~Chapter 31~

"I don't get it, you all have wings so why don't you just fly there. I'm sure it'd be alot quicker." Said Rin as we followed the sandy path leading through a desert plains biome.

"Because...if we did you'd get left behind." I lied. No way was I gonna tell him none of us could actually fly.

"And I though you all hated me." He said happily almost to himself.

"It's my last fish but you can have it." I heard Nymph chattering away to Pixie as she threw a fish into her open mouth. Nymph was riding on Pixies neck at the back of the group while Dena lead us all towards the next village. She was floating on ahead trying to figure out some map she had out in front of her.

"I just realised." Said Rin suddenly snapping his fingers. "We haven't properly introduced ourselves yet. What with all the tying up and gagging stuff."

"Stuff you." Said Vivian unhappily. She was walking just behind me and Rin, dragging her feet along the ground. It was obvious the hot sun was having a heavy toll on her. A tumble weed flew past.

"There it is!" Yelled Amanda. We all jumped back to our senses and searched the horizon desperately. "I get the first slice." She stumbled over to a prickly cactus and licked it. We all just stared.

"Phoebe go get her. She been out in the sun too long." I moaned as I carried on walking.

"I'll start." Said Rin clearing his throat. "I'm Rin Okumara second prince to the throne of Games." He said in a posh voice.

"Games?" Asked Phoebe as she caught up to us, carrying Amanda on her back.

"Its the land of us dagon folk."

"Sounds familiar..." I muttered.

"I'm Nymphadora Bell." Yelled Nymph from behind us. "And I'm a dragon tamer."

"Phoebe Fireball the thief."

"I'm Astria Silver Moon dragon hunter."

"Dena Macintyre sorceress." Said Dena from the front of the group.

"Vivian Feather assassin." Yawned Vivian.

"And that's Amanda West the blade dancer and the drunk." I finished.

"Wow you really are an odd bunch." Said the amused Rin.

"Says you." I punched him in the arm. "A refugee prince with no wings and anger management issues."

"There it is! The town of Ishval!" Called Dena. We all looked up and saw off in the distance high peaked sandstone wall.

"We finally made it!" Said Vivian happily as she ran towards it. We all ran after her and as soon as we got close enough to it to see the men patrolling the walls an arrow landed at my feet. We all stopped and stared at the arrow. There was a sudden boinging of multiple arrows being fired and the sky was filled with dark dots heading straight towards us.

"Get down!" Yelled Dena as she put a protective barrier around her, Phoebe, Amanda and Vivian. Pixie curled up like a snake protecting Nymph as the arrows bounced off her protective fur. With nothing to duck behind or protect me I was pretty much screwed.

"Stupid get down!" Yelled Rin as he charged into me. We both toppled over with me pinned down by Rin.

"Get off of me!" I barked as my cheeks went red.

"Just stay down." He said in annoyance then moved his hand down to my hips. I went to slap him just as he unsheathed his sword from my belt and erupted in blue flames.

All the arrows disintegrated as soon as they touched his flames but surprisingly I didn't feel a thing. His horns and tail had reappeared and when he smiled at me he showed off his fangs. I realised just how powerful he must be when he was serious. As soon as the last arrow had been fired he sheathed his sword again and went back to looking like a human again.

"Um...thanks." I said unsure.

"Don't mention it." He held out his hand and I took it as he pulled me up. I stood up and flinched as soon as I put pressure on my right foot. I looked down at the pool of blood forming on the ground as the deeply imbedded arrow continued to dig into my ankle.

"Dammit." I said angrily and reached down to pull out the arrow head.

"Don't it'll just bleed more." Said Rin grabbing my wrist.

"Then what do you intend I do?!"

"Are you okay Astria?" Asked Nymph worriedly as Pixie walked over.

"Just a stupid arrow but don't worry I cant feel a thing." I said reassuringly.

"But you've gone all pale." She said anxiously.

"What really?!" I started to feel a bit worried now. I heard yelling and looked over at Dena screaming her head off as she tried to storm the town walls. Phoebe and Vivian were putting all their strength into stopping Dena. "Let's just get to town and figure out what exactly is going on." I felt exhausted and just wanted to sit down for a bit.

"Hop on." Said Rin offering his back to me.

"...I think I'll just ride with Nymph." I hopped on Pixies back next to Nymph as we walked past the devastated Rin. We picked up the sleeping Amanda and slung her over Pixies back as well. "Pixie will you do us the honor?" Pixie knocked down the wooden gate in one head butt. Waiting behind it for us were half a dozen soldiers, spears at the ready.

"Turn back now or we'll kill you where you stand." Said who appeared to be the leader of the army. He wasn't wearing any armour in particular. Just some sandy robes and one of those desert hats where you use an elastic band to strap a piece of cloth to your head. I saw Vivian giggling from the corner of my eye.

"Why the hell did you attack us?!" Dena stormed up to him and put her face right up against his. The whole army was taken aback and the the general faltered.

"That beast there is an enemy of Ishval so those who travel with him are also our enemies." He pointed angrily at Rin.

"He's not our friend he's our prisoner." Said Dena coolly snapping her fingers and materialising ice chains around Rin. "We're travelling to each village accepting quests and forcing this scumbag to make up for what he's done." She said slyly.

"Very well then." He said finally, lowering his spear. The other men followed his actions. "We apologise for earlier." He bowed. "Please let us show you to a comfortable Inn and then if what you say is true we have many requests to ask of you."

"Sounds good to me..." I trailed off as I fell into a daze. The blood from my wound dripping down my ankle and onto the sand.