Storm Hawks: Adventures Of the Other Side

Chapter 5

The town of Gerass was lively and filled with people, Stork landed the Condor outside of the village, with everyone disembarking within minutes.

"Astr -- I mean Amber, you need to leave Loki on the ship." Skye eyed Astra as she walked down the ramp, Loki close behind her. 

"You think I don't know that? There is no stopping him." she huffed once off the ramp, kneeling down on one knee scratching under her companions chin. "Don't worry, I have a plan." She planted a kiss atop of her friend's head, and watched him change shape. The change was gradual but efficient. He became smaller, fluffier, cuter even. Once the transformation was complete, he crawled up Astra's back and stayed there, hooking his tail round her waist. 

"Why is it an issue to take the dragon?" Junko asked, almost sounding timid. Looking at Radarr as a comparison. 

"Dragons are a sign of royalty, or at least a knight, if people saw a big dragon, they would either assume that the Princess or her lady's knight's are present. A smaller dragon would just indicate someone from the city, so she won't be caught out." Nate stepped forward to explain, Skye and Astra stroking Loki as the explanation continued. Though, Astra's patience grew thin. 

"Ok, can we go now?" She stood tall, starting the journey before she gained a response. All shrugged before walking after her. 

They didn't walk long before reaching the town itself, Cedric and Nate paired with Piper and Stork to resupply from the local market. The marketplace is filled with the sights and sounds of a thriving city. Vendors were hawking their wares, merchants negotiating deals, and street performers were entertaining the crowds. Among the hustle and bustle, Astra wandered, her eyes scanning the stalls. It had been so long since she was able to freely move around the Kingdom. She was shut in the castle at an early age after her coronation, her father spreading fear that his only heir had to be protected. 

The rest of the group lingered around the town searching for clues and gaining information that entailed about a a curious stranger wandering through the town. However, no useful information came to light, they had spent hours talking to many of the towns people though not many knowing what they had meant, meaning they knew nothing. Towards the end of the day, morale had run low, they were all tired and it was time to move on to the next town. 

"You guys, I have one more idea before we leave," Skye stopped causing the rest of the group to stop also, facing him, they awaited his answer.  "What if we're asking the wrong crowd?". Confused looks were exchanged between the others. Skye rolled his eyes, "I mean, what if we ask underground? The people that don't particularly liked the monarchy nor the citadel?" His eyes enlarged, hoping that people now saw his point. 

"The Dragonslayers!" the remaining knight's gasped as they realized his intentions. 

"Who are the Dragonslayers?" Finn timidly spoke, slowly retreating behind Junko.

Cedric sighed before speaking. "The Dragonslayers are a group of activists that are targeting the monarchy, mainly for the Dragons. That is why only the monarchy and her lady's knight's are allowed to have dragons stationed with them now, because before, they activists used to target the guards and steal their dragons. If the dragons didn't comply, they killed them." Loki growled at the hearing of the story, making its telling even more intense. Clearly, this was no scary story that was told to children. 

"Well, you used to track a few, would you know if there are any here?" Nate asked Skye.

"They like to lay low, keep their numbers small and strict. I can see what I can do, but a big group will make things difficult. All of you go back to the ship and retire, I'll come back in a few hours and see what I find."