Book 5: Chapter 37 (1/2)

“Where is it?” Vur asked. He was standing in front of a purple barrier with Tafel standing next to him. The two phoenixes were standing on top of the Recordkeeper’s shoulders, and the winged woman was waiting a few feet behind Vur. He glanced around. “We didn’t miss any exits, right?”

“Other than the big hole leading outside, there weren’t any other ways out,” Tafel said with a furrowed brow. She turned her head towards the Recordkeeper. “Do you think the kirlopion could’ve left the area?”

The Recordkeeper shrugged, causing the two phoenixes to flap their wings to remain standing on her shoulders. “None of my monitoring devices can operate in the southern continent. I don’t know much about what this place is like anymore.”

Tafel frowned. “There aren’t any traces of the kirlopion’s footprints either,” she said and shook her head. “How can there only be a set of footprints heading one way? Did it disappear?” She glanced above her head, but there weren’t any marks showing something had been walking on the ceiling or walls. She lowered her head and stared at the Recordkeeper. “Can kirlopions fly?”

“No,” the Recordkeeper said. “But they can leap extremely high.” She gestured around. “Not like that’d be much use in a confined space like this.”

Tafel scratched her head. “I guess it must’ve left,” she said. “It must’ve entered the tunnel after I did which explains the footsteps starting from after the hole.” She lowered her hand and sighed. “But there are still so many other questionable parts about this whole ordeal.”

Vur shrugged. “Maybe it’s behind this wall,” he said and pointed at the purple barrier. He pressed his left palm against it. “I’m going to break it.”

“Wait,” Tafel said and grabbed Vur’s arm. “What if there are more kirlopions behind here?”

Vur furrowed his brow. “Didn’t you want to see one?”

“Well, yes,” Tafel said, “but we have to pay attention to safety as well.”

Vur tilted his head. “Is there a nest of kirlopions behind this wall?”

“I don’t know,” Tafel said. “Maybe?”

Vur turned his head back towards the barrier. “I’m going to break it. Then we’ll know.”

“Wait,” Tafel said, grabbing Vur’s arm with her other hand as well. She turned her head towards the Recordkeeper. “What do kirlopions eat? Maybe we can bait this one out and see what it’s like first.”

“Kirlopions eat everything,” the Recordkeeper said. “However, it’s especially fond of creatures that spew fire.”

Emile and Susan glanced at each other. “Isn’t that us?” Emile asked. “We spew flames all the time!”

Susan bobbed her head up and down. “It’s even harder not to use our flames here because it burns away the black mist. Maybe the kirlopion’s responsible for the black mist, and it’s using it as a way to make things produce fire!”

“So, if we go outside and create a giant bonfire, we can lure the kirlopion out?” Tafel asked.

Emile patted his chest and exhaled. He leaned over, extending past the Recordkeeper’s face, and whispered towards Susan, “I thought she was going to use us as bait.”