They scuttled around to see what he was seeing and the figures in the smoke defined a wolf surrounded by some fuzzy ephemeral covering that flowed from within it, more like a radiation.
"It'd be breaking to say that she's in the aura state," Dumble said.
"Oh no," Itsuki said. "Now this is more like a mission impossible thing."
"Not impossible at all," Kahil shook his head.
"Yes, there must be a way to get to her in that state," Six said.
"There's always a way, I know of one, but the question is, would you be able to go through that way?" Dumble said.
"What way please?" Launa said.
"There's a neutralizing radiation you could coat yourselves with. The Haiki rays. We used to produce it, but we don't anymore due to the risk involved in getting the materials for it," Dumble said.
"Yeah. Only the strong can make it," Herrik said.
"What are the risks involved?" Marie asked.
"You don't need to know, all you need to do is visit Lady Jona who lives some forests away from here, she prepares it," Herrik said.
"Is she a witch or something?" Expresso asked.
"Well, sort of," Herrik said.
"Just call her a sorceress," Dumble said.
"Now we delving deeper into things we don't understand," Expresso said.
"You need to chill, Expresso. What's up with this phobia for paranormals and stuff?" Trevor said.
"I just don't go on the same track with it," Expresso said.
"At times to get what you want you need to delve into something clandestine. But it's all good," Fern said.
"And how do we get to this witch?" Marie asked.
"Just call her a sorceress please," Expresso said.
"A portal from which you guys could enter the forest leading to her place would be made," Dumble said.
"Why not directly in her place? Why in a forest?" Six asked.
"Her house is surrounded by an aura that bounces off portals, so that wouldn't be possible," Dumble said.
"She's quite a strong one," Itsuki said.
"Are you all ready for this?" Dumble asked.
They exchanged looks, then Launa nodded.
"We are," she said, stroking Glowie's fur.
"I think this is where I come in," Herrik stepped before them.
"Seems you both got your specialties," Expresso said.
"Yes. I specialize in creating portals to some regions while Dumble here does the potions," Herrik said.
"I love this one in particular," Itsuki referred to Herrik's ability.
Herrik prostrated and backed them, drawing a circle in the air and a ripple in space was created. From the ripple they could see a dense forest, but they suppressed their fears.
Herrik stepped aside and usered them into the portal, which wobbled from time to time.
"Thank you," Launa said to Herrik and Dumble. Then she walked into the portal with her wolf, and the others joined her.
They emerged into the thich forest that was filled with chirps of birds, hisses, and scamper sounds.
"Is it us or the dwarves that forgot we needed the perfume that chased snakes away?" Itsuki said, walking over a log of wood that was covered in fern plants and blue, spotted mushrooms.
"Maybe it doesn't work here. If it did I don't think they'd forget to help us with it," Expresso said.
"Well, we are in here already, we just need to get to the witch's place as soon as possible," Launa said, clearing leaves from her path.
They spent about thirty minutes in the forest before they finally saw a meadow which extended to a distant house, above which a dark cloud hovered. They expected the lady's house to be a cottage, as was the mainstream thing for witches, but her house looked like a modern one.
They smiled to themselves and hurried out of the forest which was already making them sick.
They now walked on the meadow, and the further they went the cooler the air got, and the greyer the grasses got.
The end of the meadow was followed by red Earth, having old flower pots strewn around. They stood directly before her house now, canopied by the dark cloud that made it seem like it was about to rain in an eerie evening.
Launa made to go knock on the door, but on reaching the doorstep thunder struck above them. They looked up and saw heavy lightning trails running around the cloud and they all shivered in fear. Six and Kahil held their guns firmly, stiffening their minds in expectation of what would come next.
"I see you guys out there, sorry but if you don't tell me in a single sentence why you are here you're going to be beaten by the rain," a voice from within the house sounded.
The looked at each other with heavy mouths, not knowing whom should talk first, but as usual, Launa spoke out.
"We are in search of the hiona wolf, and we would be needing your help in neutralizing the aura surrounding her," Launa said.
The voiced laughed out hard. "Now you guys come looking for a solution to the problem you created?"
"That's what we need to do or the human race goes extinct," Launa said.
"Who sent you here?" The voice asked.
"We come from the home of the dwarves. Dumble and Herrik directed us here," Launa said.
"Hmm, those mischievous fellows, I've got an issue with them. You guys have connived with them to come at me again?"
"Oh, no no not at all. We are just on our own mission and you'd be very instrumental," Launa said.
"I see, and I'd let you in at once." Immediately, the doors separated from each other, revealing the interior of the house.
They were at first wary of the house. From where they stood, they viewed the interior of the house as an endless hall tht darkened into the distance. There were no furnitures in it.
"The door closes in five, four--" the voice said, and they hurriedly went into the house, and the bang of the door sent a seeping cold running through their spines.