around a hill covered in trees and shrubs. Brigdon and Jaxton crept around the west side, while Helios and Pontos went around on the east.
"What in the-" Jaxton started.
On the other side of the hill was a creature half the size of the gryphton's. It crawled on eight legs. Its body long and narrow, with a long segmented tail that had a forward curve over its back. The chomping sound came from the arthropod sucking the moisture from the roots of the vegetation. It clinched with its pincer's and sunk its fangs into the soft roots. Brigdon surveyed the area, peering out from around the small dirt mounds they were crouched behind and found several more. Some scurried in and out of tunnels that they had burrowed under the remains of the ancient civilization.
Brigdon lifted his arm and, with one toe raised, swirled it in the air telling the others to wrap it up and head back. As quietly as they came, they slipped back toward the trees. Once there Brigdon halted the team and directed them, mostly with grunts and gestures, to take another sweep, around the far edges of the ruins and make a complete circle.
"I wish we could stay and study these creatures," Helios said, stroking his jade green feathers under his beak.
Jaxton rolled his eyes and followed Brigdon, first swinging wide following the last of the tree line and crouched tightly to the ground when there was no cover. Pontos chuckled at Jaxton's annoyance and went in the opposite direction. He followed the tree line until it ended with Helios in the rear. They came to a cliff that had a rushing river about a hundred feet below. They flew over the crevasse, peering down searching the bottom as they crossed.
They landed on the other side and continued working their way behind the dilapidated and fallen stones. On their first time around, Helios noted a peculiar mushroom. He wanted to pick one and take it back to study it, but he knew that Brigdon would not allow it. Now, however, Brigdon was not there. He spotted another one and with Pontos up a head, took his chances and picked it. He carefully slipped the rubbery fungus into his pack.
*************************
"General Sir, the scouting party has returned," said a solider standing at attention.
"Thank you. Where are they?" Azrak asked.
"They were spotted north of the tree line and will be here momentarily, sir," the young soldier reported.
"Thank you, dismissed," Azrak said.
The soldier spun on his heels and returned to his post. After several minutes Brigdon, Jaxton and the others walked toward Azrak and Ralti. Brigdon lead the group with more than his usual scowl. Azrak felt his stomach plummet to the bottom of his belly. Helios's shoulders were pushed back showing his furless chest. Rippling muscles heaved with anticipation. Brigdon stopped in front of Azrak and turned to Helios. He took a small side step, allowing him the honor of giving their report.
"General sir, we've scouted the area and found a nest of Selket. There are hundreds, could even be thousands living under ground in tunnels," he said.
Azrak asked, "Thousands?"
"I thought they were only stories?" Ralti asked.
"I assure you they are not. It would do this army good to know a little bit about history," Helios said.
Everyone rolled their eyes at him, yet on more than one occasion it was his knowledge of the past that kept them from harm.
"You're correct, Helios. It would do some good. That is precisely why I asked for you personally to be on this detail. Your understanding of such matters is crucial," Azrak said.
Helios relaxed slightly and glared at Jaxton who seemed to be less concerned with the whole thing.
"They are heavily armored on the back and belly and their tails have stingers," Pontos said.
Pontos was their weapons specialist. Even though he was smaller than many of the others, his ability to assess the opponent's weakness was a huge asset.
"How many soldiers will it take?" Azrak asked.
"All of them, sir. We are severely
"What in the-" Jaxton started.
On the other side of the hill was a creature half the size of the gryphton's. It crawled on eight legs. Its body long and narrow, with a long segmented tail that had a forward curve over its back. The chomping sound came from the arthropod sucking the moisture from the roots of the vegetation. It clinched with its pincer's and sunk its fangs into the soft roots. Brigdon surveyed the area, peering out from around the small dirt mounds they were crouched behind and found several more. Some scurried in and out of tunnels that they had burrowed under the remains of the ancient civilization.
Brigdon lifted his arm and, with one toe raised, swirled it in the air telling the others to wrap it up and head back. As quietly as they came, they slipped back toward the trees. Once there Brigdon halted the team and directed them, mostly with grunts and gestures, to take another sweep, around the far edges of the ruins and make a complete circle.
"I wish we could stay and study these creatures," Helios said, stroking his jade green feathers under his beak.
Jaxton rolled his eyes and followed Brigdon, first swinging wide following the last of the tree line and crouched tightly to the ground when there was no cover. Pontos chuckled at Jaxton's annoyance and went in the opposite direction. He followed the tree line until it ended with Helios in the rear. They came to a cliff that had a rushing river about a hundred feet below. They flew over the crevasse, peering down searching the bottom as they crossed.
They landed on the other side and continued working their way behind the dilapidated and fallen stones. On their first time around, Helios noted a peculiar mushroom. He wanted to pick one and take it back to study it, but he knew that Brigdon would not allow it. Now, however, Brigdon was not there. He spotted another one and with Pontos up a head, took his chances and picked it. He carefully slipped the rubbery fungus into his pack.
*************************
"General Sir, the scouting party has returned," said a solider standing at attention.
"Thank you. Where are they?" Azrak asked.
"They were spotted north of the tree line and will be here momentarily, sir," the young soldier reported.
"Thank you, dismissed," Azrak said.
The soldier spun on his heels and returned to his post. After several minutes Brigdon, Jaxton and the others walked toward Azrak and Ralti. Brigdon lead the group with more than his usual scowl. Azrak felt his stomach plummet to the bottom of his belly. Helios's shoulders were pushed back showing his furless chest. Rippling muscles heaved with anticipation. Brigdon stopped in front of Azrak and turned to Helios. He took a small side step, allowing him the honor of giving their report.
"General sir, we've scouted the area and found a nest of Selket. There are hundreds, could even be thousands living under ground in tunnels," he said.
Azrak asked, "Thousands?"
"I thought they were only stories?" Ralti asked.
"I assure you they are not. It would do this army good to know a little bit about history," Helios said.
Everyone rolled their eyes at him, yet on more than one occasion it was his knowledge of the past that kept them from harm.
"You're correct, Helios. It would do some good. That is precisely why I asked for you personally to be on this detail. Your understanding of such matters is crucial," Azrak said.
Helios relaxed slightly and glared at Jaxton who seemed to be less concerned with the whole thing.
"They are heavily armored on the back and belly and their tails have stingers," Pontos said.
Pontos was their weapons specialist. Even though he was smaller than many of the others, his ability to assess the opponent's weakness was a huge asset.
"How many soldiers will it take?" Azrak asked.
"All of them, sir. We are severely
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