Operation: Pacifica, A Decision.








	
		

Operation: Pacifica, A Decision.







		by Warrior Aphrodite Persephone (alexbell@iastate.edu)



[In the deserts of Pacifica]

[Day ?]




 Zaphyre hissed in pain as she yanked out the last of the Saethrian
  arrows.  Snarling, the dragon launched into the air - heading West.


 *So, now the lion hunts the shepherd, eh?* she thought to herself,
  as she covered the miles quickly - expecting to easily overtake the Lyran
  spellcaster.  Somehow though, the tricky mage had vanished.


 Zaph, upon reaching the island's Western edge, paused to think.
  *Now, if I was that dolt, would I have headed North?*  The dragon looked up
  and eyed the barren, arid deserts surrounding the Lyran stronghold, before
  shaking her head, *too obvious*.


 *Um... Zaph?* Persephone, the dragon's human Companion, cautiously
  interrupted, *isn't that Hamster over there?* She indicated a large-winged
  creature slowly rising from the desert floor.



		
	



	
		




 But Zaphyre, intent on her search for the illusive mage, ignored
  the voice in her mind. *Or would that fool had gone South?*


 Persephone interrupted again.  *I've kept quiet about this
  foolishness for long enough.  That is Hamster! You know, as in the other
  Dragon?! As in the whole damned REASON you dragged us into this mess!*


 The dragon, continuing to ignore her, looked down at the thick,
  creepy jungles. *Hmmm...he _is_ rather creepy,* she thought, a draconic grin
  forming on her face, *definitely South, I think.*  Zaph lazily adjusted her
  path towards the Southern jungles and started searching for dense
  concentrations of the Lyran magicks.


 *But Zaph...* Pers began, before giving up and simply watching as
  the other dragon - Hamster - quickly became a small dot on the horizon.  He
  soon disappeared completely.  *why's he leaving now?* she wondered, *and to
  go where?  I'm confused again.  hrmmmf.*


 While Persephone contemplated the intricacies of dragon minds,
  Zaphyre found something else that was rather odd.  *Now that's strange,* she
  commented.  *Hey Pers! Take a look at this - will you?*


 *So you finally deign to acknowledge my existence, huh? What
  is....?* the human replied, looking over a vast field of what could only be
  described as magickal vortices.  *We-ird. It almost looks like the magicks
  themselves are feeding off the island.  But that's not possible... is it?  I
  mean there shouldn't be enough magick... for them all to survive - they
  should be consuming each other - right?*


 *I don't know.* the dragon replied, her mouth tightening in a grim
  line, *but we had better find out.*


 Zaphyre swooped down over the trees, then slowed and cautiously
  glided over the corrupted area, searching for a possible landing sight.
  After discarding several as "unsafe", she found what looked to be the
  perfect spot - an empty clearing on the edge of the corruption.  The dragon
  quietly eased down, landing noiselessly in the middle of the clearing.


 Tucking her wings back against her body, she carefully looked
  around. Nobody was in sight, but a few beheaded Sponge Minions were gathered
  around a lone odd-looking tree.  The dragon considered, then quickly shifted
  to her human form and slipped on a jumpsuit, before approaching for a closer
  look.


 *What in the world?* human and dragon thought together, staring in
  shock at the scene in front of them.



		
	



	
		




 It looked like somebody had started to dig up the funny-looking
  tree, but was rudely interrupted.  Near the base of its orange root, a body
  sat - cradling its head.  Persephone bent over to get a closer look and
  gasped.


 *Zaph... I... that... it isn't really a tree.  Is it?* she queried.
  *It looks more like a... a carrot?*


 Zaphyre looked it over carefully. *I really don't know _what_ it
  is, but its definitely part of that magick we noticed, see?*  The dragon
  carefully pointed out the stream of magick flowing continuously into the
  large "vegetable".


 *What's it doing here?*


 *Don't know.  But we're going to find out.*


 *I was afraid you'd say that.*



To Be Continued.