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hasn't officially started.”
     
    “Who the hell is challenging us?” Mudhoof said.
     
    “That nut-job of a centaur,” Thorm said. “He was delaying us so he could get his group in position.”
     
    “Yeah,” said Mudhoof. “But you need four people to form a group and play. Must've had them nearby. Lucky bastard.”
     
    What are the odds that a four-man group of high enough level players would be right at the very spot a Legendary Quest was activated? Again, I did not believe in coincidences. It was that red ninja. His friends had somehow tracked me here.
     
    But how?
     
    “Okay, this changes nothing,” I said.
     
    “How's that?” said Mudhoof. “We now gotta complete a Legendary Quest with another group trying to do the exact same thing. That changes a lot.”
     
    I shook my head. “Only makes things more challenging. But the goal is still the same. Follow the quest to its end and get the item. If those knuckleheads get in our way, we'll deal with them.”
     
    The others nodded but didn't look pumped up by my lame speech.
     
    “Quest Zone started,” said the voice.
     
    The staging platform beneath our feet faded away and left us standing in tall grass.
     
    Thorm looked about. “Where do you think they are? The other group?”
     
    “Far from here,” said Feign. “Designed that way to prevent a party wipe at the start. But their quest line will most certainly overlap ours. We will meet them soon.”
     
    “I'm looking forward to it,” said Mudhoof, and patted his huge ax against his palm.
     
    A little trail led down throw the trees and into the valley. I was the first to walk to it and said, “Let's go get that Legendary Item!”
     

     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    The trail snaked its way through the thick forest, gradually leading downward to the valley floor. There was no sign of the other group, nor of any ambush. Feign suggested that the starting area of the quest zone was relatively safe, but to be ready for anything.
     
    We reached the bottom, and the forest gave way to the edge of the lake we saw from above. Vast and calm with barely a ripple to be seen. A waterfall on the other side rumbled over a high cliff.
     
    “No demons here,” said Mudhoof. He actually sounded disappointed. He looked to me. “Which reminds me. Where is your rat?”
     
    I'd forgotten about Phlixx. “I'll get him out.”
     
    “Not that annoying rodent, again,” Thorm said with a grimace.
     
    “He has his uses,” I said with a chuckle and selected the companion icon.
     
    Phlixx burst into existence and leapt through the air, shouting, “I'm back my love! Did you miss me?”
     
    “Yes, Phlixx,” I said. “I always miss you when you're away.” I meant it, too.
     
    The ferret looked to the other members who were all regarding him with uncertainty. “A quest? We're on a quest?” He spun in a circle and sighed heavily. “What fun we shall have!”
     
    Feign scoffed and avoided eye contact with the little being.
     
    “Phlixx, I'm going to put you on snoop mode, again. Like last time. Watch to see if there is anything we've missed and let me know, okay?”
     
    “Missed?” Phlixx said. “You mean like this?” He reached over and plucked something from my trouser's pant leg.
     
    Alarmed, I looked closer at the object he held.
     
    It was a dart. A tracking dart.
     
    I barely contained my anger. “That's how he did it!”
     
    “How who did what?” Asked Mudhoof.
     
    “The other group. They were trying to follow me back at Fenway and must have fired that thing at me.” When I thought more about it I realized it probably was when I jumped for the sky-barge. The ninja shot me with the tracker which led centaur-samurai and his cronies here.
     
    I smacked my forehead. “I'm a dolt. I should have known it was there.”
     
    Thorm shrugged. “Don't kill yourself over it. That makes one mystery solved. But we got an even bigger one on our hands now. So let's just concentrate on