The whole group was together again in Mindplay's hotel room. We each had our own, but Mindplay told us to meet him there. Between me and Raya, we recapped everything from the meeting of Hombre up to the failure of getting a guide. Mindplay told us what he could find with what the Amazons knew about the forest in the general area. It wasn't much, unfortunately.
“If Shadow Fang is working with the Amazons, I wonder if it's through the Amazons that he can avoid the cameras here,” said Mindplay as he tried to put all the pieces together. “But if they are working together, what are the Amazons getting out of this?”
“Would it have something to do with the booster?” I asked.
Mindplay holds the syringe in his hands as he says, “Perhaps. The Amazons might be in conflict with their dealer, assuming Hombre is working for ‘The Tamer.’ That red-head vampire was pulling out abilities never seen before, so I wonder if he’s connected to the boosters.”
“It's more likely the vampire has something to do with the Silver Challenger Project,” said BD, now in her small wyvern form. She was sitting on the bed next to Mindplay.
“What’s the Silver Challenger Project?” asked Raya.
“Many years ago, the vampires requested the aid of a great alchemist to create a vampire that could stand against Silver. I don’t remember all the details, but eventually, the project ended as a failure.”
Mindplay asked, “Would you say the vampire was more stable this time or stronger in some way?”
I could feel BD trying to rack her mind for any information to help us, but in the end, she couldn’t think of anything. “It’s possible, but I don’t think the problem had anything to do with stability or strength.”
“I can deal with whatever comes our way,” said Raya. “The big problem is that we need someone to guide us through the forest. Even if we fight the whole way, we’ll be exhausted when we find Shadow Fang.”
“I could sniff him out,” I suggested.
“I would still be worried about getting to him. Mindplay, can’t you make a sensor or something that could get us through the forest.”
Mindplay looked defeated when he said, “Never had to do something like this before. At least, not in this way. We’ll start looking for a guide tomorrow, but we must be quick. The longer we stay in one place, the sooner Shadow Fang can react to our arrival.”
After the meeting, I made my way to my room with BD. Once I got to my room, I found sleeping even on the soft bed difficult. BD, on the other hand, was out like a light. I tried to identify what was causing my restlessness, but it was a collection of everything at once. I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen, wondering if I should call my parents. At this time of night? I could send them a text. I continued to look at the screen doing neither. I put my phone back in my pocket and made my way outside.
Once outside, I was met with a cool, humid breeze. I walked over to a fountain and sat at its edge, letting the wind take my worries away. I closed my eyes as my mind began to clear, and images formed as that happened. A woman was standing before me, but her face was obscured like it was being covered by a screen. She was smiling at me, surrounded by trees and standing on the lush grass.
As quickly as the image appeared, the vision started to distort. The girl was covered in blood in the distorted parts, and the forest was on fire. She was still smiling, but I could see a wound on her neck and what looked like a sword wound on her chest. Her mouth moved, but she said nothing that I could hear.
I expected the smell of smoke when I breathed in, but there was a familiar scent when I did. My eyes snapped open, and I was gasping for air. I quickly pulled myself together as I realized the familiar scent was that of an Amazon. I stood up to see that the person standing not too far away from me was the girl with the glasses and the whip. I struggled to remember her name and mentally kicked myself when I couldn’t think of it.
She seemed just as surprised at my sudden movements. She composed herself to speak in her native language. Realizing I didn’t know what she was saying, she switched to English. "You are the Iron Werewolf, Silver, correct?"
“That is a name I go by,” I said.
"I see. Do you have time?"
"That depends." I was skeptical now.
"I have an offer for you and Raya. I'll be your guide through the forest, and I know exactly where Shadow Fang is."
"What's the catch?"
"All I ask is for you to tell me everything about your race."
My heart sank. If that was all she wanted, I would dump everything to get the upper hand on Shadow Fang, except... "I don't know anything about 'my race.'"
The girl looked saddened at what I said. "You don't?"
“Not that I’ve had the chance to look, but everyone I know has no clue. Why so curious?”
"The powers we have been using were inspired by you, as much as many of us don't want to admit it. I've read stories about you and what you are capable of. I could only imagine what others like you could do."
A laugh slipped out of my mouth. The praise was nice to hear, but through it, I was reminded of the vast influence my past lives have had on the world. I was once again overwhelmed. "Yeah, I'm sorry for the lack of knowledge I could have offered. To be honest, I want to know what I am as well. Is there any other way we could gain your help?"
She took a moment to think. "That was the only thing I wanted from you. I guess we can’t make a deal then.”
“I don’t see why getting rid of Shadow Fang isn’t good enough.”
“Shadow Fang is not a problem for us.”
“And yet he managed to push you guys back when he first arrived.”
“We weren’t pushed back,” she said, sounding offended. Immediately, the Amazon was horrified as she said something she wasn’t supposed to. My grin grew, seeing that she messed up.
I continued the conversation. “It makes sense that Shadow Fang couldn’t push you guys back so easily. According to the story, you had numbers on your side and home-field advantage. Moreover, traversing the rainforest is treacherous without someone who knows where they’re going.”
The Amazon didn't hide her expressions as I spoke, which proved Mindplay's suspicions. Seeing no way to lie her way out, she explains her side of the story. “I wasn’t there with the other Amazons when they attacked Shadow Fang’s group. I don't know what happened, but the ones who went to confront Shadow Fang and his people returned with a deal made. If we helped them in any way we could and ignored most of their activities, they would give us stronger and more effective boosters than our last dealer.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“More effective, how?”
“The effects were more permanent and closer to what we wanted. The girl with the bow is an example of what I mean.”
“And because the results are so great, getting rid of your best supplier would be inconvenient. But why would you want to get rid of him? Even if I had the information you wanted, I doubt it would be a good replacement for the booster.”
“I want to see the real thing. You may be the last of your kind, but I believe some are still in the world. I’m tired of my Amazons being so enamored by a cheap copy that we bend the knee to this vampire.”
“So you’ll help us? And what was your name again?”
The girl laughed and said, “Call me Beth. If I help you, maybe I'll get what I want from this.”
The next day came, and I explained the situation with Beth to the rest of the group. Raya was suspicious, to begin with, but Mindplay was able to convince her that this was the best chance we had to progress. Raya was upset by this but had to agree to Mindplay's logic.
“At least we have someone who can guide us,” said Raya.
“That’s the spirit,” said Mindplay. “Welcome to the team, Beth.”
Not wanting to waste any more time, Beth led us to the bank of the Rio Negro where her boat was supposed to be. We were almost at our destination when I noticed Beth began to slow her pace. She grinned disappointedly as she stared at someone standing on the docks. Right beside the motorboat was the Amazon BD was fighting. She had her arms crossed as she waited for us to get close. I could feel Raya begin to tense up. Beth started to argue with the girl in their native tongue until Raya stepped up.
In English, Raya said, "We don't have time for your family drama. Just let your sister come with us."
"With all due respect Lady Raya, that's not your choice to make," said the girl.
"It isn't yours to make either, Josefa," Beth retorted.
"I have more rights as your sister than anyone else."
"Hey!" Raya snapped at the siblings to the point I thought I heard a beast roaring. Mindplay thought the same thing as he took five steps behind me. "Your sister was the only one willing to help us when no one else would. We need her help, and unless you're willing to give up someone to take her place, she's coming with us."
The one named Josefa couldn't keep eye contact with Raya. She then looked at Beth and said, "You can't just leave your family for people you just met."
"You can't stop me all by yourself," said Beth.
"I came to warn you. If you leave now, you may never be accepted here again."
"I'm aware of that."
A wave of shocked dread washed over Josefa's face as if she didn't expect her sister to sound so confident in her answer. She then turned a wrathful gaze at me, making my hair stand on end. She says to me, "You did this! You turned--" At that moment, Josefa began to pull out a bow and arrow that she had. I was ready to defend myself, but Raya had her blades to Josefa's throat before she touched an arrow. It happened so fast.
No. Raya was already moving by the time Josefa turned hostile. Maybe even before then. I only noticed her displacement once Raya had Josefa dead to rights. Her eyes were different again, as well as her posture. I couldn't explain it at that moment, but it was like I was looking at someone else.
"You can't stop this now," Raya whispered. "You are letting us through with or without your body broken and bruised."
Josefa slowly removed her hands from any weapons. With no other choice, she let us pass onto the boat.
We had been on the water for a minute without anyone saying anything. Mindplay was the first to break the odd silence by saying, “If it helps, I know what it’s like to deal with siblings that don’t agree with each other.”
"It doesn't, but thanks for sharing," replied Beth.
"Will that be a problem later?" I asked.
"I hope not. If all goes well, I can earn their trust again.
The silence returned, but the boat propellers beating against the water gave enough sound to keep things from being awkward. I stared at the river's dark waters silently, falling deep into my thoughts. However, as my mind drifted, the waters started to depict images similar to last night. It was as if I was being drawn to the pictures all to figure out what I saw.
Before anything happened, I heard BD’s voice, scaring me out of my trance.
I’m sorry, she said, apologizing for scaring me.
I’m fine. I lied. BD didn’t believe me. She hopped from my shoulder onto the edge of the boat.
Do you want me to stay in Skyland?
What do you mean?
Not all of your past lives have had me by their side. For one reason or another, you may request to leave all connections to Skyland behind with only a few things you may wish to take.
What do you do when you're not with me?
If I'm not waiting for you, I'm helping Claymore with whatever task he needs from me.
...I wouldn't want to put you in that position. Where is this coming from?
I want you to understand your options when we finish with Shadow Fang.
She was holding something back. I thought about pressing her, but it didn’t feel right. I grabbed the wyvern off the boat and put her on my lap.
As gently as I could say any thought, I said, Don’t worry about the future. We have to focus on what’s in front of us.
Once we reached land and got off the boat, Beth led the way into the forest. During the trek, she explained that the place Shadow Fang’s group wanted to be escorted to was an old pyramid that was said to house magic items. The rainforest was full of these “magic warehouses,” but only people like the Amazons knew how to locate them. Even if someone managed to find one without help, each “warehouse” had unique tricks and traps to deter anyone from accessing them.
“But what exactly is so hard about traversing the forest in the first place?” I asked.
“I meant to bring that up, but I assumed it had something to do with magic,” said Mindplay. “It’s probably more complicated than that, right?”
“The rainforest is guarded by one of five Calamity Dragons,” BD explained. “If I remember correctly, anything within these ‘warehouses’ is considered part of her hoard.”
Mindplay stopped in his tracks, hands raised in disbelief. “Calamity Dragon?! Was no one going to bring this up? Silver excluded.”
Raya walked past him, explaining, “Direct conflict with the dragon has never been an issue for all the time it has nested here. Its ability to change the structure of the forest was the problem.”
“Shadow Fang was likely able to bargain with the dragon to take whatever he needs from the ruins,” Beth explained further.
I tried to put the pieces together. “To answer my question, a guild was needed to avoid getting lost in the dragon’s maze.”
Both Raya and Beth confirmed my hypothesis to be mostly correct. Unfortunately, Mindplay continued to be uneasy at the thought of a mighty dragon lurking amongst the greenery.
It was an hour after midday, and Mindplay was still on edge. It didn’t help that everyone stopped talking after the forest dragon conversation.
He moved up to the front to walk next to Beth and asked, “I have to say, whatever Shadow Fang is cooking, it must be some alternative for the Amazons to turn their backs on Reptilian.”
Beth whipped around to him and asked, “How do you know that name?”
"Technopath. I picked up that information while trying to make a map using what information you guys had. Apparently, that wouldn’t have worked." Mindplay sounded disgruntled at the end.
“We should have referred to his other call sign, ‘The Tamer.’ How do you know him.”
Confidently, Mindplay responded. "I'm a superhero private investigator. Part of my job involves me knowing the criminal underground."
"Are you going to arrest me?"
“Can’t do that for multiple reasons.”
“So why bring it up?”
Before Mindplay could respond, my vision began to go dark. I thought I was getting tired from all the walking, but the darkness grew even after I stopped to take a breath. My eyelids grew heavy, and my legs couldn't support my weight. The last thing I felt was my body crashing against the soft muddy ground.
I fell asleep.