23

I kept checking the map every hour on the hour to make sure that none of the spiders came close again. Ethan, and Goliath both noticed that I was glancing at the map. Neither one said anything to me. They seemed to accept what I was doing as something I needed to do. How many odd habits did I have that had made ignoring me now completely acceptable?

Was I really that weird? I frowned, but I couldn't stop checking that map. It was a habit of mine to keep those I knew as safe as possible. I was glad they were ignoring my odd habits. I didn't really feel like explaining what I could see on that map.

I snorted casually to myself. Glad to be ignored for once. Every time I went outside it was like I was a sideshow to be seen by all. My body tensed as I tried to play it all off as nothing more then an odd habit. Part of me really wanted them to ask, but for the most part I just didn't feel like explaining my ability to see enemies on a map just by looking at it.

My tail flicked back, and forth slowly as I tried to keep myself calm. I knew that the enemy was getting closer, and closer. Plus I knew that I wouldn't have full use of my mana for another three days. I didn't want to fight without half of my skills. Almost all of my long range skills were mana based.

Fighting without any long range ability would severely limit my fighting power. I curled my lip up into a snarl as I thought about how badly all of this might end. The enemy was closing in, and then there were those green dots. Some of them were practically kissing the walls now. They seemed to be coming in, and out slowly as they circled the whole settlement.

Investigating what those dots were wasn't going to be able to wait much longer. It was obvious that the movements were that of a force slowly surveying the enemy. I wasn't sure if they were thinking of us as enemies. I didn't know how long they would keep on surveying until they decided to attack or if they were seriously thinking about attacking. They could just be observing the settlement.

The fact that they were moving like an intelligent force made me think twice. I stood up. Goliath decided to stay in the extra room in the building we were living in. Ethan went with me when I walked out of the warehouse. I didn't even make it all the way out of the building before a fairy explosion rocked the whole settlement.

I jumped couldn't play it nice or safe anymore. I jumped into the air. Beating my wings down hard as I took flight. Ethan grabbed my tail as I went up. My wings snapping the air out from under me.

Sending dust, and debris flying everywhere. I couldn't cheat my way skyward this time. I had no mana to rely on this time. That meant forcing my angry muscles to work, and work they did. My high tolerance for pain was really coming in handy right now.

I crossed the settlement in less then ten minutes. Landing on an empty space in the wall hard enough to bend the railing. My feet securely placed on the upper walkway of the wall. While my hands were the part of me that put dents in the railing. It was easy to forget that I was actually pretty heavy with how fast I could move.

I scanned the grass for heat signatures. Spotting over a dozen creatures that appeared to be somewhere between crocodile, and human in stature, and appearance. I roared from my place on the wall before jumping into the tall grass. Both of my hands slamming down on one of my new prey. I'd gotten used to killing things in a single blow whenever I attacked so I was completely taken off guard by this creatures ability to fend off my attack.

He caught both my hands when they came slamming down. One in each of his hands, and shoved me back. It wasn't enough to throw me off balance, but it was enough for him to get the space he wanted. I'd slammed my full weight down on him. He wasn't something I could one shot like the small beasts around the settlement I'd grown so accustomed to hunting.

I smirked slowly. I hadn't had a real challenge in a while so this was going to be fun. Three more of them rushed over to encircle me. They didn't rush in for the attack. One of them even had a spear like weapon.

They all started pacing slowly as they circled me. They seemed hesitant to attack me. Which was odd since I was certain they were strong enough to take me in a fight. I was pretty sure one of them could give me trouble. I was facing four of them right now.

It would be incredibly hard for me to take on all four of them. The explosion hadn't damaged the wall at all. That was another oddity. Then there was the fact that they didn't radiate hostility like most of my opponents. It seemed almost as if they were testing me.

{What are they up to?} I had meant to ask myself, but I'd said it out loud mentally speaking.

{What do you mean?} Ethan was standing in the space between my wings.

{They're not acting hostile,} I focused on each one of them individually.

The others had all pulled back now that I was out in the open. I slowly spread my wings as I thought about what they might be doing. Then one started talking to me. I understood him perfectly as if he were speaking fluent English even though he was clearly speaking in a language that consisted of various reptilian hisses, and growls.

"Young lord you no longer need to remain imprisoned here," He held out his hand slowly, "We have come to free you from your bindings."