HROT: Spawn of War

Chapter 9: Unheeded Warnings

The sun broke through the trees and shined upon the group's campsite. Scott and Tony were already awake. As Tony sharpened his metal staff, he asked, "So how'd it go with Shannon last night?"

Scott gazed at the sunlight absentmindedly. "Not much to report."

Tony grunted. "You'll conquer someday."

"What if I don't want to?" Scott asked as he turned to his friend. "This isn't the time for this."

"Then don't," Tony replied frankly. "It's as simple as that."

Scott sighed. "We'll see."

Crunk, TF, and Cheesecawk emerged from their tent. "Did you rest well?" Scott asked them.

"As well as we could," Crunk answered tiredly. "It's hard to sleep with an egg pulsating on your skull constantly."

"The others are still asleep," TF added. "Shall we scout ahead and determine our best path?"

"No," Tony replied stoutly.

Scott smacked Tony upside the face.  "It's a good idea, cunt."  He got to his feet, yanking Tony up with him.  "Let's get going."

With that, the five warriors began their trek.  They prayed they would find the way out of this endless forest soon.  The scenery was getting old.

"If you don't mind me asking, why is this Kyle so important to you?" TF asked.  "I know he's your friend, but I don't follow why you'd go to such drastic measures to get him back."

"He's part of the inner circle," Scott explained. "It's always been me, him, and Tony, thick and thin. The trio needs its third member back."

"If one of you guys were missing, wouldn't you go to every length to get them back?" Tony asked. "You're a trio just the same."

TF nodded in acknowledgment. "A fair point."

"What are his abilities?" Crunk asked.

"He is the Red Man," Tony responded. "He can levitate, his skin turns red-hot, he has immense strength, and he can melt any material."

"So why doesn't he just break himself out?" TF asked.

"It requires an immense amount of stress and anger to summon his powers," Tony replied. "And for all we know, Pore could be keeping him under her influence."

"He must mean a lot to you," Crunk stated.

"He's our closest friend, and a brother to us," Scott said. "And on top of that, we need his strength to pose a challenge to the Warnger."

"And his dad's the one holding him off," Tony added.

Suddenly, Cheesecawk tripped over a tree root and aggressively roared as his skull hit the ground. Crunk helped him to his feet as TF bellowed in laughter.

Out of nowhere, clapping was heard. Dylan Knight emerged from behind a tree. "Watch your step, friend," he said with a smirk. "You never know what you might run into out here."

"It's you!" Tony exclaimed.

Dylan grinned broadly, took off his hat, and bowed. "You're goddamn right."

Tony and the others braced themselves for whatever Dylan had up his sleeve. "Turn around now, or we won't let you escape again," Tony warned.

"I'm afraid it's not going to be that easy," Dylan replied. He produced a pair of nunchucks and twirled them around.  "You didn't listen to me when I told you to stop searching for your friend.  Now I have to kill you and the rest of your group, even though that requires a lot of work, but you forced my gloved hand."