Secrets of a Hybrid

Athyra POV

Monkey girl.

Stinking mutt.

Pathetic wizards.

And the fucking pervert.

Yep. That’s the whole of my shit list. For now, at least. Breaking out of the ice left me a bit sore, but I am entirely healed. The moment I was released from the ice I was ready to rip people to shreds, but I needed the mutt to get to the monkey. For hours, I have been watching this mutt stumble across the battleground from one battle to another. These damn wizards were focused on the mutt, so I haven’t had to lift a claw against anyone yet. The mutt nearly died a few times, which almost had me get involved in her battles. The mutt has to be lucky because she managed to win against her opponents after using most of her magic to stay alive in the ice block.

The mutt collapsed on the ice below after the boulders crushed the shrill shrew. I almost thanked the mutt for ending that annoying little witch. I know the mutt has been watching me fly over her constantly, but her sad face has become annoying. Not to mention, I could use a rest, Flying in circles has been monotonous to the point I fell asleep for a while. The only thing keeping me airborne has been my desire for revenge against the monkey for Eriz.

It’s been an hour and the mutt hasn’t moved. She’s a sitting duck in the middle of a melting meadow. The air has warmed since the sun peaked in the sky a few hours ago. I have been scanning the area for my prey and Eriz. The annoying idiot has left the area where I laid him down to rest. If that idiot gets into trouble, I am going to-

“You guys can come here. She won’t hurt us.” A voice calls out.

Who the hell is messing with my bait now? The mutt won’t be able to survive another battle in her damaged condition. Looking down, a few faces look familiar, but a scrawny man has come to spit his bullshit at the other people surrounding my bait. The redhead by my bait scares the scrawny man off with her words and the help of a taller male in her group. Her red hair falls away from her face as she locks eyes with me.

Great. Of all the people who could have shown up, it had to be Myrra. She will automatically know who I am since I am her guild member. Eriz, where are you when I need you? I have been following this battered mutt for hours as she got herself in trouble over and over again in the hopes of finding the little monkey girl. Myrra has a younger girl heal the mutt with magic, but even I know the mutt can’t stand in this state. Night has fallen over the clearing, and I have been circling the same spot for hours. I can feel Myrra’s eyes on me. She waits for the mutt to fall asleep before she begins calling to me.

“Athyra!” Myrra shouts. Her party watches as she attempts to get my attention, but I don’t intend to give a second of my time.

The thirst for revenge and heated pit of anger keep me awake as I continue to observe the land. My eyes constantly scan the treelines, looking for the monkey. The monkey has become my priority since she shot Eriz with her arrow. Taking out the monkey allows me satisfying revenge, and it will cause the mutt to rampage, so I can catch her unfocused. With my revenge completed against the monkey, I will use the grief-stricken mutt as bait for the dark elf. It will be the start of a bloody killing spree.

“Come on, Athyra. We need to talk.” I hear Myrra call out. “Where is Eriz?”

That was a gut punch. Guildmaster has now been added to the fucking shit list. I could just squish the dwarf woman, but she brought a party with her. More people, more complications. Coming to Gleaca has been a shit show. My anger begins to build again, causing the air to chill. If Myrra keeps this up, the whole meadow will be iced over again.

“Athyra!” Myrra shouts from below. “You have been flying for hours! Come down and rest for a while.”

Now, it sounds like she thinks I am a weak dragon. The ground crackles as the slushy water freezes over from my anger. The guildmaster is acting like an idiot calling out to a mighty dragon. Does she want another weather event in this meadow? Perhaps a forest of ice would shut her up? My muscles may ache from the constant flight, but I had all the rest I needed in that ice. The mutt below will be my prize after I finish the monkey, and Eriz and I… I mean the stupid head and I will make plans.

In the distance, I hear a rustling of branches on the other side of the clearing. There’s a faint chatter of voice that sounds familiar in the same area. The voice gives me an annoying feeling in my gut, and I know it has to be Eriz. Only one person has ever annoyed me like this, and it’s him. Without hesitation, I circle once more and take off toward the noise. It’s only as I get closer that I see a monkey and some other shitheads standing with Eriz against some adventurer party. It’s like the Gleaca guilds are full of endless idiots seeking their deaths. At least, I found my targets.

The hunt is finally on!

Picking up speed, I zero in on my prey. My heart thunders in my chest as my body ignites with excitement. I haven’t felt the thrill of a good hunt in years, and now, I get to have a hunt and take revenge. The air around me cools as I glide through the air with speed. Chunks of ice form in my wake, dropping to ice-covered ground only to shatter on the hard surface. My approach is anything, but stealthy. My prey turns to see my large form coming in for a landing near the treeline while bursts of magic explode in the thicket of the trees. Excite burns brightly in my heart as the monkey leaps deeper into the forest.

Landing on the treeline with a crunch under my claws, I follow the monkey into the forest. There are three other figures near the monkey, but all I can think about is Eriz passing out in my clutches. Should I squash the monkey or chew her up into bits to spit back at the mutt? Either choice seems perfect to me, but there is something satisfying in watching that mutt squirm.

The crunch of the ice beneath my weight rings out in all directions. Damn. I just painted a wider target on my back. The opposing party looks up at me and a couple scream in surprise. The Gleacans hardly see dragons in this land, let alone a frost dragon. The thought of flying away crosses my mind, but I miss traveling with Eriz already. He’s annoying but sincere. I prefer him to the lonely life dragons usually have.

“Shit!” The little monkey shouts. “N-n-nice, drag…on.”

My large form carries me forward, knocking over trees around. The monkey backs away from me as her three companions come forward. An orc comes in between the monkey and me, and my jaw immediately clenches. “Idiot with a death wish, move out of the way,” I commanded. A puff of chilled smoke leaves my nostrils, causing the orc to shiver.

“Athyra,” a familiar voice calls to me. It’s annoying, but oddly comforting. My gaze shifts from the monkey to the two remaining figures to my left. Rage still pumps through as my eyes settle on a man with an obsidian cuff on his wrist. He looks to be nothing special as he approaches me, and I bare my teeth at him. It’s only when the warmth of his magic touches one of my scales that the fog of rage clears from my mind. The annoying man was Eriz. He survived…