Chapter 94: Haonians.
Turns out scouting in thick, mountainous woodlands is not an easy thing. Fortunately Mirax not only ran like an ostrich, he climbed trees like a monkey as well. Following his directions, the squad spent the first day going east, towards the tallest mountain.
On the way they met countless treasure hunter squads who tried to make sense of the world they arrived to. Most of them, from the looks of it, were following a rare bird in the sky, maybe an eagle, or maybe a hawk, it was hard to tell from such distance.
Apparently their tactics was to wait out and see where the birds will land, but Lee couldn't blame them for such silliness. No one taught the children the art of hunting after they were kidnapped, and everything was learned by their own experience.
For example, Lee's group also met a bird. A big one.
They didn't look for it, though – it found them. Lee didn't know how Throax sensed the danger, but at one moment the guy suddenly lifted the shield he was carrying above the head, and with a loud roar smacked something that was coming at them.
The bird that that dived at the group was twice as big as human, with the wingspan of at least fifteen yards, but got caught by surprise and impaled by the many spikes the shield had. Klavax did a good work by covering it with the quilled pelts and now, even though a bunch were broken off, the huge avian lie convulsing in agony.
With a glance Lee could tell it was strong. The whole group was knocked off their feet and scattered around like lifeless dolls, except, contrary to the bird, they started getting on their feet after the attack, although dazed.
"A spark!" The two devils immediately reacted, and rushed to kill the bird off, but Lee was more interested in what that thing actually was.
Besides the humongous size, it had four legs. They weren't those of a lion or something else found in ancient mythology, but actual eagle legs, armed with sharp claws that could rip anything apart. It was a strange stroke of luck it failed in its last hunt, but if there was one such monster, there were surely more.
"Mirax, get up a tree and take a look at the sky whether there are more like these." Lee said, "But be careful!"
"Yes! Try to draw their attention and bring them here!" Thorax excitedly said, "I'll be ready in a bit!"