Phoenix
Lira joined Phoenix, Drax and Opal as they finished the final preparations. Phoenix tried to ignore the way Lira glowered at them from across the room, while throwing emergency horns and cure all elixirs into the subspace inventory. The pixie sat on the moss mattress beds, arms crossed wings folded tightly to her back, and plump lower lip sticking out in a pout. Phoenix couldn't help the exasperation she felt after three days of enduring her continued guilt trip. Her friend was acting childish over something beyond her or Drax's control.
Phoenix had tossed the last milky white elixir into her storage, when the hole burning into her head from Lira's glare became too much. She crossed over to moss bed the pixie sat on and asked her. "Are you still sulking over the cancelled shopping trip?" Phoenix was careful to keep her voice level and understanding. The last thing they needed was to be fighting among themselves, and frankly she hated fighting.
Lira groaned. She was fidgeting with her finger tips. A shadow fell over her face. "It's just … we've been here on this campus for weeks without going anywhere."
Phoenix understood where Lira was coming from though she suspected her situation was a bit different. Eyes constantly watching her every move, being judged for her every action. Drax was doing his best to shield Phoenix/Lillian from the worst of it, but if Lira/Chelsea was enduring even a fraction of it, it no doubt was driving her up a wall.
"You're still free to go shopping if you want to." Drax suggested. He sat on Lira's other side, a sincere effort to be courteous.
She shook her head, clearly growing more antsy. "Going without my best friend just wouldn't be as much fun."
Phoenix leaned over, perching her cheek on Lira's shoulder. "Picture this. We save up our money from our paychecks. Then when my evaluation is over and I'm free to leave for a bit, we go on a shopping spree. You get to pick the place."
Not only did Lira's face light up, the earthy green glow from body even grew brighter. "Can I even pick out a dress for you? And some cute shoes?" Large brown eyes full of hope turned to the shifter.
Phoenix cringed, her wolf ears and tail appeared with a 'poof'. Even Drax was looking at her expectantly with a hint of surprise from Lira's other side. No backing out now. "Yeah, sure."
The pixie nearly knocked her over with a forceful hug, overjoyed, pressing her cheek into the shifter's. "Thank you! Just wait. We'll have so much fun." Lira zipped up to and through her hanging obstacle course with unbridled excitement.
The smirk on Drax's face spoke volumes from someone normally so serious. "That was quite the noble sacrifice."
Phoenix sighed. "This is the least I could offer after everything she's put up with 'til now." When his smirk didn't fade, she turned away. "Why are you so smug?"
Drax scooted over on the bed, bumping his shoulder into hers. "Because I helped bring you out of you shell." The playful lilt of his voice bringing out his more youthful side.
Phoenix poked his nose with a teasing scoff. "You sure about that?" His eyes widened and red bloomed across his face. She could hear his heart rate pick up and knew she had taken it too far. He was her rep and instructor. She was just a beta tester with a strange ability. Whatever was developing between them, could not happen.
She regained her composure, standing to summon the mini map of the forest. Trying to ignore the sharp pang of rejecting him, she stated. "Sorry. We really should get back on task."
Hurt and disappointment mingling together in his green eyes, yet he nodded in understanding. He joined her in assessing the map of the forest. Lira flitted back down to land at Phoenix's side and Opal leapt onto the shifter's shoulder so she could see.
"So where is our hunting grounds today, oh fearless Luna?" Chelsea asked using the unofficial title the pixie had given her. She had gotten over her traumatic experience with the Ursa Minor, growing more confident in her abilities.
There was one location on the map they had avoided until now. In the northeast corner of the map another sub-map lay hidden. Much like the mountainous border range to the northeast protecting a open valley of high ranks monsters. The northeast border was a dense jungle surrounding a deep dark lagoon and home to a kind of beast more powerful than the bears and more elusive than the wild cats. Phoenix pointed to this very location. "The quest I received leads here. It also happens to be the location for the last materials we need."
Drax tensed, his face stony as if carved from granite. "What kind of monster will we face here?"
Phoenix's eyes met every member of the group with the darkest of warnings. "A lagoon drake. The most powerful kind of beast in this forest, and we're going after the strongest one of all. The Savage Stalker."
A heavy chill filled the air sending a collective shiver through the group. The shining flora growing from the ceiling dimmed then flickered above them. An ill omen. Still, they would need to face it head on.