The Hunt

The Depot

Zirri took in the yellow sign with the word The Depot plastered over it in red neon. She went inside and saw it had a very cozy atmosphere especially at 1 in the morning. TVs were in various places and there were a few groups of party goers who were catching a bite of food. She watched a giant hamburger on a cart be wheeled to a group of 10 men and women. Zirri was sure they were not going to be able to finish it. 

“Come on Prihaala.” Yakir said impatiently as he followed the waitress. They were placed at a huge round table and the waitress handed Zirri a menu. 

“Bring me the usual.” Yakir said as he refused the offered menu.

“No problem Yakir.” she said with a friendly smile before turning to Zirri. “And what would you like to drink miss?”

“Whatever your strongest alcoholic beverage is in the largest cup you have.” Zirri said before skimming through the menu. There were normal sized portions but it seems the restaurant specialized in huge portions. The waitress was gone when Yakir spoke to her again.

“You’ve never been here before have you?”

“No, never.”

“I can tell when that drink of yours come I may need to help you out.”

“Why is it that strong?”

“That and it comes in the big ass cup and has several full bottles of liquor in it. You asked for the strongest in the biggest glass. You may not want to drink it alone. Unless you want to run in the streets butt naked.” he said amused.

“I’ve never been that drunk in my life. I certainly don’t see myself doing that now. However streaking sounds super fun. Especially if you streak with me. Granted you can’t run too fast for me to see or it won’t be as fun for me.”

That was definitely not the image he wanted her to put in his head at the moment “You shouldn’t bother ordering for yourself what I am getting is a big ass meat pizza that’s as big as the table. You can have a slice.”

“That’s a good idea since I am the one paying for it.”

“And you’re sharing a drink with me too.” he said as he nodded toward a cart headed towards them. There was a tall bucket of an electric blue and red liquid with ice and long straws poking out.

“That is a bucket not a cup.” she said incredulously as the drink was set on the table.

“Careful what you wish for.” he said smirking.

Zirri scowled and took the long bendy straw and drank some alcohol. The drink tasted nothing like liquor but being that she had already been drinking she imagined the drink may sneak up on her already dull senses. “So tell me about Itriuz. Where is it that he resides? I am not sure you would have kept up with such a thing but there are many dragons in Anilorac. I would hate to have to bother them all looking for the amulet.”

“I already told you to drop that stupid s**t. I will not have your death on my conscience.”

“I am not going to die.” she said moving the cup out of her way so she can look at him better. She smiled at him seductively “But I am delighted you care so much.”

“Why are you even taking the risk. I told you I will never be a pet of yours. I live free and I have better things to do than to play b***h to a princess. Even if you get the amulet it won’t change any of that.” he said drinking the beer that Zirri hadn’t even notice him getting.

She sighed leaning forward with one hand under her chin. “Ah it won’t but you challenged me beast. When I asked you that last question I had every intention to get you whatever your difficult little dragon heart desired. You knew that and made it difficult. I would dare say you made it damn near impossible. I will take your challenge and I will succeed and even if I don’t win you over with that you will be impressed by me. I am not going there and almost dying for a trinket I am going there to prove my worth to you.”

Yakir was shocked into silence. She had known he was trying to outsmart her and she was still going through with it. She was an extremely brave i***t. Her little ploy to gain his respect was working already. “Jaadt(Damn)"he said cursing in drakonan "Had I known you were dumb enough to take it that way I would have just asked for money or something.” 

“You wouldn’t have respected me if I tried to buy you.” she said, drinking more of her drink.

“Kiire Prihaala (i***t Princess), tell me how my respect will serve you if you do die?”

“You won’t forget me easily.” she said smiling.

“Do not go to this dangerous place to prove something to me.”

“Anilorac is my home so it is only mildly dangerous for me. Once you tell me what kind of dragon he is, I can better prepare myself and the beast who fights for me. I don’t want any of them unnecessarily harmed.”

“They will be unnecessarily killed, along with their suicidal master.” he said, taking another drink of his beer.

“I thought you were going to help me with this monstrosity I ordered.”

“I will once the monstrosity I ordered gets here. Besides I should finish my beer first”

“I’m sure this tastes better than beer. What is it that I am drinking anyway?"

"A big ass Calypso. It’s pretty popular here. You like it?"

"It's delicious. The drinks I had at the club were yummy too."

"And think of all the yummy drinks you can have if you don't go f*****g with some insane fire breathing dragon."

'So he is a common fire breather. That's good, I have beast souls for that.' She thought giddly. "It’s not like I plan to walk up to the beast and demand it give me the amulet."

"What is your plan then?" 

"I'm going to sneak in and steal it of course. If all goes well, I will get in, get the amulet, get out, all without getting killed." 

"And if all doesn't go to plan? You will get a fiery death." Yakir said drinking more beer.

"Then I run, if that doesn't work I'll fight my way out. I will not die there." she said as if there was no doubt in her survival. She had back up plans for her backup plans.

"You should not go there."

"Duly noted."

"You are a fool."

"Also noted."

    Yakir growled. He could feel his anger boiling up out of frustration and here she was as calm as can be. It pissed him off that nothing he said bothered her but her very presence agitated him. He could smell his food approaching before a waitress came and lifted the large drink and placed it on a small table that had been rolled up. Then a giant pizza which was, as he said it would be, as big as the large round table they were sitting at was served to them. It was a half and half pizza with every possible meat on it. One side had the classic pizza topping pepperoni bacon, sausage, ham, steak, and even chicken. The other half had meats like lamb, bison, deer, goat, and even pheasant. It all smelled great but she has never seen so much meat on such a huge pizza. They were both given a plate and pizza cutter.

    She chose the regular slice of pizza and ate it slowly.  She hacked at the slice he had dubbed hers. Yakir, on the other hand, was not having any issue demolishing slice after slice. "So, do you know where in Anilorac Itriuz is?" she as they contiued to eat together

He did but he didn't wish to tell her. Then he tried to imagine her randomly searching dragons she was not sure were Itriuz and causing just as much trouble. She could only sneak into so many dragon lairs before she was caught and killed.

“Look, would it make you feel better if my venture was going to get me killed my big brother would call me and tell me to find a different path.” she could hear her words slurring. “He is clairvoyant and he only sees when bad things are going to happen. He has called me every time I had decided on a plan and if it would get me killed or seriously injured he would let me know and I would adjust. My brother has not called me yet so I am sure I am in the clear. SO if you could just tell me what I need to know I will be off on my grand adventure.”

“How can I be sure that by me telling you this it won’t alter the course of your life.”

“Well it is night time now so if you tell me now my brother may still dream it up so he would be able to warn me in the morning. But you would need to tell me now. He also tends to wake up early due to nightmares.”

Yakir didn’t want to sit here any more. It was getting later and later and he had to wake up in a few hours. Nothing was convincing her to give the mission up. The waitress brought back Zirri’s card and thanked them for eating there. 

This was turning out to be a waste of time. She had fed the greedy beast and still he was being stingy with the information he gave to her. He was so selfish. Zirri could feel the heat rush to her cheeks as she scowled at the irksome beast. Fine if he was going to be stubborn she would just find Itriuz herself. She shot to her feet “If you won’t tell me I will just find him on my own. Then I will come back and rub it in your selfish face.” she hiccuped once she finished and it diminished the power behind her statement so she did the next best thing and stormed out.