We head through the forest on CoCo and a full-size Kenji. We are avoiding the roads for now and keeping a low profile as we move. I say after contemplating our options and our current situation, "I think it will be best to go for the storm mountain immediately instead of going back to the palace. We can send an enchanted pigeon from the next town with a message of the events that transpired at the Temple and Romo estate." Saying those words makes me realize that NO ONE used the pigeon at the temple to notify the castle when the head priest was poisoned.That thought pisses me off. Lysara sighs, "Very well. We need to get back to Patala then. Do you have any ideas on how to get through the storm clouds?" I think about the magic that sent Lysara here to Perdita, "Is there a way for you to use your teleport magic?" She shakes her head, "I don't have my supplies, and also I don't have the exact coordinates of the top of Storm Mountain peak. If I were to get it wrong and it isn't high enough, then we will be forever entombed in Storm Mountain. Also, I still don't know where my formula went wrong. So my magic should not be considered an option." I hiss, "Yikes. Ok, let's not do that then. Hmmmm. Is there any flying beast that you think would be strong enough to weather the storm?"
Lysara thinks for a few moments, "Maybe a griffin or maybe a dragon? Hmmm, also, I think a pegasus might as well. There are probably a few other different beasts that could probably withstand the storm. Why? Are you thinking of getting another friend?" I shrug, "Well, friends are not things that can be gotten like that. It just happens. The only thing we can do is search for one of those and hope we can come to an agreement of sorts." I ask Kenji, since he has fought many different mighty foes, "Do you know of any beasts that would help us?" Kenji is still running with his quick and stealthy leopard run, "Do I know of one? Yes. A dragon by the name of Aldruruth. Will they help? Probably not. He doesn't like humans or anything resembling them." I rephrase, "What if we were to challenge them instead?"
Kenji says with his ears turning out in interest, "How so?" I respond, "It is all in the wording. I would ride on their back to the peak of Storm Mountain regardless. I can just make it into a competition instead. If I let go of their back and fall, I lose, and they win. If I can hold on until we reach the peak, then I win." Kenji laughs, "HA! I love it! HA! HA! HA! I think they would take your challenge. Though they would make you work for it, though, intentionally trying to make you fall the entire time." I replied, feeling hopeful and excited for the future, "Amazing! Where are they?" Kenji replies, "They are deep in the Lost Wood. If you have a strong sense of smell and can smell blood from his meals, you can make it to his lair. Those who cannot find themselves forever wandering the forest until they either starve or become prey to the natural mana flowing through the forest causing confusion. For us, it will be easy." I ask, remembering the geography lessons from my training, "Isn't the Lost Wood here in Perdita?" Kenji replies, briefly nodding while not missing a stride, "It sure is. I will adjust our path to guide us to the Lost Wood." I responded while stroking his fur with one hand, "That sounds good." I let Lysara and Leo know the game plan, then we head out.
It takes us 2 weeks of traveling in Perdita to arrive at the Lost Wood. By now, spring has arrived in full swing, but it is still a bit chilly this time of year, and we have since sent word to King Victor about the situation so he could arrest my father. Going to the Lost Wood wasn't exactly on the way to Patala, but it wasn't exactly the opposite direction either. There are signs all around the edge of the forest warning against entry. I tell Lysara, Leo, and CoCo to stay out of the woods to be safe since they can't smell blood like Kenji and I can, and we separate. Heading into the Lost Wood, I can see how people would get lost. The trees almost look like they are moving. I can smell the blood from Aldruruth's prey. It is guiding us with precision through the seemingly moving trees. The sun appears to be moving as well, making it hard to use as a directional tool. Something about this forest makes my head ache a bit. I wonder if it is the naturally occurring mana.
After following the scent for around 30 minutes or so, we arrive at a clearing that has an opening to a large cave. In this area, my head feels fine. The smell of blood is thick in this cave. We go in, and it is dark. If I couldn't see in the dark, I would be fumbling around right now completely blind. We keep going, and I see a large dark colored dragon. It is hard to ascertain the exact color in this lighting, but I see him clearly. The dragon huffs a large exhale that blows like a gust of wind, causing my clothes to wave wildly behind me and Kenji's fur to wave wildly.
Kenji says translating Aldruruth's words while fixing his fur with his paw, "He says, 'Who dares enter my territory?'" I replied while elegantly bowing in respect towards the dragon, "Aldruruth, my name is Ari. I apologize for intruding on your territory. I thought I could possibly entertain you with a challenge." Kenji translates, "He says that he is intrigued by your challenge and wants to know the specifics." I replied while helping Kenji fix his fur, "I would like to get to the peak of Storm Mountain, and I was going to make it a competition of strength. I ride your back through the storm, and if I fall from your back, I lose. If we make it to the peak and I am still on your back, I win?" I think Aldruruth snorted in amusement, and Kenji translates, "He says that that sounds like fun, but that one of his wings was torn several hundred years ago and he hasn't been able to fly long distances since."
I then propose, "I can heal you with my healing magic." We wait a moment, then Kenji translates, "He says that healing magic will not work since this is a scar from the past that technically has already healed. He does propose that we ask his griffin friend, who sometimes keeps him company. He says a whistle here will call his friend." Aldruruth whistles a loud whistle that echoes through the cave, which is very abrasive to the ears due to the volume. It makes me shiver and put my hands to my ears in response. After about a minute, a griffin arrives. It was quiet for several moments when the griffin joined, and I think they were having a conversation.
Kenji then starts translating, "The griffin here says they are interested in your challenge and think it will be a fun test of strength." I smile and hold back excited wiggles. Excited that things are looking like they are going to work out, I ask, "That is great! May I ask your name?" Kenji then translates, "She goes by Dysis." I then say, "It is nice to meet you, Dysis, my name is Ari. Before we set off for our challenge, would it be alright if we talk to my lover and other familiars at the edge of the forest? They couldn't make their way through the forest, so they had to stay out." Kenji says while still fixing his fur, "She says that is fine as long as there aren't any tricks." I put my hands up in a peaceful way, "No tricks. I am in desperate need of a flower at the peak of Storm Mountain, and I can't afford to lose this challenge. I would be a fool to attack my ticket to a happy future."
The griffin nods and then gets low to the ground to signal they are ready to be mounted. I got on and we set out. Kenji turned small and hopped on Dysis as well. We get to the others in no time at all, and they are surprised to see us like this. We land and I hop off and go to Lysara, "My love. We will have to part ways for a bit. My new friend here, Dysis, will take me for our challenge at Storm Mountain. You guys can travel from town to town, evading detection from our enemies while heading to Patala, and I will join you after our challenge."
I then kiss her passionately while she gets a little phantom's kiss for the road, "I will miss you so much." I turned to Dysis, "Can you bring me back after our challenge before going back to your home?" Kenji translates, "She says that is fine. As long as she gets her entertainment from the challenge, she doesn't mind chauffeuring you." I then say while bowing in respect to her, "That sounds great, thank you so much, Dysis. Kenji, I want you to stay with Lysara and the rest, and I will catch up to you later. Sky, you can come with us." I kiss Lysara again, "I will try and be quick, my love. I will get that immortal lily, and we will be wed. I promise you. I will keep challenging Dysis here if necessary." Lysara says with a sorrowful face, "I will be waiting for you. Please be careful." I look at Leo, and I scruff his fur a little bit, "Behave for Lysara, ok?" He grunts, "Duh." I then say, "I will see you all soon. I love you. Sky, you're coming with me." I say as I hop on Dysis and we head out to Storm Mountain and separate our party.
We are making great time in the air. So, Sky isn't wearing himself out attempting to keep up; he is currently napping in between my breasts. This form of travel is so much faster than on CoCo or Kenji. We are high in the sky so as not to freak out people on the ground, and if I fal,l it will most definitely hurt. A LOT. It probably wouldn't kill me since I am a vampire now, but that does not mean I can't get hurt or don't feel pain. It takes us about a week to get to Storm Mountain. We arrive, and I tell Sky, "Wait down here until we are done, Sky." I said to Dysis, "Are you ready to have some fun?" Dysis nods, and I can see the competitive spark in her eyes as she looks back at me.
We take flight into the vast storm. Dysis does all kinds of aerial maneuvers to try, and knock me off in the storm. She is very strong to pull off these maneuvers in these strong winds. If I were a regular human, I would have most definitely fallen off already. I probably would have fallen off due to the winds alone, since they are so strong. My vampire strength makes this fun. I start yelling while enjoying myself, "Wooooo!" Laughing as we are flying gradually to the peak. Dysis keeps doing aerial maneuvers, and occasionally she gets hit with flying debris, which looks like chunks of the side of the mountain itself. Some of those bits are the size of rocks, and some were the size of small boulders. They would fly around in the storm, hurting her. I heal her as we fly, and everything is going well. We are close to the top, and then I get struck by lightning while on Dysis. Everything goes black.
I wake up to a very calm and beautiful scene, and Dysis is there. Once my vision focuses, I see a beautiful field of lilies, and I think we made it to the peak. I hear the sound of a song bird I have never heard before. I look to see that there are many rainbow song birds that have been told to be extinct. Who knew that they had a colony at the peak of Storm Mountain? Their songs are beautiful and soothing to the soul. The ones not singing are eating a very beautiful rainbow fruit that I have never seen before. I didn't think I would have made it here after being struck by lightning. Everything hurts. Dysis was waiting for me to awaken. It appears she is excited that I am ok. I approach her, stumbling and heal her since she appears to be hurt from the last portion of our flight, then I heal myself. I feel air touching my bare back. The lightning must have burned a hole in my shirt. I don't have time to worry about that now, and it isn't a big deal. I ignore my shirt, and I go grab a few immortal lilies just in case and put them in my bag.
I approach the tree here that is bearing the pretty and strange fruit, and pick up one. This fruit is something I have never seen before, and very colorful. It looks like a spiky rainbow fruit. I take a bite out of curiosity, and it tastes delicious and sweet. I grab one for Dysis and a bunch more to share and throw them in my bag. I think Lysara would like this fruit. I know for a fact that Sky will love it. I walk back over to Dysis and handed her one, and she grabbed it with her tongue and ate it instantly, since it was but a tiny morsel to her. We sat there enjoying the serenity of the eye of the storm while resting before having to weather the storm again. After a little rest, enjoying this gorgeous meadow, I ask Dysis, "Are you ready to weather the storm again?" Dysis nods, and we head back. She does not do any aerial maneuvers, and we take the straight route to the ground with minimal damage that I healed on the way.
Sky approaches us immediately, "Did you get the flower?" I nod wearing a beaming smile, "Sure did, friend. Wouldn't have been able to without our friend Dysis here. It was fun until the lightning bit. Regardless, I would love to do it again." I say as I laugh, reaching into my bag, "Here, Sky. I got a sweet fruit that I know you will love." Sky comes down and eats the fruit quickly without saying anything, only having fruit on his brain. When he is done, he says, "That was so good I couldn't stop to tell you! Thank you for thinking about me." He says with a happy wiggle and a slight rosiness to his cheeks. Sky looks at Dysis for a bit, then says, "Dysis says she wants to become your familiar. She says you are very strong and embodied the true spirit of competition." I get off of Dysis and put my head to hers and do my familiar magic. This takes even longer than Kenji did since Dysis is larger.
I then hear a deep female voice that matches her very large and majestic body, "Can you hear me, Ari?" I then reply with my eyes still closed, stroking her face, "Yes, I can, Dysis." Dysis then says, "I was surprised when you healed me repeatedly during our competition. I didn't know you had that magic and never expected you to use it on me if you did." I remove my forehead from hers and shake my head while still stroking her face, "Well, not only does everyone deserve healing, but I also had a vested interest in getting to the peak. You were vital to that plan, so we helped each other out while having some fun. I count today as your victory, so I would like a rematch sometime." Dysis then coos, "We can continue helping each other, then. I would also enjoy a rematch as well." I pet her and she continues, "If you ever need me, just whistle and I will be right there." I reply, "Ok." Dysis continues speaking, "Also, when you put your mana into me, Ari, it awakened an ability. I feel like I can manipulate lightning." She says as she makes sparks around her, and a little bit of it accidentally shocks me as if a little unintentional static electricity, and I giggle and keep petting her so she doesn't feel self conscious about it. I then say, "If you can use lightning, you are now Dysis Romo, the Wielder of Storms. It is perfect for you since we weathered Storm Mountain together." Dysis chuckles, "Wielder of Storms. I like it."
She says as she plays with her lightning a bit, then continues, "You need to get back to your mate, right?" I nod, "Yes, I do. Let us hurry because she must be very hungry. You might not know this, but she only feeds off of my sexual energy, and she is probably starving. I am, too. I could most definitely use a snack of her blood." Dysis then says, "If it is blood you need, I have a lot more than a succubus. If you are hungry, you can have your fill of me and I would hardly miss it. A single vampire can't kill one of our kind from something like this." I gasp while drooling in anticipation since it has been a week since drinking a drop of blood, "Really? That sounds great, then. Where is a good spot to bite you? I don't want to bite in a sensitive spot or anything."
Dysis then says, "Anywhere is fine except the wings." I approach her and bite down and drink and get full. This is my first time getting full all in one sitting, and it is very satiating. I immediately healed her and asked, "Are you sure you are ok?" Dysis then says, "Perfect condition. Are you ready to go? I trust you will point me in the right direction." I feel all of them in the same direction, so I point in the direction I feel them while saying, "They are all that way somewhere. How far it is hard to tell since I can only feel which direction they are in at this distance. You will understand when we separate, since you will feel the same thing in my absence."
When I changed clothes during this travel period, I noticed that the lightning strike on the back of my shoulder left a weird scar that branched like a tree halfway down my arm and a good bit on my chest. This is the right side, the opposite shoulder of where I was bitten by Kenji. It was after a few days of traveling, I felt something might be wrong. Lysara's presence branched off from the others in a different direction. I want to go to her immediately, but I need to check on Leo first, since he is just a child. We change course slightly from tracking Lysara specifically to Leo and the others, and we arrive in a town in a few hours.