Yellow Light (Dragonfly #5)

Ipa

Feurige
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"I'm sure when they find out you're a Cervus, they'll let you join," I said, walking in the direction I hoped was the others.

When I ran off I wasn't expecting them to wait for me. And the scent was easy to pick up. Ipa had been following me while I lead her back.

"You seem to think so, yes," She answered.

Right, telepathic. This was definitely going to be interesting. Their scent was stronger now, we were getting close. I tripped suddenly as something furry ran under my feet.

"Ow," said the furry creature I recognized as Annabeth.

"Sorry!" I apologized, helping her up.

"Feurige? Finally, we were about to send someone after you," she replied.

"I need to talk to whoever's in charge," I demanded, somewhat urgent.

She looked confused for a second. "I think that might be Sierra, she's the oldest, but Zach would be the act-in chief."

I nodded, and saw what looked like a camp of some sorts. I easily picked out Zach and Sierra's scent amongst the rest. And found them training in a small sheltered clearing. Surrounded by fluffy green hedges.

"Higher," commented Sierra, "you'll fly right under your enemy that way."

They stopped once he spotted us.

"Who's the deer?" Asked Zach.

"My name Ipa," she answered.

"She's a Cervus," I said somewhat smugly.

They gave me somewhat blank looks. There was a sudden ruffling of leaves and Skylark popped from who-knows-where, scaring the living daylights out of me.

"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but over hear, did someone say Cervus?" She asked, brushing leaves from her fur.

"Were you in thar bush the entire time?" Questioned Zach.

"Can you tell us what a Cervus is?" Asked Sierra, ignoring the bush discussion.

She cleared her throat. "A Cervus looks, acts, and seems like every other deer in the forest. But in fact they are probably the most intelligent species known to earth, some having masters skills of telepathy and telekinesis,"

"Can you do what she says?" Inquired Sierra again, turning towards my friend.

"I am slightly telepathic, yes, but that's all, I'm still quite young." She answered.

Sierra gave her a sharp look. Then appeared to be in deep thought. Then she turned to me.

"You think she should join us?"

I nodded.

"Tell me Ipa, how do you think you can contribute?"

Ipa opened her mouth, then stopped. "I can fight, and I know things, like tracking, and I've memorized the entire map of Eastern Coniurantum."

Sierra nodded, "It is one more mouth too feed, but otherwise I don't see why not?"

I smiled, as much as a wolf could smile. She wasn't going to regret her decision.

"Why don't you go find a nest, this is where we're staying for the night." She suggested.

Zach was staring at me oddly. But I brushed it off as I turned, explaining what a nest was to Ipa, leading her away to the rest of the camp.

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Zachariah
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"What do you think of her?" My mentor asked me after a few more minutes of training.

"I, don't know," I paused for breath. "Do you think she could be one of the four?"

"Well, there were four Great Beasts, a wolf, a tiger, a deer, and a fox. It seems they are choosing their original forms again, so I would say yes, but there are a lot of deer in the world. If it turns out she can't pull her own weight, then I'm afraid we'll have to send her packing." Sierra answered.

We paused for a break. I was tired, both mentally and physically exhausted. We came out here looking for the lost heirs, only to get caught up in some ancient prophecy, that had nothing to do with my sister. I just wanted to find her again.

"We need to call a meeting," Sierra mumbled. "We've received so much information in the past week, and we need to sort it out, come on, help me round up the others."

I nodded, padding back towards our current home. Annabeth and Ocaso were tumbled around in the grass, play fighting. I personally still can't believe Jamboree let them come with us, they were so young. None of the current chieftains had the time to abandon their posts as leaders to search for their children, that would make them look bad, my thoughts as a chief were limited. Zara had somewhat explained to me that once we reached the age of twenty, the throne would be passed to us. I am currently fourteen, so I still had a bit of time to learn what exactly I was supposed to do.

It took a while, but Sierra got everyone rounded up, and soon she was launched into a speech.

"You may or my not have heard by now, but we have invited another into our midst, her name is Ipa, and she is a deer," she paused, letting it sink in.

Everyone gave some sort of nod, or sing of acknowledgement. And Sierra continued.

"It seems a certain prophecy has come to light recently, on account of one of the Old Evils reawakening. It speaks of four legendary beasts who will return to our world when the time comes. We believe that time is now-" she started.

"Does this have anything to do with the fire?" Feurige asked, suspicion alight in his eyes.

"It has everything to do it, according to Zach here, I heard you fought a black wolf, and Ignis momentarily took control of your body."

"Who is Ignis?" Asked Ipa suddenly.

"You don't know?" Gasped Jay, "I suppose you don't know who Sero is either?"

"No, but I'm sure you'll tell me." She stared at him hard, and my fur stood on end. The air felt wired and electric. She was purposely reading his mind. She blinked, looking confused.

"I cannot see into your mind." Ipa said simply.

Skylark bounced to the opportunity. "That's okay, we'll still tell you. The four Great Beasts started as normal, when the world was more chaotic, and when they all fought, the stars decided to stop them, and practically destroyed a good chunk of earth. But now they were enlightened and had wings, a symbol of higher knowledge and understanding then leading their offspring and followers on the same path. The only winged descendants nowadays are the children of Suka, the ice tiger." She said.

"And the other Great Beasts?" Questioned Feurige.

"Ignis, the fire wolf, Sero, the earth deer, and Levitas, the lightning fox." Skylark practically sang.

"Sierra?" Kennon said, breaking from his silent trance.

"Yes?"

"I think I might have found a way to break Zach's death curse."

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Everybody get ready, the first part of the prophecy is about to come true.