"Then why did he include a.s.sisting her in the mission? He knows she is d.a.m.n too stubborn and wouldn't come with us," he whispered the last part so only Aelfdene could hear him.

"At least not when she is this close to finding the hybrid."

He raised his hands and brought his index finger and his thumb close together and enough for Aelfdene to see, gesturing how close the Princess was.

"I still think His Majesty… "

"Oh come on Aelfdene, don't tell me you are not itching to fight with the hybrid and be amongst the ones who captured her?" Cleon asked.

He really was trying his best to persuade Aelfdene. Honestly, he wanted this chance as well, to be in the Princess' team and hopefully catch the hybrid.

Who wouldn't? He wasn't ready to let this opportunity slip by just like that now, was he? 

"Well I do."

"Good," he said with joy laced in his voice. 

"But we would still try to persuade her first, we must fulfill His Majesty's wish. We don't want harm coming to her; we are facing a different kind of foe."

"We've faced mages before, so what makes her so different?" Cleon asked as he turned to face the troops.

"My friend, she possesses the powers of three races, that's what makes her different, Aelfdene." 

He didn't turn around like Cleon did; rather he placed a hand on his friends shoulder and said, "Do not let this get into your head, brother." He patted his friend's shoulder and turned to face the troops.

Two words, which was his command to the soldiers, "Let's go."

They rushed into the forest and ran at a alarming speed without fear or danger of any beasts. They were the best when it came to taming wild beasts and fighting them and as such had little or nothing to fear.

All that mattered at this moment was finding the princess and helping her on her mission. 

*****

After chasing Astrid and her team for hours, finally it seemed as though Princess Cyrena was catching up. She was tired but she wasn't willing to let the hybrid off just yet.

After her previous encounter with Lady Lorelei who she thought was the hybrid, she was feeling more motivated to capture Astrid. 

"Your Highness, at this rate we may not meet up with them before they cross over. They would soon pa.s.s over that mist and head for the forest peak, of which we would be facing a higher level of dangerous celestial beasts there," Lieutenant Callum advised.

"I know, we must find a way to slow them down. Having that mist can be a blessing and can also be troublesome for us, they could fly over but I hope the White Tiger-Phoenix Beast gets tired before they get there."

"Their weight would get it to tire out on time, so we can only hope and keep up with the chase?"

"No, not if I can help it. I cannot wait for that. If it refuses to tire out on time, I guess we can only make it to happen. One way or the other, I must get my hands on her."

"What do you mean?" Lieutenant Callum asked. 

"Watch and see."

Immediately she jumped up on a tree and made her way to the top.

"Princess Avery!"

She closed her eyes ignoring the young Lieutenant calling her from below and began humming a melodious tune. In no time, her voice was carried by the wind and spread forward and wide like a sound wave in the forest.

"Hummmm… "

Animals nearby started acting up at the sound. He looked back up at the princess on the tree, she looked like a painting with the way she hummed away and the wind rustled her clothing, obeying her command as the sound of her humming spread like a wave in the forest. 

"She is fighting from afar using the animals in the forest, tremendous. That is one slick move," he mentally applauded. 

Perhaps with this, they could really win. Well all wasn't as it seemed. Astrid had been underestimated times without number. 

*****

After flying for five hours straight on White-Fire, the beast began to get tired, but still it flew with all the strength it had. 

It could sense danger lurking away, now wasn't the time to get tired. 

"Hey, we should land soon. We are tiring you out," Astrid mind communicated to White-Fire. 

"No, we must keep on flying."

"At this rate, if we face any danger, you wouldn't be able to do anything," she warned the beast. 

"I am a celestial beast, remember."

"Even celestial beasts have their limits, White-Fire, don't be too stubborn. You are yet to fully recover your full strength, don't do things rashly."

"Wait, am I getting advice from someone who does?"

"White-Fire!"

"You do know that you do some things rashly, not caring about the consequences."

"Now you are beginning to sound like Jareth."

"Hahhaa, please don't compare me with your lover."

"He is not my... "

"Have you both forgotten what you were doing a while back?"

"Things got out of hand, it wasn't intentional."

"It never is right?"

"Don't change the topic. Let's land please and sorry about earlier. That was rude."

"Silly girl, that was dangerous, what if you were taken unaware? Be more watchful Astrid, all isn't as ot seems."

"Thanks for the advice. I would keep that in mind."

"Better. Okay, after about one hour, we would rest, at least that way, we have covered much grounds than the soldiers.

"Fine, one hour it is."

Jareth noticed the mixed emotions on her face, he knew they were having a talk again and obviously shutting him out, but Astrid's face relaxed after some minutes. He decided to find out what was wrong.

"What is the matter, Astrid?"

"It's nothing really, we were arguing about landing, so White-Fire could rest for a while. It is not easy carrying us for hours, you know."

"I understand its concern Astrid, whatever caused those animals to go on a rampage is still out there and could be unto us. We do not know… "

"Hummm mmmmmhmhmmm… "

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