Ignoring the shouts of chaos and the worried voice of Helian behind her. Alexia ran up the slanted slab of hardened lava. She squinted her eyes, studying the back of the lava worm. " There has to be a way to reach that idiot in the beast's stomach..." She gritted her teeth."...because I'm not ready to die yet".
Her attention was stolen by something she noticed. " What's this we have here?" Stone spikes were protruding from the lava worm's back. They started from it's middle, all the way to it's grotesque head. " Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She smiled, talking to herself. " I'm going to ride the beast."
Switching to her hands, she crawls up the slanted slab. She ignored all the times the rough surface scratched her skin, crawling forward. She heaved a sigh when she finally reached the top. Standing on the leveled end of the hardened lava, she crouched down.
* Roar*
The beast lunged forward, it's roar echoing through the air. Twisting from side to side, its body contorting in agony. " My uncle's people are savage." While saying that, she looked down at the resting soldiers at her own side. Shrugging, she returned her gaze to the back of the beast. " Guess we aren't all born equal."
Her eyes followed its movements, waiting for the perfect time to jump into its back. Balls of lava fell from its body as it moved. She gulped, " This is going to hurt a lot."
* Roar*
Taking a moment to recover, the lava worm's movements paused. " Here goes nothing." She was already prepared to jump when someone tugged on her sleeve. " Girl, have you lost it?You have a ninety nine percent chance of becoming a kabob!"
" Helian, let go! You're going to make me miss my chance." She yelled waving her arms. But the persistent bird refused to let go of her sleeve. Groaning, she stopped trying to shake him off. " You really won't let go" He frantically nodded, tightening his hold on her sleeve.
She eyes the beast's movements. It was about to get up. With gritted teeth, she spat out. " Fine then. Suit yourself." Having said that, she leaped forward ignoring the cries of the little bird beside her. With a thud she clutched unto one of the stone spikes. The lava worm had begun fighting. Desperately holding onto the spike, she faced upwards.
Dodging a ball of lava, she moved up the spike. " Dang it." Only now that she was on its back, did she realize how widely spaced each spike was. Worst still, their arrangement was erratic, not uniform at all.
Sighing, she leaped to the right, she clutched unto the nearest spike.
Helian watched as she climbed up to the next one. Sighing, he says, " Since I can't convince her otherwise, at least I can keep her alive." With this thought, he slammed his wings together. A strong gust was wind was generated, pushing away the falling balls of lava. Protected by Helian's actions, Alexia continued scaling the back of the lava worm.
* Roar*
" Ugh. Not again." The beast's movements became erratic. " Hold on tight." Clutching the spike, Alexia was tossed about. Helian on the other hand, sped up his actions, ensuring no lava touched her. " Ah!" The beast lunged forward again, this time flinging both of them through the air.
Thinking quickly, Alexia used both hands to grab another spike. Twisting her body, she landed foot first on the worm's body.
* Sizzle*
" Hiss." She used her hands to propel herself forward, escaping from the molten lava. Staring down at her charred boots, she heaved a sigh of relief. " Thank Lugus, my feet are still intact." Studying her location, she let out a smile. " Well talking about reaching the top in one leap."
Standing on the lava worm's head, she whistled. "But in my case, its one fling ." Craning her neck, she could see the battle going on down below. " How come few of them are injured?" As she looked over the battle, her gaze drifted to the rear guard. Particularly to a head of sandy blonde hair. Cocking her head, she whispered. " No wonder."
Her gaze lingered on Evan, who was healing the wounded soldiers. After a full recovery, they would charge back into the battlefield. Shaking her head, her gaze moved to the landscape had been transformed into an infernal place. Pillars of hardened lava and a chasm of lava. " Talk about lovely decor. Very...fiery I must say." In reaction to her words, Helian just spared her a sideways glance.
A graceful figure caught her attention. Watching the bright lime hair flow in the wind, Alexia couldn't help admitting that Lyra was pretty good with the sword. " Where did she find such a good sword? Even I can't afford it."
Alexia watched intrigued, as Lyra suddenly stopped moving, her sword returning to its scabbard. " What is she up to now?" Alexia's expression turned skeptical, her eyes narrowing as she tried to read Lyra's intentions.
As Alexia watched, Lyra closed her eyes and summoned a ball of water. With each second the ball grew larger. On the beast's head, Alexia was briefly mesmerized by the growing ball of water. It was the first time she had seen a mermaid using their powers.
Beside her, Helian slapped himself on the forehead. " Aren't you forgetting something?"
" Shh. I'm learning." Helian cast a disbelieving look on the finger on his beak. Ignoring him, Alexia continued to watch Lyra. The ball of water now resembled a mighty javelin. " She must be at rank three."
Narrowing her eyes, she watched as her uncle appeared next to Lyra. He nodded at her before taking hold of the javelin. He wound up, his muscles tensing as he threw the javelin forward.
* Whoosh*
It flew through the air, landing on the head of the beast. A stone spike was formed when the liquid javelin came in contact with the lava skin of the beast.
* Roar*
The lava worm let out a cry as it thrashed about. Grasping the stone spike, Alexia nodded. " At least that answers some of my questions." She gave it a gentle hug, not wanting to be flung off.
The lava worm's thrashing slowed, it's cries weakening. Alexia watched as the creature composed itself, it's eight milky eyes holding fury, as it scanned the soldiers below. Coiling backwards, its body tensed. Opening up its fanged mouth, it spewed down lava at its attackers. In response to the rain of magma, the soldiers scattered in different directions.
As Alexia watched the chaos unfold, her gaze snapped to Lyra, who was taking advantage of the situation to jump into her uncle's arms. Alexia's left eye twitched as she ground her teeth wishing she was down there. That witch!" Standing on her shoulder, Helian grinned" Ooh. Jealousy alert."
He moved closer to her ear. " You know. We could also engage in some intimate activities to make them jealous. " Take your mind out of the gutter you perverted bird." Alexia's intuition roared. Feeling her head throbbing, Alexia yelled at both of them. " You two. Shut up."
" I'm just trying to save you from this shameless predator." Her intuition huffed, displeased at her shouting. " What? It's just a harmless suggestion." Helian shrugged, moving back. Alexia groaned, rubbing her throbbing forehead. " Seriously. This is worse than what I'm about to do."
Crouching down, she grunted, her gaze now back on Lyra. Casen had dropped her. Now standing alone, Lyra was already summoning another ball of water. Though this time, her calm expression was twisted with frustration. Atop the lava worm's head, Alexia sniggered. " Serves you right, you fish face. Stay away from my uncle"
Laughing Alexia's eyes lit up with an idea as she watched the forming water javelin. The same as before, after the javelin was formed, Lyra passed it to Casen, who wound up preparing to throw it. Standing up, knees bent, she turned to Helian. " You ready for this?" Deadpan, he stares back at her. " Whatever you're thinking about. Stop it now. You hear me ?"
* Whoosh*
Watching the javelin glide through the air, Alexia smiles at him. " It's too late for that. Just sit back and enjoy the ride." The javelin finally landed on the beast, who let out a frenzied roar. " Now!" She barked out" Not again." Helian wailed gripping onto her shoulder as she leapt forward. Dropping into the mouth of the beast, Alexia narrowly avoided its sharp teeth. " Woah." She exclaimed, free falling as the beast's jaws shut behind her.