Chapter 10: Night scare

Chapter 10: Night scare

*Ahhhh*

The group shrieked and yelled, some even ran away as fast as they could not daring to look back, not even considering the threats of the night in the barrenlands.

During the commotion Uriel fell on his back with Sam still clinging to him, the cowardly student's nails dug deep into his flesh causing him great pain. Luna was the only one left in place being more curious than scared.

"Uh, are you a cryptid ma'am?" She managed to ask, but all she got in reply was a merry laughter from the lieutenant who was having a hard time not falling over. She was clasping her belly and tears appeared on her strange eyes that now possessed a vertical pupil.

"Of course not you silly, this is just part of my trait." The lieutenant replied.

"I knew it, why would a cryptid announce its presence like that, it just didn't make any sense to me." If she had been startled, it was impossible to know. Or it would have been impossible, if not for the fact that in her shock she grasped Uriel's hand and held on to it tightly. When she realized this, she quickly took her hand back, her cheeks blushing in bright red shyness.

"Come back now kids! I was just messing with you, you guys are so gullible. For the love of the flag, just come back!" She shouted, still, it took several minutes for the ones who had ran out to come back.

They were still scared and the only reason they came back was because far from the campfire the darkness was almost absolute and the fear of the unknown was greater than what lied in plain sight.

"Is it safe?" The geeky student asked before coming back.

"Of course it is! It was just my trait, my trait! I'm lieutenant Dragonfang, it has little to do with actual dragons, but I like the sound of it.

That should be enough explanation as to why my eyes are like that, but in case you dont't know it, some traits modify people's body" Lieutenant Dragonfang, who had been delaying introducing herself only to be able to make that joke and scare the students, said with her usual tone of voice.

"You are so mean! What would you do if one of us has a stroke or something?" Sam shouted and the lieutenant simply shrugged.

Everyone gathered back near the campfire in the midst of awkward laughter. Some of them were still trembling and they couldn't stop themselves from staring at the lieutenant with a hint of distrust.

"I've heard that reptiles blink that way, they have a third eyelid." Luna spoke to the air. "Haha! And you called my trait weak!? I can control the earth, while all you can do is blink in a creepy way! You should be called lizard! No, Lizzy would suit you best!" Jackson laughed.

"That is my name! I am actually called Lizzy." She blinked in disbelief thinking on how could she miss a coincidence like that. "But don't be fooled, my trait is not nearly as crappy as yours is." She winked.

"Hey, don't you want to go somewhere more private?" The cute girl whispered in Sam's ear as she took him by the hand and he nodded silently as he stood up ready to follow her. Different scenarios crossed his mind and none of them were innocent.

"Hang on! where do you think you're going?" Lieutenant Dragonfang asked in a stern voice that almost snapped Sam out of his reverie, almost.

"It's just going to be a short walk, it'll be fine." She giggled.

"No one is allowed to move without permission." The lieutenant replied in a cold tone of voice, but the young girl wasn't willing to give up just yet.

"Can we? pretty please" She winked coquettishly.

Lieutenant Dragonfang was torn in between letting them have their fun as youth commanded or play it safe. So far it had been the safest and easiest incursion she had participated on, she had been checking the device the whole day and most of the night but there hadn't been any strong signals.

Just when she was pondering the situation, the alarm started beeping on her pocket. It was only a mechanical clock, hence immune to the cryptid's strange powers, and it was set to mark the time where she was supposed to send a flare.

The problem was that both of the corporals were now standing watch about a hundred meters from the campfire and they were supposed to ask for permission before shooting the flares.

"Geez! of all times why did it have to be now!? hang in there a second I'll go fetch one of the corporals and then you may do as you wish." Lieutenant Dragonfang said as she walked into the night disappearing from sight after just a few steps.

Sam couldn't believe his luck and a wide idiotic smile crossed his face. The smile on the girl beside him, instead, was one of mischief.

"Come on, lets go now." She said in an alluring tone of voice.

"Let's do as miss Dragonfang commanded, it'll be just a minute." Sam replied.

"Should I go with someone else then?" She muttered as if she was talking to herself, but looking towards Uriel. Her new target,though, didn't hold her gaze and pretended not to hear her.

Then, from out of the shadows the creepy sound of footsteps accompanied by a panting sound came out as someone came running.

Everyone turned their heads to see who it was. They might have thought it was Lieutenant Dragonfang if not for one single detail: The sound came from the other way.