Fox Of Greed (Greedy Fox Book 1)

~~ SEVEN ~~

More attacks, the ground rumbling against my body, releasing little stones and loosening the root from the ground. 

Oh sticks, please stay attached to the trunk. Do not break off, please. 

TING! 

Then the biggest explosion that I had ever heard rang out. I tried to look, but my view was obstructed by the ground. However, I had a feeling something had changed; the knight's voice was clearly agitated and surprised, even if his words didn't register in my brain.  

TING! 

This explosion had to be bigger, forming a giant turret of dirt and dust into the air above us. The knight, barely a blob in the sky, exploded, armour splitting from his body; then it fell back down to Earth.  Trembling in fear, my nails digging into the root's surface, I hoped that the others would hurry up and rescue me. 

"Hey, girly!" A hand held before my face. Grateful, I grabbed it, almost dragging the owner of the arm down into the chasm. They dragged me out and I realised it was the bar owner. "Can't have you dying after we all just met." 

"Thanks," I mumbled, still a bit shell- shocked. When he released my hand, I flopped to a kneeling position. 

"Well Elizabeth, it looks like you found your first sin," the owner said, grinning. 

"First sin?" I interjected quickly, my brain sluggish. "What did I miss while I was in the hole?" 

"I'm Meliodas, the Dragon Sin of Wrath." 

"Oh, you have to be joking!" I replied, staring at him. "You're the Dragon's sin? You can't be; someone as small as you can never carrying the brand of my friend, Valzeron! He's twice your size and could burn you to a crisp in a second." My tongue, because of relief or fear, I didn't know, had become very loose and now I was spitting out parts of my past that I hadn't wanted the others to discover just yet.

"Valzeron?" Meliodas questioned. 

I bit my tongue, glancing between Elizabeth and Meliodas. "So, it's probably a good a time as any to introduce myself," I stated, changing the subject. "My name is Estra."  I chuckled nervously at the end.

"What did you mean about your friend being a dragon?" I guessed Meliodas didn't miss a thing. 

Defeated, I looked at my hands. "I'll explain when we get back to the tavern. I think I need a good drink," I replied, glancing away. 

"Anyway," Meliodas continued, giving me a 'you- better- spill' look before turning back to Elizabeth, "so listen, as far as the other six go, I've got some business to discuss. I've started looking for them myself. I've been using the tavern as a way to gather information. But if I had a pretty girl to pull in a larger crowd, well, make that two pretty girls," I huffed and folded my arms, "I bet we'll see more info headed our way. How about it? Coming with us? And you too, Estra." 

Elizabeth began to cry while I contemplated the idea. Sure, an adventure sounded great and maybe, along the way, I could find someone to change me back. With all the excitement going on, I hadn't really thought about transforming back. Maybe staying with Meliodas, Hawk and Elizabeth might have it's benefits. 

"Yes!" Elizabeth shouted, followed by my own, softer, less unenthusiastic, "I guess so."  

A large, squawking oink sounded from the sky and I looked up to see a giant, green pig falling. It landed, the explosive impact sending out a shock wave of dust. I shielded my eyes with a hand, before gawking at the green pig.... which had the tavern strapped to it's back.  

"Perfect timing, isn't it guys?" Hawk shouted down from above, a ladder unravelling down the green pig's side.  

"Hey, Hawk's mum. Way to go!" 

"Hawk's mum?!" I screeched, scrambling to my feet as I noticed Meliodas jumping with Elizabeth to grab a hold of the ladder. Afraid to be left behind, I hooked onto one of the lower ones, hands gripping the wooden rung tightly.  

"Hey, I'm the one who brought her!" Hawk fumed. 

"Alright then!" Meliodas ignored Hawk. "Let's head out on our next town guys. Come on, Hawk's mum! Up to you now!"  

Just as I had started climbing up towards Elizabeth's dangling form, the pig began to move. And I don't just mean in a gentle, swaying motion while standing still. Oh no, it was starting to walk off, in giant, swaying steps that sent the ladder swinging side to side. 

Oh sticks. I swear, even my cursing was getting old now with all the stuff that was happening. Elizabeth screamed as the pig made its way inland, and I could only squeeze my eyes shut and hold on for dear life.  

Hawk, slowly but surely, dragged the ladder back up and Meliodas helped when they reached the top. I, on the other hand, was a trembling mess. I realised then that I didn't really have a stomach for heights, if my panic seized body was anything to go by. 

Meliodas, Hawk and Elizabeth all stood on Hawk's mother's head, staring out at the land in front of us. I sat holding onto the little set of steps leading up to the front door of the tavern. It wasn't so bad and nauseating if I couldn't see the ground swaying up to meet us each time. 

"So, what is your name?" Hawk oinked, wandering over and peering at me. 

"I'm Estra," I answered. 

"Are you human?" 

"What makes you say that?" I asked nervously. Meliodas had caught wind of the conversation and had come over to join us. 

"You said so yourself while on my back before." 

I pulled a face at the pig, a desperate 'why-did-you-sell-me-out' face, before meeting the eyes of Meliodas. 

"I guess I better tell you the real reason I came to your tavern. I'm the Fox of Greed and I'm looking for someone to turn me back into a fox."