them froze to death in the woods. H'aanit would've been content with venturing out alone, with only her snow leopard for assistance, but she had to admit that she was grateful for the others' help.

She was, however, markedly less grateful for Cyrus' endless lectures.

"Yes, this is why a true scholar should not confine himself to his office!" the professor declared with a wide grin. "Who knows what great discoveries await in far-flung frontiers?"

Sensing an opening at last, H'aanit cleared her throat. "...it pleaseth me that thou findest joy in this quest," she said, hoping conversation would be enough to dissuade him from another tirade.

"Indeed!" Cyrus paused, a thoughtful expression coming to his face. "And yet, that Susanna woman…"

H'aanit's eyebrows lifted. "What of her?"

"Well…I will say that I was most impressed to encounter one so wise and astute," he replied. "Though…I must admit that her name sounds familiar, somehow. Perhaps I came across it in my reading at some point or another…? Hm…I must review my tomes when this journey is over."

H'aanit herself was not entirely sure where Cyrus might have heard Susanna's name before, though she supposed that, given the woman's wisdom and enigmatic nature, it would not be entirely surprising if she had done something in the past to warrant a scholar's attention. The old seer seemed to possess vast knowledge herself, after all. Perhaps she could have even once penned a tome or two of her own.

The huntress was drawn from her thoughts by an exaggerated groan sounding behind her. "Tell me we're almost at this clearing the old lady talked about," Therion grumbled, his scowl lit by a ball of flame in the palm of his hand. "If I have to listen to Professor Prattle here wax poetic about herbs for much longer, my hand's liable to slip in his direction."

"There wilt ben no friendly fire here, Therion," H'aanit chided. "If thou didst not want to listenen to Cyrus' excitement, then perhaps thou should hast brought earmuffs."

"I don't have earmuffs."

"Maybe you could tie your scarf around your head?" Alfyn suggested helpfully. All the apothecary earned in response, however, was a flat look from the thief.

Cyrus sighed, shaking his head. "I suppose not all of us can appreciate all of the scientific wonders of the natural world…" he lamented.

"I'd appreciate them a lot more if I wasn't half freezing to death," Therion snapped back. "As much as I enjoy being a portable fireplace for you people, I'd prefer it if we got this over with quickly and went back to the inn."

"Aw, lighten up, Therion!" Alfyn said, clapping the thief on the back. "At least we've got some pretty scenery to look at, right? And look up ahead! The trees are thinnin' out - I'll bet you anythin' that we're just about to hit that clearing after all!"

Therion scoffed. "Hmph. Guess I should've complained sooner, then."

Sure enough, the light peeking through the canopy was ever-increasing as they walked, and before long, the four travelers reached an opening in the trees. A flat expanse of snow stretched out a little ways in front of them, ending in a sheer drop-off to open air. At the edge of the cliff, however, there was a small patch of greenery that thrived in the pale sunlight.

H'aanit glanced in Alfyn's direction, eyebrows raised, and the apothecary nodded knowingly.

"That's it, alright," he said. "I can tell even from back here - that's herb-of-grace."

"Wonderful!" Cyrus exclaimed. "See now, that wasn't so bad. Shall we get to harvesting some?"

"Yeah, uh…you guys have fun with that," Therion muttered, pulling back into the cover of the trees. "No way in hell I'm risking my neck messing around at the edge of a cliff…I'll just keep watch back here."

H'aanit gave the unusually anxious thief a strange look, but ultimately decided not to pry. "...very well," she said instead. "Linde, keepest watch with him. We three wilt go to collecten the herb."

Therion gave a soft grunt of assent as Linde chuffed and sat down at his side. H'aanit nodded approvingly, then turned back with the others to face the clearing.

"Now, then," she said, "letten us completen our task."

"Try to be quick about it," Therion suddenly spoke up, just as the other three travelers stepped into the clearing. "I…don't know why, but I've got a bad feeling about this place."

"Mhm…" H'aanit glanced over her shoulder briefly, then nodded. "We shalt taken care."

"Wonder what that was about…" Alfyn said as the three of them made their way towards the herb-of-grace patch. "Therion's usually not so…jumpy."

"I'd imagine it is simply his fear of heights talking," Cyrus answered with a shrug. "Er…not that I know why he would have such a fear, or even if he truly does, but, ah…given the circumstances, it would only make sense, no?"

H'aanit eyed the professor. "...thou knowest more than thou lettest on," she said bluntly. "Though…I cannot deny thy theory."

"That's gotta be it," Alfyn agreed. "There's nothin' else that could be scary about this place…is there?"

"Mhm…it does seem difficult to believe that there could be trouble lurking beneath such idyllic scenery," Cyrus said thoughtfully. "Though…I suppose the old adage of 'looks can be deceiving' is so frequently invoked for a reaso - "

Suddenly, the scholar was cut off by a tremendous roar that all but split the sky above them. A shadow flashed over the clearing, momentarily blotting out the sun with its sheer size. Uttering a curse under her breath, H'aanit grabbed both Alfyn and Cyrus by the collars and dragged them several paces back, away from the patch of herb-of-grace.

A wise move, given the beast that alighted upon it mere moments later.

The creature's talons sank into the snow around the herb, and huge, leathery wings stretched out menacingly from its back. Its dark-scaled face was contorted in a surprisingly expressive scowl, its lips pulled back to reveal fangs that must have been at least the size of H'aanit's forearm. Its chest heaved with scorching hot breath that sent billows of white steam furling out of its mouth and into the frigid air. The beast reared back its head and roared once more, the sheer force of its monstrous cry shaking the snow from the nearby trees.

The travelers had trespassed upon a dragon's roost, and there would be hell to pay for it.

"Uh…Professor?" Alfyn whispered faintly. "When you mentioned trouble lurkin'...was this what you had in mind…?"

Cyrus slowly shook his head, stunned. "Not in the slightest, Alfyn…not in the slightest…"

A dragon! H'aanit thought, already reaching for her bow despite her awe. This place is a dragon's lair…?

"I have heard the legends," she whispered aloud as she took a tentative step back, "and Master's tales, too - but to see one in the flesh…I scarce imagined this day would cometh - but cometh it has!"

Adrenaline rushed through the huntress' body, accelerating her heart and bringing an eerily calm smile to her face. Despite the danger, she could not deny her own excitement at seeing such a legendary creature before her - and at having the chance to bring it down. H'aanit snatched an arrow from her quiver, nocking it in one fluid motion.

"Preparen thyselves," she advised her companions. She was only vaguely aware of Therion and Linde carefully slinking forward to join them, locked as her eyes were on the dragon. "'Twill ben a difficult fight!"

"Looks like we've lost her," Therion muttered, but he readied his blade all the same.

"Wait!" Alfyn hissed under his breath. "Are…are we actually fightin' a dragon!?"

"If we are to collect that herb-of-grace, then we must," Cyrus said, tossing back his cloak and readying his ice magic. "Lives depend on this battle. We have no choice but to prevail!"

"Sh-Shucks…" The apothecary gulped and lifted his axe. "If you say so…"

Linde padded over to H'aanit's side, hackles raised and teeth bared. The snow leopard's tail lashed as her muscles bunched in preparation to pounce, and H'aanit found herself experiencing the same anticipation. Her master had always claimed that he himself had once bested a dragon, though the fact that his story grew more elaborate the more times he told it made certain finer details difficult to believe. Still, the scars on Z'aanta's back told a much more believable tale - one of vicious draconic claws.

Every similar tale that her master had ever told had only served to heighten H'aanit's desire to prove herself in an equally fierce battle. The huntress was not so foolish that she would seek out dangerous foes merely for the sake of bragging rights or an adrenaline rush, but now that a chance to save Z'aanta's life by felling a fearsome beast had presented itself, she couldn't help but let a thrill rush through her. Her companions might have considered the dragon lurking in the herb-of-grace patch trouble, but to H'aanit, it was just another challenge she would need to overcome for the sake of her petrified master.

Waiten for me, Master, she thought, exhaling slowly and adjusting her aim. I will returnen thee to flesh.

The dragon roared again as H'aanit let her arrow fly.

And when next I see thou…I shall have a tale of my own to tellen thee.

See you guys next time for Tale 26: Tears!