Once I caught up to them I noticed that they had stopped in an area beside a stream. Raimu was kneeling and studying the ground as I approached them. "This was the last place it was seen. If we-'' Galund interrupted him and turned to me with a smirk. "Wait a minute, Raimu. Maybe we should let his highness track the beast. He is the one on the Raknorah trial after all. Aren't we supposed to be supervising his skills?"
Raimu stood up and turned to us with a hand resting on his hip. "Very well then. Let's see what you can do, Dedrin." They both fell silent as they looked at me and I felt uncomfortable as I walked past them to see if the creature we were hunting left a clue to where it went. I kneeled and picked up a handful of dirt as Galund walked up behind me with his arms crossed. "Good luck to ya, this kind of beast isn't the type to leave tracks."
He laughed to himself a little before I dropped the handful and stood up again to face them. "It headed south. The residue left here is seventy hours old but from looking at the hair caught in those branches it came back last night and headed in the same direction. There are pine needles in the soil nowhere near a pine tree as well. I also smell sulfur which I've determined its cave should be located on the base of one of the southern mountains. If it moves frequently then we should be on our way."
I turned and started walking away, leaving both Raimu and Galund stunned. They caught up to me a moment later and Galund spoke with an irritated tone. "Where did a human learn how to track?" I rested my grip on the strap of my arrow case as I answered him. "Common sense." Galund scoffed. "Yeah, right. You're not that smart." I turned to him as we continued to walk. "Something tells me you're not excited about having a human participate in Raknorah either."
Galund kept his arms crossed as he glared at me. "Sorry, but what happened in the pit of fire was just beginner's luck to me. Anyone could've defeated Rornar if they made a stalactite fall on him." Raimu chimed in with amusement at our bickering. "But no one could've caught themselves inside a flame and climbed back to the surface while being burned to a crisp at the same time."
Galund turned to him, angrily. "Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Raimu laughed. "There are no sides on one team. I agree that Dedrin wouldn't have been able to defeat Rornar with his bare hands, but he still came up with the stalactite idea. Brawn is nothing without brain." Galund crossed his arms with annoyance. "Well, pardon me if I don't think the stereotypical spoiled prince with the hot girlfriend is worthy enough to partake in our sacred traditions."
I then stopped walking and turned around to face him as they stopped as well. "What did you just say?" Galund smirked at my offense. "I said you're a spoiled prince." I shook my head. "No, about the girlfriend. What are you talking about?" Galund's smirk faded. "Uhh... The fairy? Isn't she your lover?" I cringed at the thought. "We are just friends. Get it right." Galund's expression became surprise. "THAT'S what you're offended about?"
I started to turn away from him as I answered. "What could've possibly made you think that we are together?" Galund rolled his eyes. "Please, you're obsessed with each other. You two have only been here two days but with what I've seen so far she's constantly feeding you, trying to touch you, asking how you're doing, and god forbid you get a splinter she runs to Theodius and begs him to help you. And you won't let her out of your sight. You're always following her around like a moth to a flame, and you're so protective over her that you get ready to fight anyone who comes near her."
I turned to him again, angrily. "No, I don't! You don't know anything about us or our relationship so don't walk around like you've figured us out!" Galund only smirked again and leaned closer to me. "Oh, is that right? So, you wouldn't mind at all if I, you know, asked CherryMay out?" My anger faltered and he continued. "You wouldn't care at all if I kissed her and made love to her all night long?"
I suddenly felt rage rise up inside me and it showed on my face. "If you dare go near her I'll-!!" I cut myself off to the realization that he was right and I tried to hide my shock by turning away. "Whatever. Just because I'm protective doesn't mean I like her. Now, if you don't mind we have a monster to hunt." I continued walking and they soon followed.
I was having trouble focusing on where we were going from it being brought to my attention that May and I were obsessed with each other. I shook my head a little in disbelief. 'So what if I'm a little territorial around May? That just means I've never had a friend before and I know she's prone to getting in trouble. And May's a ray of light. She would do the same things she does for me to anyone else... Right?'
I decided to stop myself from thinking any more on the subject and focus on the trial. A couple of hours later we had tracked the beast to the base of one of the mountains in the south where there were many caves. We walked past them cautiously and pulled out our weapons. I walked ahead of Galund and Raimu as they continued searching around the caves, and I went left as I looked around the trees.
I held my bow and arrow up as I walked and I was still in sight of the others when I heard a crack of a branch next to me. I couldn't fully turn to see what it was when I was tackled by a creature the size of a large wolf with black fur. "AH!" It immediately sank its teeth into my shoulder as we fell to the ground and rolled down the hill next to us. "Ahhhhh!" Galund and Raimu saw and shouted to me. "Dedrin!"
I shouted back as the monster and I continued to roll. "It's okay guys! I got it!" Galund and Raimu looked at me with shock as I rolled farther away until Galund shrugged and put a hand on his hip. "Well, if he's got it..." Raimu shook his head and started running down the hill. Galund then sighed and started running after him.
The monster and I reached the end of the slope and as we stopped I kicked it hard in the stomach. It released my shoulder as it fell away from me, but it quickly returned to standing on its six feet. My shoulder was bleeding profusely from each of the jagged tooth marks and I tried to stop the bleeding with my hand. I had dropped my bow and now the beast was standing in front of me and growling, loudly.