Chapter 2 (Part 3): Cathari caves
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Iwoji stared, bewildered at the complexity of the inner caverns. Trails branched off in every direction and curved back, winding, twisting and trapping wanderers forever in their maze. Here, underneath the ground and deep inside the hill, the air was damp and moist. Stalactites dripped slowly, each drip echoing dully in the vast cavern. It was nearly impossible to create a fire, Iwoji had to reduce his magic into a tiny ember to conserve his strength. Around him, bugs sat as invisible watchers on the walls, silently watching him. Iwoji stiffled a shiver rising up his spine. He was almost defenseless in these moist conditions; he could barely even conjure and maintain light, much less a spell potent enough of do much. Furthermore, the violent nature of his fire spells were useless in such confined spaces. It'd be a wonder if he didn't cave himself in with even a small fireball spell.
He had marked the entrances of the paths he had taken with a small burn marks, pathmarkers so that he did not re enter a path he had already taken. But the marks were the reason why he stood staring; all the paths were marked- he had taken them all. Iwoji let out a few curses, listening to his own voice echo off the walls. Did he miss anything in the dark?
"Think... Think!" He muttered angrily to himself, refusing to believe that they were trapped.
"That damned dripping!" Iwoji fumed, unable to concerntrate.
"Wait...The dripping! That's it!"
A flash of hope streaked across his mind as realisation dawned. He turned back and sprinted towards the cave entrance, where his family battled for their lives.
I hope I'm not too late, He prayed quietly in his mind.
*
Meia's mind was a mess, the attack had came from a blind spot, she had not even seen it until it hit. The ivory mace smashed into the side of her head. Pain ruptured through her mind, blinding her senses. She felt her legs buckle under her, her strength sapped. She fell to the ground, fists still clenched over her sabres but no longer able to defend herself.
Am I to die here? Meia thought bitterly, she closed her eyes as the emotionless army moved in for the kill.
*
Everything happened so fast, Meia could only remember in parts. One moment the skeletons were advancing, then a blinding flash exploded sending debris flying all over her. Arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her up like a rag doll. Meia bit her lips as her wounds continued to burn through her, it was all she could do not to scream. She let the arms carry her without struggling, for a moment, she wondered who they belonged too. Iwoji was nowhere near strong enough to carry her like this.
Images blurred past her, noises sounded. Nothing made sense right now. She could feel a warm dark liquid trick slowly down her side. She felt so tired, so sleepy. Meia closed her eyes once more and, ever so slightly, curled into the arms of her captor.
*