The steady sound of the rain drops hitting the roof was unnerving and each foot step echoed off the cold stone walls, sounding ten times louder then they actually where. This human camp was better hidden then the rest. It was so deep into the cave the search team almost didn't find it. I'd have to go down several more layers before there was even a sign of life.
Slowly I inched my way into one of the two branches of tunnels laying like an open mouth. As I advanced, I strained my ears for any sign of movement, or maybe just a reason to run away. The further away from the entrance I ventured the darker the cave became. I had to have been walking for a solid thirty minutes in pure mind numbing darkness before I was sure the search team wasn't pulling my leg about there being a camp down here.
A single torch mounted on the wall emitted an eerie glow that made me wish for darkness again. The flickering of the flame made the shadows around me seem to become demonic. Dancing across the walls like demons of many shapes and sizes but all seeming fierce.
As I finally made the last turn before I was to reach the camp the soft sound of crying drifted to my ears. suddenly terrified my body froze, and an icy sensation crept its way slowly down my neck and I realised something rough and cold was slithering it's way up my leg. The crying ceased but was replaced by a high pitched scream.
Slowly I looked down at my leg not truly wanting to see the thing crawling up my leg. It was a snake with skin dark as the cave and eyes as red and hungry as wildfire. Seconds after I tore my eyes from the snake's a young boy came running from the part of the tunnel in front of me. He grabbed the snake and carefully yet quickly untangled it from my leg.
"Twisted, you nasty snake! How many times must I tell you not to scare girls?" The boy finally got the last twist of the snake off my leg and stood their waiting. Finally I realised I was still screaming and stopped.
"Miss, I hope Twisted didn't scare you to much." He stood there holding that thing in his arms only a few inches away from me.
"Oh only to the brink of insanity, I'll get over it." I was surprised my the ease and steadiness of my own voice.
He grinned as he draped the snake over his shoulders. Slowly I inched towards the shadows of the cave wall in the process distancing myself from the snake.
"Aw. Miss, I swear he wont bite." He took a step towards me.
Quickly I took another step backwards. "It's not just his teeth I'm worried about." He nodded and took a step back again and I relaxed.
"Well I can't argue there. Twisted can be rather terrifying. My name is Drake by the way but people around here call me Dark." He offered his hand to shake but still reluctant to go near the snake I refused it.
"My name is Elemental but you can call me Element." He dropped his hand to his side and I saw a flash of confusion flash across his face.