The Tunnel

Otulissa sat with the band, or at least as many members of it that could fit around Mrs. Plithiver. They were eating when the ground beneath them started to shake. "What's going on?" Someone shouted.

"Don't worry. It's just an earthquake." Otulissa

"A what?" Soren asked.

The shaking stopped. "An earthquake, the ground shakes for a while, it could have been worse but I think it's over now."

"Do you think the tree's in any trouble?"

Otulissa shrugged. "I doubt it. But I'll go take a look." She flew out of the hollow and down to the roots. She walked through them, one of them had broken open to reveal a cave. That's strange. She thought. She walked down into it. Another strange thing, even though she was going deeper underground it didn't seem to be getting darker. There's a light up ahead. She turned a corner and gasped. There was a gigantic circle of white light in front of her and she couldn't see anything behind it. She put a talon into it tentatively and quickly drew back. It had tried to suck her in! But what is "it"?

Otulissa flew back up to the hollow. "Soren, I think you better take a look at this."

Soren got up. Twilight, Gylphie, and Digger did too. Pelli started to go with them but Soren stopped her. "No. You stay here."

"But-"

"Don't worry." Soren smiled. "It won't take long." He flew out after the others.

Otulissa lead them through the cave and to the light. The others gasped. "Otulissa, what is that thing?" Soren asked.

Otulissa just shook her head. Soren sighed. "Well, whatever it is, I suppose we can't just leave it here for anyone to find."

"Maybe we could cover it with some rocks?" Digger suggested. Then he turned to face it again. "Twilight what are you doing?"

Twilight was getting closer to the light. He reached out a talon. "Wait! Twilight it-" Otulissa was going to tell him it would suck him up. Twilight realized that for himself but it was too late. He was disappearing into it!

"Twilight!" Soren reached out his talon. . .

Soon Soren, Gylphie, Twilight, and Digger had been sucked into the tunnel. Otulissa was left standing there alone.