Heroes Without A Plan
Chapter Nine: Delayed Arrival

The journey was agonizing for the four. Another long week of following the map and they were almost there. Pire’s growth had been rapid during the week, and as much as the heroes were surprised, they felt that it was only normal for the mysterious creature. Although Eliot was extremely nervous about having Pire around, Mike found him fascinating and was happy to have him.

Mike, Alyssa, Eliot, and Pire were making camp one night when they heard a huge boom.

Dropping the firewood they were collecting, Eliot and Alyssa quickly headed to camp Mike had already grabbed his sword. As they arrived, the bee hummed and another piece of corn flew straight at Mike.

The pair sprang into action, and Mike looked over at Pire, trying to get him to move, but Pire wouldn’t leave his side. Alyssa fired her arrows at the bee, staggering it for a second but sending it higher. Eliot’s wound was almost completely healed, making movement easier as he stopped the corn with his scepter.

Another cob shot out of the bazooka, heading straight for Alyssa, but before Eliot could stop it, Pire, spooked by the sudden commotion, quickly bolted from Mike’s side, fleeing and accidentally hitting Eliot. He fell with a thud, as did Pire, but it was nothing compared to Alyssa’s loud scream as she tried in vain to dodge the speeding corn.

The rogue was thrown back as the corn hit her in the head. She fell to the ground with a loud thud, her eyes slamming shut as she slipped into unconsciousness.

“ALYSSA!” Eliot screamed. He ran to her, but it was too late. Mike looked back, but continued to fight, leaving Pire to whimper and flail around alone.

Alyssa was quickly pushed aside as they continued to fight. Pire ran around until he found himself next to the girl. The disoriented dragon curled up into a ball beside her, whimpering and wrapping his tail around the sleeping hero.

Eliot waved his scepter and the flying corn spun and hit the goblin in the face, knocking it to the ground. Mike ran toward it, ready to swing his sword. The goblin dodged the attack and pulled a knife from his pocket. Mike deflected the small blade with his sword, sidestepping its feeble attempt. Eliot tried to grab the bazooka, but the goblin kicked it away and swung the knife again, slicing Eliot across the cheek. The boys jumped back as the goblin fell, a single arrow protruding from its neck.

Alyssa, bow in hand, head bleeding, standing next to the screaming dragon, quickly sat down before she could faint.

“Alyssa! Are you okay?!” Both men ran to her.

“Ugh, y-yeah I think so,” Mike put his hand on the dragon’s head as it looked up at him, still in shock.

It was an alarming turn of events for which the heroes were unprepared. But, alas, they were able to defeat it, and were later able to continue their perilous journey with no deaths occurring.

Soon the forest had cleared, revealing an open path from which the heroes could see mountains in the distance.

“Wow! We made it!” cheered Alyssa.

“Not quite, it’s still pretty far,” replied the unofficial leader of the group, Mike.

“Ugh, why is it so wooded around here?” Eliot groaned in frustration. Pire hopped across the field, running quite well. Mike began to chase after the baby, playing with him as they walked.

Alyssa asked, her head bound with a gauze bandage that began to redden, when Mike thought Pire would learn to fly.

Her comment was the start of a very delayed journey, as Mike was now determined to get Pire into the air.

“C’mon! You got this!” He kept encouraging the kit. After twenty minutes, Alyssa became impatient. Eliot, on the other hand, was having fun watching Mike and Pire.

The warrior spread Pire’s wings as far as they would go and flapped them. He began to understand and flapped his wings wide. “Yes, that’s right!” Mike rejoiced with glee.

Bored of watching Pyre flap his wings, Alyssa sat down on the soft grass. Eliot saw her sigh and sat down beside her.

“Hey! What’s up?” Eliot asked her.

“I’m bored.” She confessed to him.

“Then you should have kept quiet!”

“Shut up!” The pair sat together, basking in the warmth of the day as they talked.

Mike tried again, more determined than ever. Pire jumped and flapped his wings. While Eliot and Alyssa had more conversations about the crazy situation they were in.

“I know this is scary, but you’ll be okay...probably,” Alyssa tried to reassure him, changing the subject to something more pleasant. “You said you work at Ikea, right? That’s your dream job?”

“Ha, no... I was going to be a florist, if you can believe that.” The wizard’s awkward laugh cracked faintly, a note of despair seeping into his voice.

Her head snapped over to Mike, whose eyes were saucer wide. “WOAH!” he shouted, “YOU DID IT!” Pire managed to stay aloft for a few seconds before falling to the grass.

It was about an hour before they were on their way again. Pire couldn’t fly, but he could flap his wings.

“What a waste of time,” Alyssa complained as they headed for the mountains, ready to fight.