Volrik scanned the map carefully and squinted. Nothing. There was nothing else on the faun. Just that cliffhanger. The wooden pipes must have some sort of power. Right? Maybe there was more written on a different map, yes, it had to be true. She shrugged and placed the map back in her pocket, then began walking to the side of Arkmaar.
The gryphon sped up a little bit, it wasn't because that is what the dragon had done, but he saw it. The forest of the East. They had made it. With the winter nearing, only pine trees still had their leaves, but the grass was still a lively green color. He entered the forest, deciding that the trees were too low to fly under.
Volrik hesitated, but still followed the creature's lead. The grass was still wet with the morning dew as she took her first few steps into the lush environment. Then something managed to catch her eye. A flower. And a rather pretty one at that. It was a bright red with a couple speckles of orange, dappling the petals. The stem was also a vivid shade of green. She just wanted to touch it. There was a strange temptation. She didn't know why, but she just wanted to feel the petals. Her claw carefully and slowly glided towards the plant.
"STOP!"
Volrik turned around and jolted her arm backwards. Arkmaar rushed towards her and looked a little annoyed. She could tell he was.
"That plant is poisonous. Most of them in the forest are." He began to peach ad Volrik rolled her eyes.
"I hope you realize that you can't just go around touching random plants. There are very many poisonous ones and they could paralyze you or hurt you or..."
She stopped listening and sighed deeply. "Shut. Up." She snapped at him and let a growl escape from her throat. Arkmaar was ready to challenge her, but held back and decided that it was probably the best to just stop talking and let the dragon have her way, at least this one time.
The two were almost silent now, as they began to make their way through the forest. Arky soon had his beak buried in the map, of course. He would definitely attempt to navigate the area. Volrik mainly was just a look out. She would just make sure nothing would try to murder them on their quest. But the landscape was unfamiliar. This was one disadvantage that she possessed against the creature's native to the area. Although, they seemed mostly like weird plants. Plants with a "mind of their own" as she had read. That and the poisonous ones, but perhaps both.
"Our first challenge is the Chimera." Arky States plainly and pointed ahead with a talon. "There. Alchemist's Ruin. The Chimera must be in there."
Volrik followed the direction of the pointed claw with her eyes. There was a loud roar followed by the soft sound of a hiss. Like a lion and a snake were trying to speak to one and other. She knew it would be strong. And powerful. The dragon may have to do most of the fighting herself. But with three heads it would be rather difficult.
