After too long, the Hive finally did it. It was finally done. Various spirits within the Hive cheered as the Hive finally cut off the flow of energy. It was done. It was finally done. Their dragon was finally ready! A roar echoed through the tunnels as the dragon roared its approval. The spirit that used to be part of the Hive was no more; now it was a full dragon. The spirits within the Hive took a look at their greatest creation and they all had feelings of satisfaction. Their dragon was great.

Their dragon had a stocky body with a long serpentine neck and an equally long thin tail. The head of the dragon was elongated with a snout that was dominated by two slitted nostrils. Thick bones covered the back of the dragon's head with two short horns protruding out from the back of the head and it had green scales covering the rest of its body. The dragon had a huge mouth that could fully cover its numerous sharp teeth when closed but for some reason, it had blue eyes instead of green. Some of the spirits within the Hive suggested that the Hive change the color of the eyes but the Hive ultimately decided against wasting the energy.

The dragon stood on four long limbs with five digits on each foot that end in long, sharp claws. It had two huge, wide-set wings protrude from its shoulders but it could tucked them close to its body if it so choose to. Unlike the dragon the Fire Hive were still creating, their dragon spit poisonous gas instead of fire and the Hive even gave it vocal chords so that it could speak. This was a dragon of grace, power and majesty. The Hive couldn’t be prouder.

“Hey dragon, get up here. We want to show you off to the rest of the Kin.”

“Is that really necessary? They’re going to see me at the invasion of the human city anyway. Why don’t we just wait till then?”

“There’s a thing call strategy remember? The Kin has no idea you exist, much less what powers you have. Just get up to the fifth floor and let them see you.”

“You guys really think that’s necessary?”

“Get up here you lazy lizard! What’s the worst thing that could happen? You can even fly around for a while above the underground forest.”

“Oh! You guys are right. I haven’t flown yet. That’s something I need to try.”

“What are you waiting for then? Get up here!”

Tucking his wings in, the dragon began moving towards the exit of the ninth floor and the spirits within the Hive began congratulating each other. They had not only succeeded the request of the Fire Hive, they now had something to crow over them on; at least till the Fire idiots finished their dragon. The spirits were feeling great and several of them were suggesting that they send a message to the Fire Hive so that the Fire morons could take a look at their dragon. An interesting idea that…

“What is that idiot doing?” One of the spirits asked.

The spirits within the Hive focused their attention back to the dragon at the question. One of the spirits within the Hive had noticed that it acting peculiarly and the rest of the Hive realized that the spirit was right. The dragon that was supposed to go straight to the fifth floor was now wiggling at the exit. The head was through but for some reason the dragon’s body was wiggling like a dying fish on land. The Hive was about to admonished the dragon for wasting time when the spirits suddenly realize their horrible mistake!

“Uh guys…” the dragon said. “I think I’m struck.”

The Hive had made their dragon too big.

***

The Keg Mountains had a reputation of being hard to traverse and after a few days following their barbarian guides, Brand had to admit that it was a well-deserved reputation. The top of Big Keg was covered with snow but the middle section of the mountain was filled with rocky outcrops, and the occasional mountain steam. Even with the help of the Clan barbarians, it was a hard trek. However none of the eight men complained but instead they all walk in silence. All of them know the danger they were in.

“Hide.”

The men immediately dive under the great rocks that littered the mountainside. Nothing happened but no one question their barbarian guide. Instead everyone looked to the sky. Moments later, they saw it. A monster that looked like a human flying in the air on a pair of flapping white wings. He was dressed in a tunic and was armed with a bow and arrows. Brand look on in amazement as the flying monster flew overhead. The monster was flying towards the peak of Big Keg and it was only when it was a distance away that the team came out of their places. All eyes however were still on the peak of Big Keg.

“What was that?” The man who asked was Erik Ironhallow, a warrior like Brand only on a much higher level.

Bonn, their guide was the one who answered. “Well, we in the Clan call them Avians but they call themselves Angels.”

“Angels?”

“Don’t look at me. It’s what they call themselves. If you ignore the wings, they look just like normal humans right? Come on, we’re only a few days away from the entrance.”

“Your Clan came this way the first time?” Brand asked.

“No. We went by another way but this way is better.”

“Why?”

“We’re above the tunnels.” That got the attention of everyone. The barbarian hunter smiled. “We can drop down right near the entrance, bypassing all the monster on guard.”

The barbarian hunter turned to leave but Ironhallow wasn’t done. “How do you know what they call themselves?”

“We captured a few and interrogated them.” Bonn chuckled as he answered. “Some of them could really scream.”