Chapter 3
Hermione, in her otter form, swished her tail and caused a whirlpool to materialize over the empty land before her. The whirlpool maneuvered over the empty land, causing plants of various kinds to sprout.
Another otter landed beside her and nodded. "Thanks, Hermione," it said.
Hermione transformed into her human form and smiled. "Of course, Harry."
The other otter also transformed into human form, appearing as a brown-haired man with glasses. "Good luck on the Elite Quest," he said. "If there's anyone who can complete it this year, it's you."
"Yeah," a reddish-brown otter landed beside her and transformed into a freckled, redheaded man. "Malfoy doesn't stand a chance with any of those Five Elites."
Hermione turned to them and smiled. "It's more than just about outcompeting Draco, you know. And it's also more than just being the most skilled Semi-elite on the planet." She paused, then went on. "I'm doing this, mainly because, with the power of the Five Elites, I can help plenty of other humans who are limited in the amount of hoxian animals they can transform to."
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, knowing she was referring to poor folks like them. Folks like them, who couldn't transform into other hoxian animal species besides their Birth Colony's species, because they had a congenital condition that made their blood aversive to many species and thus limited their chances of ever emotionally bonding with another species.
Harry gave Hermione a grateful nod. "Thanks, again. All the best on the journey."
Later that day, Hermione transformed into a Thunderbolt Eagle, one of the fastest hoxian animals on the planet. And she landed in the territory of the first fastest animal-- the Elastic Greyhound. One of the Five Elite animal species.
The territory was full of everchanging landscapes. Earthquakes were constantly happening here, reshaping the wide-open lands and hills every several minutes. Hermione soared over the lands, watching as the hills and paths rose, descended, shifted left and right, and made all sorts of different reshaping maneuvers.
She spotted several Elastic Greyhounds dashing astutely over the ever-changing lands. She dashed after them, flapping her wings and trying not to release any electricity the faster she flew.
She landed in front of one of the Elastic Greyhounds, who stopped in its tracks as soon as it spotted her. Hermione transformed into her human form. She gave the canine a warm smile and took a step forward, thankful the lands had stopped moving.
But before she could even complete her step forward, the skinny, long-bodied canine was a blur, dashing away and already running far in the distance.
Hermione watched it disappear over some rolling and rising hills. She gave a huff. The greatest challenges of bonding with a new hoxian animal species were either due to two things: either the animal was too skittish, or they were too aggressive. The challenge was either trying to get the animal to trust you enough to not run from you, or trying to get the animal to calm down and not attack you.
And she recalled that the Elastic Greyhounds, since they were among the Five Elites, topped the animal species as the most skittish around humans.
Hermione transformed back into the Thunderbolt Eagle and hovered above the ground, as it was starting to move and shift around again. Then she dashed after another pack of four Elastic Greyhounds. She tried to emit some Alleviation Mist from her wings, as it was one of the most common tactics to use to soothe the most timid of animals.
But the Elastic Greyhounds each breathed out a gust of sand that made the mist dissolve.
Hermione huffed again. This was going to be tough.
Eventually, the lands calmed down again. Hermione watched as the four slender canines slowed down to a trot. They were approaching…..another human figure.
Hermione's eyes flashed a shiny-bright yellow, and she flew closer to the ground, feeling rage pulse through her.
If Draco's found some way to cheat and manipulate these poor animals into trust him, I'm gonna….she was unable to finish her train of thought, as her heart leapt with surprise. She realized the human that the canines were approaching was not her rich snob of a rival, but a dark-haired girl. No older than she was.
The canines crowded around her and licked her hand, and the dark-haired girl gently pet each of them on the head.
Hermione winced. She had never seen the Elastic Greyhounds look so calm and at least.
Then their ears pricked. They turned and noticed Hermione was hovering a short distance away. Within a split of a second, all four canines were gone in a flash, racing away in the form of gray, black, and white blurs.
The dark-haired girl gasped, watching them leave with a regretful look in her eyes. Then she turned to face Hermione with a scrutinizing gaze.
Hermione had just landed and transformed into her human form. She was walking up to the dark-haired girl with a bold look on her face. "You're Rey Skywalker from the Sunbeam Mustang Colony, aren't you?" Hermione's tone was rather testy. "You're another Semi-elite….like me." Hermione had memorized the entire list of 30 Semi-elites on the planet. Mentally reciting that list every so often was one of her methods of pushing herself to keep being the strongest Semi-elite….and especially beat Draco as the best Semi-elite on the planet.
Rey blinked at Hermione, then gave a small nod. "I am," she addressed formally. "And…who are you?"
"Hermione Granger, from the Whirlpool Otter Colony," said Hermione curtly. "I'm here because I'm embarking on the Elite Quest. I assume you're also here for the same reason?"
Rey gave another small nod, her expression vacant and unreadable.
Hermione felt a surge of envy, which she tried to tone down. But she found herself unable to. Great….as if it wasn't enough to have Draco in my way….
When Rey said nothing, Hermione asked, "What did you do to get those Elastic Greyhounds to suddenly come up to you like that? Those animals are the most skittish species in the world."
Rey slowly shook her head, gazing into the distance. "I….I don't know, honestly. I barely got here, in the form of a Sandstorm Cheetah, and I when I transformed into my human form, I spent some time walking around. Next thing I knew, those dogs were walking up to me."
"Hah! Looks like I'm not the only one who's more charming than Miss Mudface!"
Hermione whirled around to see an elegant-looking buck frolicking in her direction. A Treebuck Deer-- its antlers were tree branches with abundant leaves, and its spine also had a branch full of leaves. The Treebuck Deer instantly transformed into the tall, classy-dressed Draco.
"Malfoy…." Hermione clenched her teeth.
Draco was facing her with his typical teasing smirk. "I guess you're not as qualified as you think you are for this mission. This is just your first species of the Five Elites, and already some random chick is winning favor from the animals without even trying!" He shot a glance in Rey's direction, who was still looking a bit confused herself.
"Draco, get out of here," Hermione's hands balled into fists. "Not even your charm will win the trust of those Elastic Greyhounds."
Draco laughed and sauntered around Hermione. "Sheesh, Granger. Who made you in charge of Elite Quest affairs? Anyone can try and bond with the Five Elites, as long as they are Semi-elites." He then held his head high, giving a smug smile. "So I'm qualified to venture in these territories whenever I want. And right now, I want two things-- to humiliate you by becoming Elite Genomorph before you, and to gain access to all territories on this planet so as to feed my growing wealth as a Malfoy." He looked over his shoulder and winked at Hermione. "I'll be the richest, classiest man on this planet, AND I'll go from a hundred times stronger than you to a thousand times stronger!"
Hermione was about to leap at him and pin him down in pure human form, but before she could lunge herself at him, the ground suddenly shook. The surface below their feet rolled around, causing Hermione, Draco, and Rey to fall back and tumble around.
Instantly, Hermione transformed back into a Thunderbolt Eagle again to hover off, and Draco transformed back into a Treebuck Deer and leapt around, gracefully bounding from rolling mound to rolling mound as the lands shifted. Rey transformed into a Sandstorm Cheetah-- a generic-looking cheetah, though with tan-brown fur that emitted a sandy mist. She raced across the lands in circles and various directions, though she clumsily fell to her side since the lands were changing too quickly.
A pack of seven Elastic Greyhounds ran by, dashing over the rapidly-shifting grounds and mounds-- they were panting rapidly and each pant resulted in a shift of the grounds in some way.
When they were finally out of sight, the shifting lands paused, and Rey tumbled down a hill, landing in an ovoid pit with a thud. As soon as she landed, she transformed into her human form, and she was lying on her side, looking beat and bedraggled with her dark hair tangled and full of dirt.
Draco stood atop a nearby mound, looking elegant in his Treebuck Deer form as he kept his head high. He let out a drawling laugh, transformed into his human form, and looked up at Hermione in her hovering Thunderbolt Eagle form. "Well, Granger! Not only were you outdone by a chick who wasn't even trying, but a chick who's practically a damsel in distress!" He turned to smirk at Rey as she got up to her feet and tried to brush the dirt out of her hair. "If you ever feel ashamed of your incompetence, Rey, just remember that Miss Mudface of the Whirlpool Otter colony is always gonna be one step below you."
"Shut up, Draco!" Hermione flapped her wings and let out a piercing screech. She released a thunderbolt from her talons in Draco's direction, but he easily jumped aside without transforming into another animal form.
Rey grumbled and flashed Draco and Hermione a disgruntled look. Then she transformed into a maroon rabbit and hopped out of the pit. She landed on the ground, transforming back into her human form. But as soon as she did, a rock jutted up from below her left foot, causing her to fall sideways and nearly land on her head. Then another rock jutted up, and would've rammed into her head from below if she hadn't rolled away in time. She rolled and shot up to her feet turning to the two jutting rocks.
"Hey!" Hermione landed on a mound next to Draco's, transforming into her human form. "Who did that? Those rocks couldn't have come from the Elastic Greyhounds-- they look too dark and plastered."
Rey jumped aside as another rock shot up beside her. Then she saw a small mound form beside it, and a tiny mole crawled from its top. The mole transformed into a tall man with shoulder-length black hair.
"Ben!" Rey cried.
Ben was narrowing his eyes at her, looking livid. "Whatever you did to get those Elastic Greyhounds to coming flocking to you, do it again," his tone was quiet, yet demanding. "Those are the most flighty dogs I've ever had to deal with. Do whatever you did moments ago-- I'm not gonna waste any more time here than I need to."
"Ben, I had no idea what I did," said Rey tersely. "They just came up to me after I had walked around casually in my human form."
Hermione was frowning at the sight of another Semi-elite that she recognized from the Shadowbreath Wolf Colony. But then suddenly, her eyes widened as a flash of insight hit her.
"Wait…Rey! I think I know what did the trick," Hermione fixed her gaze on the dark-haired girl. "Those Elastic Greyhounds are ultra-sensitive to anything that shows the slightest sign of aggression or hostility. You, however, carry an aura of gentleness and calmness that they must've appreciated."
Rey raised her eyebrows, though she kept her gaze fixed on the aggressive, hostile-looking man in front of her. "I guess that makes sense…."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Oh please," he muttered.
Draco stifled a laugh. "So just be chill and unambitious? Granger, now I'm not sure if I really wanna best you at this anymore."
His tone was sarcastic. Hermione fumed at him.
Draco sniggered, then turned to Rey and stuck his chin at her. "Say! Rey, I will lend you some of the world's finest handbags, leather coats, and shoes if you work your magic and coax those Elastic Greyhounds that they should totally bond with me."
Ben turned at shot Draco a threatening glare. "No one's getting their hands on those Greyhounds but me." He then turned to Rey and pressed her against the jutting rock behind her. "You coax those Elastic Greyhounds that they bond with me. No one else. Or I'll slay you right now."
Hermione suddenly felt an uneasy surge. Who was this man to make such a threat?
Draco raised an eyebrow at Ben. Then gave a sour laugh. "Ah, come on. You think you'll win the lady with that kind of offer?"
"Shut up, you weasel!" Ben flashed Draco another nasty glare before turning to fix his furious gaze on Rey.
Draco narrowed his eyes at the dark-haired man. "Excuse me?" This time, his tone sounded rather threatening.
But Ben took no notice, as he was facing Rey, who was frozen scared beneath his grip. "Listen you," grumbled Ben. "I had no idea who you were until yesterday. And now, all I see when I look at you is an obstacle in my way. So unless you help me get close to those dogs, you will continue to be nothing but in obstacle in my way. And I always get rid of my obstacles."
Rey then narrowed her eyes. She transformed into a Sunbeam Mustang, which instantly sent Ben tumbling back. The sun shone on her shiny, golden mane, reflecting golden beams around her as she spoke.
"I will not let you get anywhere near those canines," she snapped. Her voice was not raised, but she did sound unexpectedly defiant. "Especially since you clearly aren't on this Quest with the same motive as me. We may both be here to fulfill the same mission, but your heart is clearly in the wrong place."
Ben shot up to his feet and transformed into a crouching Shadowbreath Wolf. "Those Boundless Orbs are mine, Rey. Mine."
Hermione flinched. Boundless Orbs?!
But before anyone could speak another word, Ben and Rey were locked in a violent battle in the forms of their Birth Colony species. At first, Rey was kicking at Ben with her hindlegs and sending flashes of sunbeams from her mane and tail, while Ben dodged them and released rapidly swirling mist around her that made her blind. He tried snapping his jaws at her as she blindly kicked around, unable to see.
Then Ben and Rey transformed into a mud-covered moose and dagger-feathered falcon, respectively. After a rough tussle, Ben transformed into a green boa and Rey into an elongated salamander, and they were rapidly slithering, flailing, jumping, and snapping jaws at each other.
Then Ben transformed into a five-tailed rat and Rey into a porcupine, shooting her quills while Ben knocked them all aside with his five tails.
Then Ben was back in his Shadowbreath Wolf form and Rey in her Sunbeam Mustang form, and they constantly lunged at each other. Ben let out a howl, sending thick billowing smoke from every part of his body. The smoke blew out so strongly, sending Draco and Hermione flying back and hitting against an awkwardly shaped mound.
Hermione coughed, slowly getting up.
Draco shot up to his feet, brushing the dirt off his fine, white suit and expensive slacks. He wore a malicious glare on his face as he swatted the smoke from his face. "That scumdog. He will pay for doing this to my father's suit." He glared in their direction and transformed into his Snowfur Ferret form, hissing and snarling. He raised his tail, and billowing white clouds formed over both Ben and Rey. "Get ready to be stabbed by the coldest, sharpest icicles in your life…."
Then the ground suddenly rolled below him and Hermione. And then below Ben and Rey. All four of them tumbled back sloppily.
As Rey lifted her head up, she widened her eyes to see that the four canines who had initially trotted up to her were standing there, panting. And at each pant, they caused the grounds to shift and throw Ben, Draco, and Hermione off balance. Soon they caused the grounds and lands to roll around in such a way that the three humans were far in the distance, out of sight.
Then they walked up to her and began licking her hands and wrist. Rey suddenly noticed how calm she was feeling.
She stroked their thin backs, smiling as they nudged her affectionately with their long, pointy snouts.
Then the gray-furred Greyhound let out a series of gutturals and growls….they were speaking hoxtongue. The universal language of all hoxian animal species on the planet. And Rey was able to translate it into human language, as it was custom for all humans to learn hoxtongue.
You're a safe one, growled the gray Greyhound. Thank you….
Rey raised her eyebrows. "Oh…..well, you're welcome. I guess." The hoxian animals understood human language, despite not being able to speak it themselves.
Then the Elastic Greyhounds raised their noodle-like tails, which were about a foot long. They extended their tails toward her left forearm, pressed the tips against it, and began transfusing their blood into her veins.