Irritating, bothersome, frustrating. Take your pick, the dragon replied with laughter in his tone.
Troublesome is the one I choose, Sophia stated while eyeing the birds. This new set didn’t appear any more endeared to the dragon and rider.
The jungle was once again quiet and in the distance, the yellowed-eyed creatures still blinked through the dark leaves.
The waters of the Reflective Sea still stood at Sophia’s back, promising to bring other dangers—like fights with her dragon.
So what does your soul say to do now? Lunis asked in her head.
Sophia didn’t have to go within to ask as the birds dove from overhead in attempt number two to take them out.
“Run!” Sophia yelled and sprinted for the unknown dangers that no doubt lay ahead.
Chapter Twenty
The blades of the thick leaves sliced at Sophia’s face and neck as she sprinted, trying to escape the homicidal birds. Lunis held out his wings as they ran, which created a wall and protected Sophia from attacks. However, as they progressed deeper into the jungle, the vegetation was denser and made it so he had to pull his wings down to slide through the branches. He could have used a compartment spell if he weren’t focused on not being torpedoed.
When Sophia was moderately certain that they had a lead on the tropical birds, she pointed over her shoulder and threw up a shield barrier. It would cause a huge drain on her magic, but so would death.
Sophia knew the shield had worked when she heard a pelting sound at her back. She dared to look over her shoulder and briefly saw an image of the dumb birds colliding with the invisible barrier, hitting it like bugs on a windshield.
The pair came to a halt, but not only because the tropical birds were no longer chasing them. Mostly it was because they’d discovered what the source of the yellow eyes was.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sophia assumed that the little tiny yellow eyes belonged to creatures, probably with sharp teeth and a motivation to murder them. She was wrong.
Sophia wasn’t sure what she would have preferred. Fighting angry gremlins or the creatures they’d run up on.
Hundreds of fireflies hovering in front of them, their bodies aglow in the dark forest. However, these weren’t like the enchanting little bugs that fill up the night. A quick study of them told Sophia that they were also murder bugs, much like their bird friends.
Their wings fluttered and kept them in place like a helicopter. The back of their bodies glowed with a large bulb. And on the front of their body where their heads should have been was a large stinger that buzzed like a bee.
I’ve got bad news, Lunis said in her head.
If it’s about the swarm of most likely poisonous bugs, I’m already aware, she replied.
Oh, well never mind then, he joked.
The pair stood frozen in the middle of the dark jungle as the mutated fireflies simply hovered, seemingly deciding when to make their collective move.
Why do I get the impression that when we move the chase will be afoot? Sophia asked.
I think your impression is accurate, Lunis answered.
I was afraid of that. Sophia watched the giant stingers buzz in the air, all of them directed at them. What do you think the odds are that we can stay like this for a while?
I’m willing to stick it out forever on this island, Lunis teased. It’s now my forever home.
Sophia had to stop herself from laughing.
Other impressions I have at the moment, Lunis began. I think that much like the tropical jerk birds, if we wipe out these guys, they’ll return.
Safe assumption, I’d say.
So I’d blast them with fire but…
For some reason, I don’t think magical fireflies will be harmed that much by fire, she stated.
I think this has to be about strategy. Lunis dared to look over his shoulder where the shield still kept the birds at bay. What are the chances you can create another of those shields?
Low, Sophia answered. And even if I have the magical reserves for such a big spell, then I’m pretty much boxing us in.
But we will be safe and can make our home here, he joked.
Something tells me that all the plants are poisonous and the water supply will make us hate each other, Sophia replied.
So no to living here then.
I think we have to plan an exit strategy, she imparted.
Does it involve running like hell like the last time? he questioned.
Pretty much, unless you have any other ideas.
Well, we could fly or portal—
But we need to be on this island, Sophia interrupted. I know it. And taking off under this canopy of trees would be pretty dangerous. I don’t want you to risk it.
Then we run like hell, he stated with confidence. Which way?
She tuned into her intuition and listened to the voices of her soul. You’re not going to like this…
It’s straight ahead, isn’t it?
Yep, Sophia answered.
Lunis groaned in her head. All right, we’ll go around them. Let the race begin.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As Sophia had suspected, as soon as they took off, it triggered the fireflies and made them dart after them. The killing birds were fast, but they had nothing on these guys who sped through the air and made up the distance quicker than Sophia would have thought possible.
That’s why she had to employ a spell to increase her speed. Lunis sped up too, taking down branches and foliage as they tore through the jungle. It was hard to come up with a strategy while they were running for their lives, but Sophia knew for a fact that there was no way they could outrun the deranged fireflies.
But facing them wasn’t an option either. That would exhaust their magic, and the creatures would probably reappear once defeated.
What they needed was a way to escape the swarm.
As Sophia thought that, they approached a clearing where the rush of water falling was so loud, it could be heard over the buzzing and their thrashing through the jungle.
The feel of cool mist told Sophia that they were close to a waterfall. She knew they were near the sound she’d heard in her soul. They were approaching the source—the center of the island. Their destination.
Lunis, I know what we have to do, Sophia said in a rush in her dragon’s head.
What, he asked urgently as they ran out into the clearing. A large body of water stretched out in front of them with a cliff reaching high above it.
“Jump!” Sophia yelled.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sophia launched herself forward off the shore around the lagoon and bicycled her legs to propel herself harder—faster. Her hands clawed through the air as she screamed with a guttural force that seemed to pull her into the pristine, shimmering waters.
Sophia sank into the cool depths, her eyes wide open as she submerged. She hoped that this wasn’t like the Reflective Sea and wouldn’t make her insane with rage. It made sense that it was the same water since all the islands were connected by the Reflective Sea. But her instinct, the voice of her soul had told her to jump. As she looked up at the rippling surface, she saw the angry fireflies pass over.
Lunis had done as Sophia had ordered and jumped next to her. His size created a huge splash. The current his weight created quickly pushed Sophia to the bottom. She would have been pushed to the far side of the pool as well, but he wrapped his tail around her waist and anchored her to the bottom with him.