Chapter 9
As they moved through the undergrowth Fang kept an eager eye out for any tell tale signs of their target. A patch of trampled grass and flowers let her know they were still on the right trail. She took a moment to take a swig of her water and roll the tension from her shoulders caused by the large backpack she was carrying.
"What did you pack in these" She asked with fake exaggeration.
"Supplies. Medi kits. Just the basics really" the soldier replied.
"The basics for what, a week long expedition?" Fang grinned.
"Just protocol, besides you'll thank me if-"
A roar blared through the air stopping the women in their tracks. Out of reflex they quickly ducked under some foliage. Lightning looked around quickly but the behemoth they had been tracking was no where to be seen.
"It doesn't know we're here, doesn't seem like it's after us either. But it shouldn't be too far ahead" Fang whispered shuffling forward a bit. "if we want a pre-emptive strike we should try to stay hidden, yea?"
The Pulsian crept forward even more until she was sure they weren't within sight of the creature and stood up slowly.
"Light?" She questioned again when she realised the soldier still hadn't answered. She turned to see what was keeping her and saw the woman hunched over with her hands clenched to her head.
"Light?!" Fang whispered loudly in shock. She rushed over to the pinkette and placed a firm hand on her back. "Is it another headache?"
"Yes...just go. I'll catch up" Lightning hissed through her teeth.
"Just go and leave you like this?!" Fang questioned. "Are you crazy? We should be leaving!"
"No" Lightning rasped grasping Fang's hand. "Please"
Fang sighed in frustration. She knew better than to argue but she wasn't happy with the situation either.
"Fine" she sighed. "But I'm not moving until your ready"
"It’s passing" Lightning said as she rubbed gently at her head. "Sorry"
"Good" Fang looked sternly at the shorter woman. "But you got to get checked out after today. Even if it's just Nielle, yea?"
"...okay" Lightning relented.
"Now let's go hunt us a behemoth" Fang gave the pinkette a quick kiss of reassurance.
They crouched low amongst the shrubbery as they watched their target prowling in the plain up ahead. There would be no cover for their attack. A pale scar tarnished the beasts face from its forehead to its muzzle on its right side. Along with a milky eye and faint limp Lightning easily deducted why a behemoth had been valued as a lower class mission.
"I know your dying to lead this attack sunshine, so what you got?" Fang asked from Lightning side.
"Well" Lightning paused to look the Pulsian up and down deliberately. "You look like tasty bait to me"
"That a complement or an insult?" Fang scoffed.
"Complement. Now go" Lightning said pushing the brunette from their hiding place.
"Thanks for the warning!" Fang yelled as she stood and dusted herself off, managing to catch the creatures attention. "So how about you?" She smirked as the behemoth bared its teeth with a guttural growl low in its throat. "I look like a nice snack to you?" She yelled.
The monster bowed its head low, muzzle creased in an ugly snarl as it continued to growl skulking forward. Fang grimaced as she saw globs of saliva drop from its mouth. Its teeth looked sharp despite the chip or two in them and their discolouration and Fang readied her lance just in case. Cure or not she didn't like the idea of a bite. The beast loomed ever closer, so much so the huntress swore she could feel its heated breath on her skin. She tensed her arm ready to swing but before she could bring her arm forward the behemoth let out a pained and angry howl. A quick streak of red and white off to the animals blind side told Fang that her partner had been the cause of it. As Lightning leaped toward her Fang let off a barrage of fire spells at the behemoth and it charged forward. The pair hurled themselves in opposite directions as the beasts giant claw raked through the air, clobbering the ground where they once stood and gouging out the earth beneath it. Lightning shot a blizzard towards its eyes that covered its face with a frosty sheen when it impacted. The creature shook its head in vein to remove the ice, thrashing wildly at the women. The pair dodged the deadly claw and struck out with their weapons in unison.
When the ice melted away the monster wasted no time in rushing toward the pinkette. Fang willed her fira forward aiming the burning like sphere just a fraction in front of her target. The behemoth rushed straight into the spell as it exploded into a domed inferno, engulfing the creature. As the flames dissipated Lightning ran forward bombarding the target with swipes of her sword and launching a water spell before rolling out of the way. The behemoth’s good eye tracked the pinkette as she sprinted off to the side. Deciding she was good enough to follow the beast rambled after her as the soldier threw a flurry of spells its way and Fang quickly clued up to the idea. When the creatures back was fully in view the huntress leaped up as high as she could and put all her strength behind one tremendous blow with her lance that she brought crashing down to earth straight on top of the behemoth.
As the bulky body dematerialised Lightning trotted up beside her and slapped her on the shoulder.
"We did good"
"We sure did" Fang flashed her a smile before pulling the soldier into a kiss.
Amodar smiled widely as Lightning presented the mission ticket to him. He gave the small note a once over nodding with an amused sound.
"Behemoth, huh?"
"Sir" Lightning nodded.
"Did it give you much trouble?"
"What, that wind bag?" Fang quipped "bark was worse than his bite"
"I bet" Amodar chuckled.
"So what now?" Lightning asked.
"Well good work you two. This should be your ticket into here" Amodar said gesturing to Fang. He scribbled his signature onto the paper and attached it to a sheet sprawled with handwriting. "My recommendation letter plus your completed mission is more than enough. The rest is just a formality now"
"Realy? That's it?" Fang raised an eyebrow.
"Yep. Just needs a signature from a higher up and its official" Amodar replied stepping around his desk. "Welcome to team, Oerba Yun Fang" he outstretched his hand.