CHAPTER VI
How flammable do you think they are?

"Shit! That's a big ass cave!" The dwarf swore, "So you think there's a treasury in there?"

The halfling leader looked down from her war horse* "Candy, if Gharzia and her boys are here then there must be something here! She's pretty smart… for an orc!"

"Yeah, I guess so. But are you sure it's them? I don't see Buttercup, and there's another horse here too. Looks like they might have another drow with them…"

"The drow are of no consequence!" A high-elf maiden stepped forth, "Our dark brethren are weak, is as show in the way they cower in the darkness! Our forces of light shall vanquish them!"

Candy glanced over at her, "Are you sure Feniss? I've heard the carry more poisons than a swamp hydra…"

"Yes, but if you cut of their heads, two more don't grow back… they just die!" Thorn said drawing her long sword**

"Beside, we do have some extra muscle now don't we girls!" She laughed, maniacally, which gave off all the intimidation of a happy chipmunk…

"Yes… we do Thorn," A bugbear woman snarled with glee as she approached with their new muscle. Behind her two ogres tromped trough the tall grass. "ACHOO!"

"Still having trouble with your allergies? Thorn asked.

"Yeah… I can’t imagine where it’s coming from, but I’d swear I can smell… AAAAHCOOO…. Garlic somewhere…" The bugbear whipped her nose on her sleeve, but I’m still up for the battle thought! I ahh… ahh… don’t need my nose to fight this thing or Gharzia’s men!" Achoooo…

"Excellent Sable***! Are we all ready then?"

"Yes!" Sable exclaimed.

"Sure! I hope I get to fight Merrel" Candy said with a giggle.

"Save the drow for me!" Feniss said darkly… for a light elf.

And the two ogres nodded, because saying yes took too much brainpower.

"Okay then off we g-- what the hells?"

A tremendous roar echoed from within the cave as a jet of fire spewed forth.

"Fall back!" Thorn commanded as Pussy Willow reared up, almost tossing the halfling. "Dragon!"

Back stepping the party formed a circle around the cave entrance as they drew their weapons and stood at the ready.

Another blast of fire tore out from the entrance. This time igniting some of the dry summer grass and sending out secondary flames that spread like wild fire… for obvious reasons.

Again Thorns party distanced themselves. "What the hell is it doing?" She asked rhetorically.

"I don’t know, perhaps the beast is actually smart enough not to fight us on our own turf! See Candy it too is afraid of the light! Coward!" Feniss said drawing her bow, "But I can still shoot at it!" She added firing into the cave.

"Oh piss!" Gerren snarled under his breath as he ducked an incoming arrow. "This isn’t working how you planned!"

"Nothing ever goes according to plan!" Gharzia replied mournfully, "Nothing…"

Merrel looked up at them, "Want me to give another blast? All you need to do is give a roar!"

"I don’t know, if this doesn’t get them moving nothing will!" She sighed, "We’re in no shape to fight, but there’s an recovering dragon back there…"

"I could just blast them all!" Merrel chirped!

"You might hit Candy…" Gharzia added, "Plus we can’t toast Allia’s sister… even if our ranger is a panda at the moment she can still get pretty pissy…"

"Why don’t we simply tell them that we don’t want a fight and warn them of the dragon?" Akiyo said.

Everyone turned to him, each about ready to tell him off. And then he started to laugh, "But seriously… heh heh… why don’t we back up into one of those side caves and let them go face the dragon… then we just stroll away with what lot we do have and call it an adventure?"

Everyone continued to look at him, "Are you sure you’re a monk Stevens? That’s evil!" Gharzia said in mock disgust, "But I like it all the same! It’s not our fault if ‘Thorn’ get herself toasted…" She smiled.

"What about Candy?" Merrel asked, "Not that I care or anything…" He quickly added.

"She’s a smart little thing! She’ll know when to scurry her hairy ass out of there!" Gharzia said truthfully, "Now let’s head back into the belly of the beast!"

"She’s… sniffle… sniffle… gone silent!" Sable said, sticking her head in the cave, "I think the dragon’s retreated back into her lair… achoo!"

Thorn smiled atop her mount, "Good! That means she’s scared of us! Onward girls!" She said pointing down the cave with her sword, "Let’s go get what we have coming to us!"

Then as a single file line they went down into the dark cavern. Following familiar footprints.

"Yess, they defiantly went this way!" Sable said, walking low to the ground… tiny bits of snot dripping on the path as she went, "the tracks get a little fuzzy hear and there, … achoo… but I can tell you for certain that they’re still in here too!" She added as they passed a dim set of eyes.

Gerren watched as they passed right by him, Hmmm… follow the plan… or cave Feniss’s skull in with my fist… He contomplated, That’s a toughie!

But before he could decide Gharzia came up from behind, "Good, they’ve passed!"

"How did you know?"

"I could hear your teeth grinding! So Feniss is with ‘em eh? Well let’s just get out of here then!"

Gerren growled…

"Don’t worry! I’m sure she’s gonna get what’s coming to her!" Ghazria said, motioning to the others.

"Yes… I know, I just wish I could be thereto see it!" the Drow pouted.

*Fenwick's Notes: Thorn Feraltoes (Real name: Penelope Fuzzytoes) halfling bitch form hell likes to compensate for her height anyway she can. She wears boots with extra thick souls as well as pointed heels. She also rides a war-horse that stands six feet tall at the shoulder! And while it requires a rope ladder to mount, she still like to think it makes her look tough, even if the animal responds to the name 'Pussy Willow'.

**Fenwick's Notes: It's a short sword, but for anyone that's only Four foot ten it's pretty big…

***Fenwick's Notes: Last on this chapter, I swear! Bugbear ranger: Sable Minks (Real name: Susey Fuzzytoes, no relation) and keeper of the ogres: Think Giants Lite. Which she can manipulates with the ever-increasing power of gold coins.