Tarragon

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Smell

-Mantis

It had been long enough. I was safe, now. I stood up, and peeked out of the cave. The coast was clear. I was a bit sore, but that didn't matter.

I realized I was next to a completely different mountain now. I began running up the cliffside, using magic to assist my ascent. It was steep- I wouldn't be able to get up the side of it without my magic.

I grappled onto trees, and ran atop packed snow. I launched myself up this mountain, taking advantage of my I dashed through a cloud at one point, and realized that you could make an awesome game centered around climbing a mountain with omni-directional dashes. I took the final step onto the top of the mountain, and looked around. I saw a rose growing in the soil, with snow packed at its base.

I leaned down and smelled the flower.

Rot.

-Fern

I looked at Dec, confused, "You know you had a first name before, but forgot it?"

"Yup. The King did something, and I know I had a first name before Dec, but it's just on the tip of my tongue. But, it really isn't important. Dec is my name now. I chose it while I was in the King's prison, and I'm going to take it with me to my tomb."

Something blocked out the sun. I assumed it was a cloud. Dec's phone began ringing. He looked at it, and declined the call. I saw the number, though: 110-034-9962. (Writer's note: I specifically made that phone number so that it can't be called, since the first number of the first two sections of a phone number can't be 1 or 0. It still might exist, though, so don't call it. I don't want some poor individual getting random calls.)

I glanced up at Dec's face. My eyes stuck on him for a second, before I looked away. I uncontrollably smiled, just-

I heard a roar. One that I had heard in dozens of recordings: Defretsimant's roar. Dec and Net immediately jumped up from their seats and bolted outside. The pale gold sand dragon flew above, gazing down at us.

I heard the roar of sirens, "WARNING: HOSTILE DRAGON ATTACK! WARNING: HOSTILE DRAGON ATTACK! SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!"

I watched out a window as I saw another figure on the dragon's back.

"You like my new pet? I'm really into exotic animals!" The King shouted, before vanishing where he stood. Dec and Net leapt into the air, preparing themselves for their battle against Defretsimant.

I turned to Mantis's father and sister. The two were rushing to a basement. I followed, though deployed a drone to watch from below. They opened up the hatch in the floor and rushed down the metal ladder. One by one, we landed in the underground portion of their home.

I pulled the basement door shut, and flicked the switch for it to be hidden. We were mostly safe now.

I saw a fear in his sister's eyes- a fear I had seen in veterans, and Dec. A fear because of a memory- something that had happened a long time ago.

I thought back to almost a year ago now. Mantis had been attacked by Tykranaea, and killed her son, Doramanthus. Now, just a few months ago, Mantis had won his war. He had killed the Ice Titan, but that wasn't the end. If only it was the end.

There are greater threats than Titans. The King is the only human to have caused such an immense impact on his own, ever. In fact, were we even sure he was human? We had never seen his body, or face, and he's around nine feet tall.

-Maria

I silently wished Mantis had never gotten us into all of this. I looked at Fern's screen, watching the fight unfold outside. The mages were talented, but were facing a notoriously dangerous Titan.