~Chapter 26~

"You do realise the villagers are gonna be pissed if we fail to complete this quest just because we couldn't fly up a mountain." Said Dena adding another magic flame to the fire.

"Yeah I know. I just hope this Adrenadite guy isn't too tough." I said as I bit into a raw chicken leg.

"You'll be lucky if they don't realise you sabotaged one of their chickens."

"Yeah well it's the least they could do in return for defeating this guy." I waved the chicken leg at Dena.

"You mean if we defeat him."

"Look I'm just trying to be optimistic."

"Save it for when we get our butts kicked. Anyway where did Nymph and Phoebe go?"

"Phoebe went to go practice flying and Nymph's probably fallen in a ditch by now and can't get out."

"But I don't like that shade of pink it doesn't go with Sailor Moons cat..." I turned around to where Amanda was fast asleep on a dry patch of leaves and muttering in her sleep.

"We should get some sleep too. I'm sure Nymph will be able to crawl out of that hole by herself." I yawned as I curled up into a ball and closed my eyes.

The next morning I was up bright and early ready to start the quest.

"Heads up guys this is the day we conquer the Adrenadite and claim our reward!"

"That's easier said then done. How are we supposed to climb up a mountain without any equipment or wings?" Said Phoebe gazing up at where the mountain passed the clouds.

"I've already come up with a conclusion for that." Said Dena pulling out an old battered notebook. "I'll cast a spell on all of us reducing our body weight to half of what it is now meaning that we'll have no problem flying for now."

"Sounds good to me." Yawned Nymph.

"Nymph you look terrible. Are you sure you'll be able to fly like that?" Asked Phoebe.

"Yeah, I just didn't get much sleep because I got stuck in a ditch for half the night." I averted Dena's gaze.

"I know what to do!" Said Amanda suddenly and opened up her items bag. A few seconds later a rope appeared in her hands.

"A rope?" Asked Dena.

"A bungee cord!"

"Where the heck did you get a bungee cord from?!" I said as I walked over to her.

"My subclasses consisted of Tracker and Crafter. Crafter being able to make anything I please so long as I have the right materials."

"I guess that makes sense. But how do you intend to use it?"

"You just attach it like so..." Amanda wrapped one end of the rope around my waist and the other around Nymphs waist. "There. Now if Nymph suddenly falls asleep in the air she'll simply swing from your waist."

"Genius." I said half heartedly.

"I'm performing the spell now." Dena raised her hands and began an incantation. "Aluia denté pica lieft." We all glowed blue for a second then it died down.

I raised my wings testily and after one flap of my boney wings flew six feet of the ground.

"Hey guys you give it a go!" I called from where I was flying circles and Nymph being dragged below me.

Amanda spread her golden wings and did some sort of front flip jump into the air closely followed by Vivian who now having lost the weight of her wings was a natural at flying again. Phoebe had obviously been practicing hard last night because she was controlling all four of her wings and they were beating in harmony.

"Guess I should join them." Said Dena levitated herself up off of the floor and into the sky with us.

"Hey no fair you have to fly too Dena!" Said Amanda performing pirouettes in the air. Her gold wings leaving a faint trail of gold dust behind in the air with every movement.

"Shouldn't we be going now?" She said ignoring Amanda.

"Okay." I said as I flew up. Nymph had woken up enough to at least be able to fly with us without me having to hold her up.

All six of us made our ascent up the rocky mountain looking out for any sign of activity. A sudden weight on my waist made me look down. Nymph had fallen asleep and the sudden drop had made her bounce back up again on the bungee cord. As she reached my level she dropped back down again.

"Where did Nymph go?" Asked Amanda looking back at me.

"She'll be back up in a second." Nymph flew back up again and then dropped.

"Lol."

With Nymph still asleep we flew up higher until some trees jutting out of the side of the mountain caught my attention. As I flew over to them the cord around my waist snapped and Nymph fell.

"Dena fetch!" I called as Dena zoomed down to catch Nymph.

Just then all the weight came back to me...and then to my wings. I dive bombed towards the trees as Amanda yelled. Luckily the tree branches and the hard stone floor broke my landing, leaving me with only a few scratches. A health bar appeared by my head and the green dropped into the yellow zone.

I got up on my hands and knees as a sword appeared inches away from my neck. I slowly looked up into the face of a dark haired boy. I gazed up at his sky blue eyes and fiery blue horns. This was an Adrenadite.

"Who sent you?!" He said menacingly.

"We were sent here on a quest." I said slowly.

"We?"

"Yo Astria where you go?" Called Amanda as she flew towards us.

The boy pinned me against the floor, lying on top of me and covering my mouth with his hand. Amanda flew past and he sat up once again pointing the sword at my throat.

"What are you?" He questioned eyeing my armour up and down.

"I'm...a Dragon Hunter." I said after thinking very carefully. If we were going to take this enemy out then there would be no need to give him too much info.

"Female Adrenadites don't exist, they were wiped out aeons ago." He moved his sword down towards my chest. I noticed a flicker of his sleek black tail behind him. It was more like a lions tail with that tuft of fur at the end. I then looked up and tried to tilt my head to get a look at his dragon wings. They must've been tiny because I couldn't see them from where I was sitting down.

"What's your name?" I asked awkwardly.

"It's Rin...wait why am I telling the enemy this?!" I began to realise that he was only putting up a tough act to seem scary when in fact he wasn't anything like that.

"You shouldn't pretend to be someone your not." I said without thinking. His sword was pressed against my breast plate within seconds.

"What do you know about me?! Big brother sent you didn't he!" Rin snarled.

"I don't know who your big brother is or why you're hiding out on this mountain. However I must complete what I came here to do." Rin looked uncertain and I took this moment to act.

I put all my strength into my dragon tail and knocked it against Rins legs, jelly legging him. As he fell backwards I grabbed his sword and then jumped on top of him pinning him to the ground.

"Why you!"

"That's enough sword play for today." I said as I picked up his scabbard and sheathed his sword. As soon as I did his flaming horns and black tail disappeared. As did the menacing look in his eyes.

"Astria!" Yelled Vivian flying straight towards the ridge where we were sitting. No longer hidden by the trees.

"Hey Vivian I found our Adrenadite!" I called cheerfully as she and the others landed next to us.