Central New Year #4 The Beginning

Story by TheNovelist on SoFurry

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#142 of Exploration


You have to solve the riddle, reader, before you pass through the gates.

After the halflings, the scouts began to concentrate on the most important event of the Central year, Central New Year.Because Silverine had asked me to lead the haka, there would be no fancy dress for me, just my usual taiaha and flax skirt which I always used for haka. I must also say that the group who was learning off me was pretty intimidating. Sunrise, Runo, Hinori, Draco, Propani, Valmeero, Blake, Ryan Lewis, Silverine himself, Brendan, Alex, Deltora, Alecto and Time Dancer had all taken lessons on the right moves to make and when to make them, and after a rehearsal a glower admitted that we did look worrying, high praise from one of them.

Draco had gone with some black war make up, he had rehearsed putting that on too, Alecto was doing his usual god of the underworld, Ryan Lewis didn't tell me he was dressing up as anything, so I kept silent and waited. Silverine would continue using his knight equipment, his armour made his the fiercest looking thing on two legs. I accidentally walked into his office with a talk about the haka only to find he was in the middle of putting the entire paraphernalia on, and Kodey was helping him strap everything into place! I ended up helping him too.

As for those of the Hunted I knew, well, it was getting demoralising for them. Emery was getting even more shy than usual at the prospect, and even Zac's cheerful attitude about the entire thing made the little creature scared. He wanted to perform well, and he didn't like the idea of what would be coming. Giancarlo was more confident, but less enthusiastic about being chased.

Noah, well, he kept out of the limelight, but I could swear hearing him growling as I walked down the corridors, and I would occasionally spot his chimaera form running down the corridors, practicing for the big night. Tabaxi was cheerful about the entire thing,but he knew that he was going to get fucked, he only imagined the two hour mark as an invincible barrier. Delnom was practicing his magical ability, which only drew him to the attention of Winslo and the elves, but while the bunny was keeping his distance, Delnom practised in the Great Hall so he could cast freely, and the elves were all too happy to watch him.

Flair, well who could say, he looked as calm outwardly as ever.I knew that wasn't the entire list of hunted, Silverine had told me there were eleven scheduled for this year's Hunt, I only had seen seven before the day itself.

The week running up to it was busy. Ryan was jogging home every afternoon from work, keeping fit, and Gareth was doing runs as well. I would run with Ryan, but I also practised my changes between forms. I needed to be both agile and rapid with these changes, changing from one of my high speed forms to human, or to the other form. Such reactions were critical, especially seeing as I wouldn't have my fast car form this year.

No, I am serious, I was keeping my Tripod.In that I could out wrestle any one of the Hunted I knew with my tentacles, and my Heat ray could certainly give them a stun or a disorientation lecture. My aircraft would be the nimble Phoenix I had designed myself, the forward swept wings as usual, and I knew that Draco and Simba had been experimenting as well.

On a brief aside to New Year, Giancarlo had decided he was in love with my Delorean, so I gave it over to him and spent about ten minutes looking for a new car for me. I found out New Zealand actually made a super-car, and got Abigail to work on it when she wasn't fiddling with her devices. She wanted to be invincible this New Year.

The day dawned. It was not a weekend day, Friday this time, but both me and Ryan had got the glowers to introduce the work computers to the word virus. The ensuing result was that neither me or Ryan were scheduled to work the day in question, full pay for a day in leave, and two others scheduled to work. Just to put things in perspective, to do that normally would have taken three weeks.

Ryan, while working on what ever he was working on, got gently asked to paint my moko and body paint that I couldn't reach, like my back and neck.

We had had a run through, which ended well, although I got the giggles half a dozen times as Ryan ran his fingers across a sensitive spot on my neck,(he makes me ticklish), and it looked impressive as a finished artwork. We took a couple of pictures of myself, so we could copy it come the night. To add a little bit of menace to the traditional Maori design, Silverine had suggested a dark scar, much like the one he bore, which went from the right of my forehead, across my right eye, just missing my nose, and across the mouth, stopping just before the chin.

The weather on Earth was fine as I awoke. Ryan was still asleep, as was Gareth, so I quietly went into the kitchen and whipped up some food for breakfast. It was six o'clock, and the sun was just peeping up over the hill, casting strange shadows on my wall. My glasses beeped, someone wanted to talk with me, and I put them on.

It was Doran." Hey Alduin, do you want to work with me tonight? It's just Billy and Salbar wanted to work with me, and I wondered if you had any plans."

I smiled, and then turned to see my bacon sizzling. I quickly started stirring to stop it getting burnt, and replied. "No, Doran, I didn't have any plans, although Alecto will be guiding all of us as he usually does towards rough locations. Tell Billy and Salbar I don't mind at all, regardless of anything I will catch one of the Hunted."

"That's what I'm afraid of." the wolf replied, and I chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'll try and save some for you."

"I was worried you'd say that too." he laughed.

Billy himself switched on. "Don't you ever sleep?"

"Err, why, is someone thinking I'm like Silverine?"

"That's a good point, does he actually sleep?" Doran asked.

"I presume not, he said that his pineal system was surgically removed by Arachno. I'm just always up early."

"Must be your human ability, you don't need as much sleep. Sometimes I think you're worse than the foxes."

"Wait a minute, aren't you supposedly a bounty hunter?"

"Yes, but does this bounty hunter like to sleep in when he's not working? Yes."

"Fair enough. And no, my pineal system isn't working either, before you start. Doran told me what you had in mind, who are you primarily after?"

"Same as always, whoever is there."

"Good policy, now who would you like to catch?"

The bunny paused briefly. "Marcus perhaps, or Nordic. Both are on our lists."

Doran added. "Have you seen Qwa'kiana?There's an ice cool woman and a half."

I paused, scooping the bacon onto three plates.

"For the sake of a person who doesn't get on Central enough? Who is Marcus, and who is Qwa'kiana?"

"Oh, sorry, Marcus is like Propani, a Hellfire dragon, he carries a great sword. He also mentioned he was a virgin to Propani, so chances are Draco will have his eye on him. Qwa'kiana, is,"there was a long pause,"weird. Let me put it this way, she has many beautiful features, but put them together, and it's kind of scary."

"Do you have a picture?"

"Hang on, just give a me a second, I have one." Doran replied, before the bunny could. After a second, my glasses screen split in half, and I saw a strange sight.

Qwa'kiana, I was informed, was a female of her planet, of the race called Teria. She was almost like one of the elves, with regards to her head and upper torso. However, her ears were a lot longer and more jagged, she had no hair, so wore a metal helm all the time. She was about eight and a half feet in height,but very thin and delicate. Her arms were thin and shapely, and her, wait, four, five, six, seven fingered hand, six plus thumb, held a nine foot staff. This shot had been of her while she was unclothed, Silverine had run a bio scan for obvious reasons.

She had four breasts, which was different, her eyes were harsh and black, which was different, and her legs had knees, ankles, and then fifty centimetres of solid steel leg before ending in three toed metal feet, almost like claws, which was very different. I was informed she normally wore full armour, and covered herself with a long black cloak and long black trousers to hide these differences from general viewing. Doran also confirmed she was set like certain other females on Central, she was fierce and level headed, intelligent but feisty. As if we didn't have enough with Time Dancer and Abigail.

"She's currently at her home planet, but she's meant to be here at lunch time, so you could probably catch a look at her if you're at the food store. Marcus will be there too, he's currently holed up at Propani's room. Two hellfires in the same room, better than central heating." Doran chuckled, as I heard movements upstairs, Ryan was awake.

"Just don't hide in a closet with them, it'd be a sauna." Billy advised.

"So who are the others I don't know?"

"Hadia, he's a young wolf dragon hybrid from Val's planet, Val said he was good and that was good enough for Silverine. The other is Scott Corealis, and he's a youngster from Draco's planet. He got top of their Ramanahad thing. And before you ask, Draco's already fucked him."

"I wasn't thinking about that at all." I replied truthfully, as I watched the ladder descend, a very sleepy looking Ryan Lewis standing on the bottom rung, but completely dressed. He nodded morning to me, but didn't interrupt while I was on the glasses. "So that's all eleven, correct?"

"Yep. All of them are good in their own ways. Just a slight warning, Qwa'kiana is from a planet with significantly lower gravity, that's why she so tall and lean. Despite her looks she isn't a fighter. I'm just saying that because apart from the anomalous alloy legs, she is quite delicate."

"Warning noted. If I catch her, don't crush her."

"Yes. On that note, what forms have you got this time?"

"Tripod and Phoenix."

"Oh fuck." Billy commented."Speed and agility in one form, unbearable strength and solidity in the other. Who's a sweet little human who isn't going to pursue me through Central and fuck me after the Hunt?"

Doran put on a fake accent."Who, is dis, Doran fellow, yah? Never heard of him. If I see him, I'll tell him to run like buggery."

"If you two clowns don't stop asking for it, I will personally take you both, in said form that you detest so much."

"I said he isn't here!" Doran retaliated, and Billy laughed.

"I so envy your ability to do that. Gareth told me what happened with Ryan and Brendan."

"It's a knack. But enough of this, Ryan wants his breakfast, so I'll see you at the food store in a few hours, kay?"

"Catch you, Alduin." Billy replied, signing off, and Doran did likewise.

"What's that all about?" Ryan asked.

"Oh, just discussions for the Hunt.My Tripod form is apparently legendary amongst the scouts as a impregnable monster with a rapacious sex life."

"And what do you think it is?" Ryan asked innocently.

"Ahhh, an impregnable monster with a rapacious sex life.It wasn't meant to be, but it is now. I wasn't going to use the term monster, more construction or device, but it's near enough." Ryan laughed at me.

A very sleepy fox came out of his bedroom." What time isn't it? Someone was making noise out here."

I looked ashamed of myself."Sorry, Gareth, Doran and Billy were teasing me about my Tripod form."

The fox rolled his eyes blearily, and accepted his regulation cup of coffee."I don't know what they're all complaining about. One working my tits, one my cock, vagina and ass, it's the most brilliant sensation there is." The foxes like the Tripod form, as did the females. Noah, in his chimaera form was also proving to be a great hit with the hermaphrodites and females.

The raw smell of bacon and two eggs brought Gareth back from drowsiness, along with the coffee, and the semi naked fox ate ravenously along with us. We demolished the food in short time, and cleaned up the place in no time at all. After a few minutes, Emery clicked onto my wavelength.

"Alduin, these guys are scaring me about tonight."

"Who is they?"

"Grant, Brendan and Javid."

"Here's a hint, ignore them, and go for a walk. If they follow you, inform them you're meeting me for practice, and that I'm using my tripod form."

"Thanks, Alduin." he didn't know how effective that threat could be. I had everything I needed for tonight, and Ryan Lewis disappeared to Central not long after breakfast to do something on his own. Gareth and myself took a shower.

Like last year, we did not have sex, we saved it all for after the Hunt, and Gareth ruthlessly but very efficiently cleaned me down, and I did the same for him. The fox got dressed, and then went back into his room. I found my taiaha, my flax skirt and war-paint, and teleported to Central with it, heading directly towards my room. Emery spoke up.

"Cheers, Alduin." he said through my headset.

"Anytime, Emery." I replied, smiling. A glower hovered from around the corner, and went with me.

"Good morning, Alduin, you are well?"

"Top physical condition, glower, thank you."

"Why do you remind me of Silverine?" he chuckled."I wanted to request something of you, Alduin."

"As long as it isn't a merge, I'm all ears." the glower laughed again, pulsing merrily.

"Before a Hunt? Glower paradise this evening." he retorted," No. As one of the more, rapid creatures during a Hunt, could you record all your observations on camera, just for future recall?"

"Certainly, I will apologise in advance in case I catch one of them by fifteen minutes."

"You have seen the lot of Hunted this year?"

"Not all of them, and I've only seen Qwa'kiana on my glasses."

"The Hunters will need to work hard to catch eleven, and they are eleven who are skilled at what they do. Qwa'kiana may be delicate, but she is fast and uses her surroundings better than most. Emery's illusions are exceptionally powerful, what with his sound ability. Then two from planets we have already visited, you do know about them. Giancarlo is a metamorph, Noah has his form. In short, you've got your work cut out."

"Records were made to be broken, glower. I want to see my time smashed, I'm sick of being up there. By the way, do we have a room for Cetacean, and other aqua type creatures?"

"Cetacean is our only water scout, and yes we do. Do you wish me to show you once you've put your equipment away?" he asked.

"That would be nice. What do you think of this?"

"Your haka? It is a proud tradition of your country, and certainly apt for this particular event. I won't mention it to anyone else, but you have a fierce group doing it."

"Several dragons, dragon hybrids, Silverine and Ryan Lewis, I would not like to encounter any of them angry." we got to our quarters, and I placed everything just inside the door and walked with the glower in a new direction.

"And of course the Maori translation is a tad off kilter, but we have gently added our own touch there, none of the necklaces understand Maori now."

"I imagine that's how the early settlers felt, hearing this strange chant." I said, smiling at the idea. The group had learnt the Maori words without understanding their meaning, but that was not important.A thought struck my mind.

"Will there be a riddle?"

"Two hours to the opening of the Hall for the Scouter's Ball, everyone will be asked to leave, like last year. It was a nice addition, so we shall keep it. We have already instructed Kodey to work on a riddle for it."

"And no hints, glower." I said sternly, and the glower laughed.

"As if we would." he replied smoothly. I walked with him down some corridors I had not been down before, on the edge of Central at one end, and arrived at a door. I went in, as the glower went off on his own business.

The room was massive, easily the size of a swimming pool, and about fifteen metres deep. On one side there was a sloping beach that went for five metres before rapidly dropping away into the depths.

I opened the link to Cetacean, and after fifteen seconds heard him.

"Blast it, hello, what is it?"

"Oh, sorry, Cetacean, did I interrupt something?"

"Yes, my lunch just got into the coral." I noticed that someone had a small aquarium of fish next to the tank, and a special system that picked up fish and plonked them in a bucket.

"Well, Cetacean, I'm prepared to feed you. Have you been to your pool here?"

"I knew they had built one for me, I haven't visited it yet."

"Well, I'll get you something to eat, and we can have a look around together." I took off my shirt and footwear, as I placed a scanner in the shallows of the pool.I told Cetacean to teleport to my scanner as I went to collect a bucket of fish. He arrived as I got back.

The dolphin landed with a splash in the water, and looked up expectantly at me.

"You mentioned food?" he said innocently, and I laughed.

"Priorities are priorities, Cetacean." I showed him the bucket,"You want to chase it?"

Cetacean dived into the deep water as a reply, and I walked along the edge of the pool, staring into the dark water. Only my thermo could tell me where the blur of the dolphin was. He broke the surface and looked up at me.

"This is a really nice place, it's really warm too." he dived underneath again, and I lifted the bucket, tipping about a dozen medium sized fish into the pool. Then I stood at the water's edge, holding the guard rail, amusing myself by watching the dolphin's hunting on X-ray and thermo.

He was lightning. The only thing that came close to his ability to turn and accelerate was my hyper Raptor, and within seconds he had caught his first entree. I went down the far end of the pool, and noticed a medicine pool. This was so Arachno could operate on the dolphin if such was necessary, without either being in a position they found uncomfortable. I also spotted a ball or two, and a net, I guess Cetacean needed something to play with. I finished circling, and spotted the changing room. I slipped into it, and found that there were wet-suits for all sizes and shapes, and I found the one that fitted me, and slipped into it. I also took some flippers, and hand flippers as well. I grabbed a water breather from my backpack, and walked over to the pool.

"Cetacean, I might as well have a look around in there, are you finished?"

"Yes, they were delicious, thank you. The score is evened." I got into the water, walked to the edge of the shallows, and dived full length into the pool.

I very quickly got into the rhythm for the flippers, and I propelled myself across the pool at a reasonable human rate. I had taken off my glasses, and Cetacean finned over as I headed down.

"You intending to spend time in here?"

"I'm curious what this facility has."

"It has this, and a strange door at the end which I can't open. What does it lead to?"

Cetacean showed me the door, it was easily the dolphin's size, and was right in front of where the medicine pool was.

"It's so if we need to operate on you, we don't have to carry you from somewhere Arachno can work on you to somewhere you can swim around in."

"I can imagine why, I've almost had a scrape or two with local marine life on the planets I've visited." the dolphin shuddered, and flashed away with a sudden movement. I gamely followed, which the dolphin found amusing.

"Do you want to race me or something?"

"If I wanted to race you, I'd change my form into Draco's powerboat." I retaliated, swimming back towards the shallows, Cetacean with me,"It's a good facility."

"It is, designed for both my luxury and your convenience." we got onto the shallows, and I sat up in about twenty centimetres of water. Cetacean followed, lying next to me, sunbathing in the giant halogen lights above.

"It's the hunt today, did you know?" I asked innocently.

"I wish there were more water scouts, I could have so much fun chasing my friends about the pool. No one here is good in the water, no offence."

"None taken, I'm not a swimmer." I replied, stroking the dolphin with a rubber flippered hand.

"Can someone visit me after the Hunt and tell me how people went? How many new scouts are there?"

"Eleven. You've met Noah and Emery before, and Giancarlo as well, he's the metamorph."

"Ah, the one who wanted to try looking like one of us." the dolphin nodded.

"I suppose there's a second reason you want a visit after the Hunt." I asked innocently.

"Not that I can think of, no."

I began stroking the small bulge that showed me where the dolphin's cock was."Are you sure about that? Maybe this will suggest an idea." I began rubbing back and forth with my flippered hand. The dolphin twitched, sending a few waves of water against my wet-suit.

"I hadn't thought about this, no." he replied,"What are you suggesting?"

"An aqua orgy? Never had one myself, but there's always a first time for everything." I continued stroking, as the dolphin's cock came out, lengthening and hardening. The dolphin's cock bordered on two feet, narrowing and tapering out, and I closed one hand around it, stroking gently. The dolphin sighed.

"Are you teasing me for tonight, or do you want to have it now?" the dolphin asked slyly, and I grinned, leaning back.

"I can't take your kind anally, but I'll get you off one way or the other."This was unfortunately true, humans could not take Cetacean because of the dolphin's powerful thrust and their load, which was quite a jet because of their nature position in the water. People had died finding this out.So as Cetacean got onto me, I cupped both flippered hands above his cock, against his body, and pressed down against my own cock and ribs, so he thrust through that.

Cetacean rested his upper body across one shoulder, both fins underneath my armpits, and the dolphin began thrusting through my makeshift hole.My flippered hands interlocked, I held one with the other so Cetacean wouldn't knock it away as he thrust. His rate was quite impressive, slamming back and forth through my hands and against my stomach, and because the base of his cock was striking my own cock on every stroke, I very quickly became hard. I sighed in pleasure as the dolphin worked hard, his weight helping me hold my position. He clicked in delight.

I spotted my glasses, and noticed the time read 9:30. Plenty of time before lunch, to let Cetacean get himself off a couple of times.

The dolphin must have been quite lonely recently, because as he worked harder and harder, I felt his pre drop all over my wetsuit.My hands were getting quite sore by the dolphin's rapid thrusts, and then the dolphin ejaculated.

It was like a quick blast from a powerful hose. I had read somewhere a typical dolphin could shoot his load 14 feet through the air, and as he came, the semen shot onto my face, neck and chest.They also produced a hell of a lot, and as he stopped cumming from the first round, I was thoroughly gone over by him.

After the dolphin had been satisfied two or three times,and I had showered, I left him swimming in the tank, and went down to the food store. Because some of the Hunted didn't know me, I wanted to remain distant and casual, so they didn't know who or what I could do. Alecto arrived at the door to the store, and we went in together, and immediately I stepped towards a quiet corner.

Arachno was on a rare break, although he had his pager on, and he was talking with Gareth and Alex.

"I have never seen anything like her, ever." that would be Qwa'kiana they were discussing. I pulled up a seat, and sat down next to Alex and the spider doctor.

"Neither have I." I replied, and bid everyone good day. Alex smiled.

"Have you seen her yet?"

"Only as a picture, where is she?"

"Over there, talking to Marcus and Scott."

Three Hunted, talking together? This needed a look. I turned to where Alex was pointing, and caught sight of the three.

Marcus was a good looking hellfire, not as tall as Draco and certainly musuclar. He looked around nervously every now and then. Scott was also a dragon, but his black was punctuated by a dark, calm blue membrane on his wings, and almost hypnotically blue eyes. He was deep in discussion with the other two, but looked around at his potential Hunters. I had zoomed in on them, and by linking with Silverine, could hear them talking. Qwa'kiana was just like her representation, but she gave out this aura of solidity and toughness, which was at odds at her slim physique.

"From what I've heard, the Hunters have to wait two minutes." Marcus said,"Propani apparently enjoys the Hunt, he said he'd be chasing me."

"The wait is certain." Scott replied," but I gathered from Emery and Giancarlo that the Hunters will go for whoever they see.There are a few who go for one only, but the majority just want to catch one of us."

"We need to identify the real players, do any of you know who's the best at it?"

"Draco Kazuli and Silverine are the ones I've heard." Qwa'kiana replied, her voice low and urgent.

"I've heard something about a fellow called Alduin, he's supposed to be pretty good." Marcus added, and I smiled from my seat.

"The one I've heard is Doran. He has empathic power, and can use his thoughts to tell him where someone has gone." Scott added.

"Empathic? That's not that good. Who is this Doran?"

"I don't know faces. I think they said he was a wolf."

Emery joined their table, using both hand and claw to drag himself up and sit on the side. "Doran is a wolf, he has amethyst stripes on his black fur. The thing about him is he isn't as good at this as Draco and Silverine, because of his size. Apparently last year he ganged up with someone else, so they caught together."

"That's the other thing, many Hunters work together." Qwa'kiana nodded at the small Illusionist.

"Has anyone lasted two hours?"

"No." Silverine turned around and looked at the foursome." Thomas Nagoya lasted 1:54, he holds the current record."

"We shall see." Scott looked at the wolf hybrid, sizing him up.

"We shall indeed." the wolf replied, and turned back to his lunch. I got up,and walked over to Silverine.

"Oh Silverine," I whispered,"Doran's working with Billy and Salbar tonight, so Phoenix is always ready to lend a hand."

"If we meet in the Hunt, Alduin, I will be glad to work with you."

I stood back up, and looked at the four talking, and Emery waved at me. Not even he had seen my forms, them and Hadia were the five who hadn't.

"Good afternoon, Emery. Discussing escape options?" I leaned against Silverine's chair as all four looked at me.

"Hey Alduin, yes we are. Got any handy tips?"

"Yes, run like buggery." I grinned.

Marcus looked at me."You're Alduin, aren't you a really good Hunter?"

"It's all rubbish, trust me. Not magical, can't run that fast, and do I look as if I'm that strong?"

Emery shrugged." Friendly yes, strong, not compared to these three." I smiled and nodded.

I turned my head just in time to see the Lupogriff smirking widely, although none of the four knew it, and mentally scanned what I had just said. Nope, not one lie.

I left the food store, and went back to our room. Ryan was lying down on my bed, reading a book, with Draco beside him reading over his shoulder.Salbar was crosslegged on his bunks, chanting, his swords on his lap. I envied his belief. Javid was idly drawing, he told me that he had finished polishing his equipment. I also noticed a bag of clothing, and the plastic nature of the bag plus it had human writing made me deduce it was Ryan's. My own was underneath the bed.

The afternoon passed slowly, but at four o'clock, we began getting ready, for those who wanted to. Simba and Ryan applied make up to me, temporary tattoos over 85 percent of my body, and Draco did the same to himself. Then I got into my costume, and Ryan got into his, it was a black cool looking costume with flowing material, topped off with a half trench coat. Alecto and those who were normally with us at this time were in their own room, preparing their own stuff. So at half past six the six of us walked out, heading towards the Great Hall.

We were all chatty, and as we met Sunrise and his brothers, became more chatty with them. Doran turned up, and the ten of us came around the corner to the Great Hall corridor, and found a crowd of creatures all standing around.

There must have been at least a score, three Hunted among them, all looking perplexed. We arrived, and Draco spoke up.

"Is the door still locked?"

Propani looked at us, the hellfire looking thoroughly confused.

"Hey Draco. We're stuck out here, Kodey's riddle stumped us. Have a listen, and tell me we're wrong."

I walked over to the door, and knocked. "Hey Kodey, I take it is a humdinger."

"It ought to be, I spent an hour and a half on it."

"O.K., let's hear it again."

The reindeer intoned from the other side of the door.

"To many a quest, to few a rest,

To some the ultimate treasure chest,

A massive cave, complete with slave,

Or narrow death, and a very close shave.

To enter guess, what this place is,

To friends of us, the treasure share

But the guards are famed in legend

So a word of advice, beware!"

There was a long pause, and Draco looked up.

"Where's the nearest air vent? How many have solved this riddle?"

"None yet, you're the first group." the reindeer replied,"And the glower said make it hard, so I tried."

I took a couple of steps back, letting the others nearer to the door. The riddle was formidable, but Kodey had dropped two major hints in that couplet. I sat down next to Marcus and Propani, cross legged, and held my palms together.

Draco was moving over to an air vent, Simba was standing back, looking amused, but I could tell he had no idea either. Ryan Lewis was leaning against the wall, one hand stroking his chin in thought, and everyone else was standing around, confused about what Kodey meant.