Code Name: Draconis [Ace Draconis - ON HOLD; see my updated profile for info!]

Chapter 17: The Jungle's Secret (Part 1)

Ace:

              I swatted at yet another mosquito; these things seem to get more annoying as the days stretched on.  It's been nearly a week now.  It's a good thing Damian and I can fly because it makes scouting for that bloody crystal easier.  I've texted Clarissa a bit, thanks to the Z-phone's high tech reception, but I still haven't found the nerve to break it off with her.  I miss her too much already to even think of that right now.

              These past few days the Z-Phone has indicated that we're getting closer to the crystal.  I really hope it's right, because we're flying over a marshy area right now and the bugs are really starting to get to me.  I've also been thinking about what Damian said about the whole thing about me never really being free, even if I were to quit working for John.  Again, I feel I will have to move quickly, not just because of the threat of the hacker, but because I wouldn't put it past John to keep tabs on me. 

              We finally stopped after a few hours for lunch.  We'd been careful with our resources, and were able to identify some fruits that were devoid of poison here.  So, we ate them along with a few packages of dried nuts we'd brought along.  The sun was high in the sky by this point and it was getting hot and sticky again.  I ate in silence, indifferent to Damian.

              A little ways off, a two birds were feeding their babies.  It was odd how perfect the scenario was.  The mother bird nuzzled one of her chicks, and then snuggled against her mate as the chicks began to settle down. Unconsciously, I clutched my green amulet a little closer.

              "Why do you do that?"

"What?"

              "You're always zoning out, and almost every time you do, you hold onto that emerald stone around your neck."

I shrugged, releasing the stone almost sheepishly, "Who cares, mate?"

              It was his turn to shrug, "No one.  It's just odd looking.  I mean, if I didn't know better, I'd say it was the crystal we were searching for.  Except it's the wrong colour; emerald green, not brown."

              I looked down at it again, then shook my head, "That's ludicrous, the Z-Phone would pick up on it."  Even when I was looking for the blue crystal, the Z-Phone had indicated its whereabouts.

              Damian continued to stare, he opened his mouth to say something, but we were interrupted by a crashing sound as a tree in the distance fell down.

              I shot up, spilling my uneaten fruit to the ground.  My wings were out before I knew it, and I was flying up overhead.  I hid behind some foliage, expecting to see loggers, but what I saw shocked me more than that.  I saw...nothing.

              Absolutely nothing.

Yet trees continued to fall, the birds who had been so peacefully looking after their chicks now began frantically squawking.  I realized the chicks weren't able to fly yet.  Without thinking, I grabbed the nest and flew it as quickly as I could in the opposite direction of the trees falling.  I placed it on a ridge in a rock wall, figuring it'd be safe there.  The birds pecked at me the entire time and screeched, but I ignored it.  I flew up again at the sound of another tree hitting the ground.  Again, I saw nothing.  I looked around for Damian, only to see that he was about to use that synthetic fire breath he had.  I shouted a warning as more animals ran on the ground below, but it was too late.  One of the trees caught fire, followed by another. 

              Freaking idiot.

I quickly grabbed a giant rock to the side and hit it hard enough to make a kind of basin.  I yelled to Damian to put out the fire.  I'd remembered seeing a stream a little ways back so I flew there frantically.  No point burning down the forest, and whatever was knocking down the trees hadn't actually attacked us yet.  I was able to put out the blaze with some quick flying maneuvers and trips to the stream.