LET THERE BE DRAGONS (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Problems

"One more day, and we will reach The Forest of Falling Leaves," Took declared, cuddling on Josh's lap as usual.

Night had come to the trio like desires, and they had quit trudging through the forest about an hour before, all the muscles of their body taut and aching. All of them had been hungry to the point of being nauseated, so it had been upto Took to hunt something for them, again. They had been talking about the horrible taste of rat meat when he had come back with ducks. Apparently, there was a pond nearby around which wild ducks nested, but to the trio it hadn't really mattered from where the ducks came, they just feasted themselves on those ducks contentedly--it had been the best meal they had since their breakfast in that village where they had been almost caught by Infernos.

"Alright! That's great news! Why didn't you tell us so before, when we had been so demoralized? I mean it had been very difficult for us to keep up walking today," Shivam said.

"Because what I must tell you now will demoralize you even further," Took said.

"Oh no, I don't like the sound of that, please don't tell us that this forest is very dangerous or something!" Josh said.

"You did tell us that there was a problem with The Forest of Falling Leaves..." Tiyasha mused.

"So now tell us what that problem is," Shivam finished the sentence for her.

Took was silent for a while, looking at the burning constellations on the black fabric of space. Then he said: "In the Forest of Falling Leaves, you will die if you step on a leaf."

Silence reigned, as the trio looked at each other, uncomprehending. Had they heard Took correctly? Surely what he had just said was impossible!

"I'm sorry?" Shivam said, prompting Took for further explanations.

"You heard me...if you step even on a single leaf of this enchanted Forest, you'll die a horrible death. I don't know how or why, but it's true. Every dragon learns the legend of this Forest from his father; I did, too. The Resident Dragon of the Forest of Falling Leaves is the only dragon who can actually grant almost any wish of a human. Other mighty dragons can place curses on you, but only the Dragon of this particular forest can bless you."

"Ooh, you have a father, too?" Josh asked, his wheezing voice full of wonder. Took chucked up a few smoke balls at his face, blackening it completely, before saying: "Did you think I just dropped down from the sky to do your bidding?"

"Ug. You didn't have to do that. Besides, you don't have to do my bidding or anything. You are kinda like my pet, aren't you?" Josh said, cleaning his face with his palms.

"But if this legend is true...how are we going to enter it?" Tiyasha asked quietly.

"Well, you'll just have to swing from one tree branch to the other," Took said matter-of-factly.

"Are you joking? I don't know how to climb trees. Besides, what if even one of us falls! It's too risky," Shivam said.

"Well...then...as I can fly, maybe I should just fly ahead of you and clear your way by burning up all leaves by spitting fire..." Took suggested.

"No no no, what if even a single leaf remains? What if the wind scatters leaves all over our path again? And how can we be sure that burning up those leaves won't hurt us?" Shivam said, dismissing Took's suggestion again.

"I don't know then! Okay we won't enter the Forest! We can head back tomorrow, let's sleep now," Took said, annoyed.

"Let's sleep? what do you mean, let's sleep. You bring us all the way upto here and then tell us we have come to a place we can't enter? Why didn't you tell us this before! Maybe we wouldn't have journeyed this far then!" Shivam said, enraged.

Took growled, anger flared up his eyes. He unfolded his bat like wings and turned towards Shivam. "You...you want to..."

"Hey, hey, Took, don't get angry, now, he didn't mean to offend you," Josh said, calming Took down by petting him on his head. Took gave a final screech before cuddling up on Josh's lap again.

"I have an idea," Josh wheezed, looking at his big brother.

"Yeah? Well let's hear it," Shivam said coldly. He was still angry with Took.

"If we can't walk on the Forest of Falling Leaves, we'll walk under it," Josh said.

"Under it? I don't understand..." Tiyasha said.

"A tunnel," Shivam said quietly.

"Exactly," Josh said.

"But how on Heart are we going to dig a tunnel!" Tiyasha exclaimed. Josh and Shivam looked quietly at her. "Why are you looking at ME like that! I don't know ANY incantation to dig a tunnel, okay?" Tiyasha said, annoyed.

"Yes you do," Josh said.

"Remember all those wells you dug up?" Shivam said.

"But...but...that's an incantation for..." Tiyasha began, panicked.

"To hell with what that incantation is for, Tiyasha. It's the only way we have," Shivam said.

"But how would I know in which direction the tunnel should go?"

"Towards the direction of the dragon, of course. And Took can sense a dragon, can't you, Took," Josh said.

"Yes I can," Took confirmed.

"But...but...eventually we'll have to get up from the tunnel. What if we step on a leaf then?"

"You won't. In the centre of the Forest of Falling Leaves, there's a lake where the dragon lives. Around that lake there's a narrow clearing, without any trees or leaves. You can stand there without fear," Took informed them.

"But...but...it would take weeks..." Tiyasha was still unconvinced.

"It's the only solution to the problem, Tiyasha," Shivam said.

"There's another problem," a barritone voice said.

The trio turned and saw a hooded figure was approaching them. Shivam groaned. Another hooded figure? Were these guys big fans of Assassin's Creed or something?

"There's another problem, and I am here to tell you about it," the hooded figure said. It was obvious he had overheard their conversations.