Rock and Run!
#18 of Legend of the Tiger Clan
With another gem in their posession they headed off to one of gaias most remote regions which was known as The Ancient Forest, like the amazon jungles of today much of this lush tropical land remained unexplored since some dragons and wyverns made nests beneath the shade of the trees and those who entered were lucky to come back out with their limbs still attached.
Because the land ship was too big to move through the trees the group headed out on foot, Abby and Zeng stuck to the tree tops while Sam stayed below keeping an eye out for anything they missed, the whole group was on edge knowing full well that a wyvern or dragon could pop out at any given oppurtunity, after coming to a nearby river Zeng and Sam got to fishing while Kerric and Shayde helped the girls set up camp.
"*Sigh* Tents are set up. wonder how the guys are doing."
"HEEEELP!!!!"
"Sam?"
Sam had speared a massive arapima and was being dragged down river with Zeng dashing close behind him, after grabbing a branch Sam stopped the monster fish in its tracks allowing Zeng to wrestle it out of the water with a loud thud as he slammed it all over the rocks finally killing it.
"*pant* *pant*....dinner?"
"You're cleaning that thing! *groans and falls to the ground*"
While the others had fish Abby gathered up some fruit for Angel who was looking through her tomes again studying the properties of elemental magic while Kerric checked his map for the gems location, Zengs mothers on the other hand spent their time getting to know each other on the opposite side of the camp and by the sounds of their giggling things were going along just fine.
"Kerric. How long until we reach the gem?"
"It's just on the other side of the river, we should reach it by-what the?!?"
The mark on the map suddenly began glowing and it's location was moved right to where they were camping, suddenly the whole ground began to quake as everyone braced themselves then out of the ground bursted a giant wingless dragon with an odd glowing stone in its chest.
"A Golem Dragon!!"
"He's got the gem!"
Abby attempted to snatch the gem from the beast only to be snagged by its claws, as she screamed in horror Zeng attempted to cut her free with his axe but as the blade connected it shattered to pieces like glass, Kerric and the others also attempted to rescue her but their weapons barely scratched the beast and it soon fled the camp taking Abby with it into the dark of the jungle.
"NO!! ABBYY!!!!"
"KERRIC! it's useless to chase them in the dark..."
Elicia had just stopped him in his tracks as he prepared to dart after her, Kerric shoved her aside and stormed away from the camp to try and cool off while the others salvaged what was left of the camp leavign Angel to try and talk to him.
Kerric was furious with himself, he felt it was his fault that Abby got taken as he slammed his fist into a tree when he felt Angels hand on his shoulder which gave him some relief.
"I'm sorry Kerric."
"No i'm the one who should be sorry....I just stood there frozen only because I dulled my sword while Abby reached out for me...now she's gone forever...."
"I don't think so!"
"Zeng!"
Zeng showed up holding Kerrics map which still showed the location of the gem and this time it was located at the base of a cliff just north of the camp. Zengs mothers decided to head back to the ship to bring news to the crew while the others hunted down the dragon, Two days had passed until they had finally arrived at the dragons lair, the cave was large enough for three people to go in and since Zeng had the only weapon that could kill the beast he and Kerric were the first to volunteer.
"I'm coming to."
Linda appeared from the back holding a shield and longsword, wearin her warriors outfit.
"No way! Linda it's-"
"Your moms taught me how to fight, I can look after myself and besides Abby is my friend to."
there was just no stopping her and with that they entered the lair, Zeng held the torch while Linda and Kerric had their weapons at the ready and soon they reached the dragons lair which was full of skeletons from other animals as well as unsuspecting victims and in the center of the bone pile was Abby, bruised and completely out cold.
Zeng and Linda gave the all clear allowing Kerric to retrieve Abby before the dragon showed up, as he picked her off the bones Abbys eyes slowly opened and a smile showed on her face as Kerric came into view.
"Abby!"
"I knew you'd come for me..."
The lovers embraced each other as Kerric walked off the bone pile when suddenly Zeng dashed right pass them slicing at the dragons eye as its jaws popped out of the bones, the beast roared with fury as Kerric ducked out of the way while Zeng slammed the beast with his shield and into the cave wall.
Kerric laid Abby on the ground next to Linda after looking back to see how Zeng was handling things and by the look of it this was going to be a long fight.
"Linda watch after her! i'm going to help Zeng!"
"Alright, be careful!"
Kerric moved in from the side distracting the beast leaving Zeng to stab it in its right eye as it smacked him away nearly impaling him on some stalagmites, the dragon then darted in on him with jaws wide open when suddenly a small blue light blinded it forcing it to retreat. It was Sparky; The sprite they had met in the river lands.
"Sparky?!?"
"The belly!! *dodges claws* AIM FOR THE BELLY!! HURRY!!!"
Sparky kept the beast distracted long enough for Zeng and Kerric to carve chunks out of its stomach, as the dragon reared up from its pain the weight of its scales caused to fall back, impaling it on the stalagmites behind him and knocking the gem off its chest, as kerric retreived the gem the thick scales on the dragons body returned to normal.
Moments later they went back to the ship where Abby received immediate medical attention and a special visit from the little sprite that helped save her, the two got along just fine and Sparky was now a member of the group and a very helpful one.
"Hey Kerric what's wrong? we got the dragon and saved your girl."
"I know...but I can't shake the feeling that having a sprite join you on a quest is some sort of cliche."
The End.