Blossom Fable

Chapter 15

Although the Following took so much from me, I have just a tiny hint of doubt revolving around them.

What if they're right?

With so much fervor, they know beyond anything that the goddess will return. She will manifest in her former glory. She will give them rewards for being faithful all this time, ushering them into an exclusive afterlife.

My parents often showed moments of joy when thinking about their reward. How all of their hardship would vanish in the instance of the goddess' return. I resented them for it. But there was always a question that would fester inside me. Could I be wrong?

In the wake of losing the Spore core, I decide to ignore my doubts and questions to focus entirely on training. I try not to make my thirst for advancement too obvious, in case Juno reprimands me again. But I Wave, Claw, Fog, and Hold my way to almost complete numbness.

My only sources of light during these days are Mist and my party members, but even they can't completely take away the feeling of when the Following appeared outside of Boar Wood. The shame.

I can't believe that I, as a dragon, have to tell you this. But you should take a break, Hope! A dragon doesn't grow into a full-on adult in one day.

I ignore him, taking a glimpse at the hunting grounds. My party and I traveled about a mile away from Callena today. Into a very rocky area—so different from Callena's signature grassy hills and plains. We hunt Geodes here, lumbering creatures that take a very long time to perish. With crystal-like eyes and legs like wheels, they use their heads to pummel their targets to death.

"Let's head back home after one more!" Princess suggests.

"Sure," I say. I can't let Mist think that I'm trying to rush anything. I have to set a good example.

The Geode stumbles our way, immediately battered by Avery and Juno. Although it has an impenetrable body for the most part, it does have weak spots. My power works the best on it however, compared to the other three classes. I use a Hold on it, which allows my party members and Mist to attack the chinks in its armor. It perishes and spares a core for our taking.

As soon as we turn back, four figures leap from the rocks at the entrance to the hunting grounds. Hours of hunting made me sluggish, so I barely can react when someone locks an arm around my throat.

I can hardly move, but my peripheral vision tells me that my party members suffered the same. Breath squeezes through my throat just barely as I recognize the green and blue garments of the Following. Were they waiting here all this time? Just so they could catch us off guard?

In front of me, Mist leaps up, wings splayed and jaw open. He targets the nearest member of the gang. Unfortunately, the man happens to hold a burlap sack. He throws it onto Mist when he nears, and quickly ties up the sack with twine. Even though the dragon tries desperately to burst through the sack, a total of three members of the Following hold him inside, bagging him in even another sack.

How is he supposed to breathe? I curse the laws of Halo Island, how we're not allowed to use our skills on other people. I would Claw every single one of these members of the Following. There must be a dozen of them.

The first half of the group holds Mist in the bag and scurries away. The other half makes sure that we don't escape to follow them. The minute of being locked in a chokehold instills me with fear that I'll never see Mist again.

I feel as though if I move, the chokehold will tighten. Still, I have to try. I lean forward a bit and use my elbow to hit the man behind me. He responds with a stalwart grunt, not moving. The Following must've chosen the four strongest members in this particular group to subdue us.