The Anvil (20 page)

Zack
sat
back
in
his
saddle
as
Tom
flew
around
him
and
Dejoni
gliding
on
his
black
wings
.
Suddenly
Tom
squinted
then
yelled
“
There
!
A
person
being
attacked
by
a
cranto
!”
Tom
flew
down
with
Zack
and
Dejoni
following
.

A
cranto
looked
like
a
giant
rattlesnake
,
but
they
have
a
line
of
fire
that
goes
down
their
back
when
they
fight
.
The
cranto
was
about
to
strike
when
Tom
flew
into
it
'
s
head
.
Suddenly
Tom
realized
something
,
Zack
and
Dejoni
couldn
'
t
come
in
trees
this
dense
.
He
had
to
fight
it
alone
.

Chapter
9

Tom
heard
Zack
yell
“
Bring
it
to
a
clearing
!
There
is
one
not
far
away
!”
Tom
looked
back
at
the
giant
beast
.
It
was
many
times
bigger
than
Tom
.

It
glared
at
him
and
he
shot
his
crossbow
.
The
bolt
got
it
in
its
left
eye
.
The
cranto
lunged
at
him
but
Tom
dodged
the
strike
.
Tom
fought
of
the
cranto
as
he
backed
towards
the
clearing
he
and
Zack
had
seen
.
The
cranto
tried
to
strike
him
again
but
he
ducked
behind
a
tree
.
The
cranto
'
s
fangs
dug
into
the
wood
and
it
took
a
moment
for
it
to
get
them
out
.

Tom
took
this
opportunity
to
run
a
bit
towards
the
clearing
.
Eventually
Tom
burst
from
the
trees
with
the
cranto
right
behind
him
.
As
Tom
ran
further
into
the
clearing
his
foot
caught
on
a
root
and
he
tripped
.
When
he
rolled
over
he
saw
the
cranto
about
to
strike
.
The
flames
dancing
wildly
on
its
back
.
Suddenly
a
giant
black
shadow
flew
into
the
beast
'
s
head
.
Tom
grabbed
his
axe
and
shield
and
ran
over
.

The
cranto
was
fighting
back
viciously
,
but
Dejoni
was
strong
.
Zack
was
leaning
over
in
his
saddle
hacking
at
the
giant
snake
.
Tom
got
to
the
fight
and
jumped
on
the
cranto
'
s
back
,
the
fire
had
been
put
out
in
the
rolling
.
He
started
hacking
at
the
neck
and
head
of
the
beast
.
It
suddenly
jerked
sending
Tom
flying
and
finally
getting
Dejoni
off
of
it
.
It
looked
at
Tom
then
at
Dejoni
and
Zack
,
trying
to
decide
which
was
the
bigger
threat
.

Suddenly
Dejoni
sprayed
some
of
his
acid
at
the
cranto
.
The
acid
splattered
on
the
cranto
'
s
back
.
Then
Tom
ran
at
the
beast
as
it
thrashed
about
and
swinging
his
axe
under
hand
,
caught
the
cranto
on
the
throat
.
Dejoni
had
run
over
also
and
Zack
jumped
off
his
back
onto
the
cranto
'
s
head
sinking
his
sword
in
the
beast
'
s
good
eye
.

The
beast
died
with
an
axe
in
its
throat
,
a
sword
in
it
'
s
eye
and
acid
on
its
back
.
The
three
stood
there
panting
for
a
moment
then
a
movement
caught
Tom
'
s
eye
.
Out
from
the
trees
walked
a
girl
and
Tom
realized
that
it
was
the
person
they
had
rescued
from
the
cranto
.
Zack
and
Dejoni
notice
the
girl
and
the
three
walked
over
to
her
.
She
had
light
brown
hair
and
green
eyes
.

Suddenly
both
boys
recognized
her
and
said
in
unison
“
Madison
?”
then
they
looked
at
each
other
and
said
again
in
unison
“
You
know
Madison
?”
Tom
answered
“
Ya
,
she
lived
in
Pine
Grove
a
year
or
two
ago
.
How
do
you
know
her
?”
Zack
replied
“
She
has
been
living
in
Hilltop
Lake
for
past
year
or
two
,
Jessica
'
s
apprentice
I
think
.”
then
Madison
looked
at
Zack
and
recognized
him
.

She
said
“
Zack
?
What
are
you
doing
out
here
and
what
is
with
the
wyvern
?”
then
she
turned
to
Tom
and
continued
“
Tom
,
it
has
been
a
while
.
Why
are
you
out
here
too
?”
Zack
answered
“
I
am
out
here
for
my
training
and
this
is
Dejoni
,
my
wyvern
.”
he
indicated
Dejoni
and
the
wyvern
looked
at
Madison
.