Scooby Doo and the Pilgrim's Way
Chapter Seven: Into The Darkness
Didn't Crystal know about not confessing being good for the soul. Mainly his soul. Shaggy felt the straight jacket straps being tightened; it was getting hard to breath and Velma's strangle hold on his arm wasn't helping. Crystal might be small but she could also be initimidating. Shaggy had trouble imagining how much trouble he would be in if Velma ever found out that he had made love to both women. The results of that possability baffled the mind.
The last thing he expected, and he had expected a lot, was Crystal reaching over to Velma and laughing. "No, Velma, relax. I'm not here after Shaggy although I admit that I find him attractive, in an alien sort of way." She turned her attention to Shaggy. He took a deep breath, feeling the straps loosening just a little.
"Shaggy, remember, I told you I was looking for someone? That's why I'm here. Officially, Amber and I are on extended leave; no one knows where we are. Jasper, the pilot of that second craft and I...were to be joined, married in your terms, after..."
"But he never came home, did he?" Velma spoke slowly. She drew in a breath. "Should I leave...would you like to talk to Shaggy alone?"
"No, Velma, he didn't come home. I came here in hopes of finding him."
"Then, let's go find him," Velma whispered. Her voice sounded small, choked with emotion; Velma wiped at the moisture that had formed on her cheeks. One was from an unknown planet in an unknown part of the galaxy, a stranger in a strange land; the other, human, from an insignificant star. But both were women with the same wants, needs and desires.
It was as strange a parade as anyone would ever see. Two humans and a Great Dane followed by an alien and two creatures that looked like a cross between an eagle and a flying squirrel known as Nagas.
The strange fellowship had left the cabin only minutes before. The man with the rifle had regained consiousness in time to hear Crystal say, "don't try to follow or interfer, next time I may not pull my punch."
Velma hadn't said anything, only stabbed him with an icy stare before leaving the cabin. The air had the smell of summer that warm early July afternoon; of dust kicked up by passing feet, of thirsty wildflowers now brittle with the spring rains long gone.
Large oak trees gave the only respite from the heat; their branches shading the track as it veered into the mountains. It had been a game trail, used by animals from small rabbits to deer and the occational bear on their way to water. It was under one of these magnificent trees that Shaggy called for a five minute rest.
"we'll wait, let Amber catch up. We're not too far off now." Amber had occationally dropped back checking on their back trail. The heat was oppressive but it didn't stop Velma from drawing close to shaggy.
"How do you know this area so well, Shaggy?"
"I've been up here a time or two." Actually, it was closer to dozens of times. Enough times to explore the many game trails that crisscrossed the area. He had become familiar with the remote wilderness to think, drawing energy from the silence. The wilderness was a good place to scream out the feelings associated with Crystal's leaving. There was a peace in the silence. Amber joined them, announcing all was clear behind them.
"There lies Homer's Nose," Shaggy pointed upward at the bald mountain, "luckly, we don't have to climb to the top." Quickly, the fellowship spread out single file along the game trail.
-Xxxxxx
Velma wasn't your typical certifiable claustophobic. Clown phobia was one phobia she had learned to master; no, she just didn't like closed in spaces. The caves at Homer's Nose was one of those closed in areas she had been able to avoid. It looked like her avoidance luck had ran out.
She was familiar with Homer's Nose. Discovered in the late 1800's, it had taken fifty years for technology to catch up for professional exploration. Velma smiled at that; that didn't mean there had not been unprofessional exploration. It was well known that couples had favored the remote area for romantic trysts for many years.
With these romantic meetings had come the usual waste products of uneaten picnic foods and other human inevitable products left behind had invited other companions: bats, rats, roaches and surprisingly, raccoons.
The raccoons and bats had stayed close to the opening, the rest had migrated deeper. Homer's Nose hadn't garnered the puplic interest that other, more well known caves had. The result was that no concrete walks, stairs, or modern lighting had been installed. No snack bar or gift shop blighted the pristine underground. Officially, Homer's Nose was known as an undeveloped enity; locals had more colorful names.
Surprisingly the trail widen out, the opening before them looked big enough to drive a semi truck through. Or a small spaceship. Shaggy stopped, letting the others form a semi circle around the opening.
"Better take a rest break, we'll need all our energy inside." He pointed at the maw in front of them, extracting the canteen at his side.
"I know a shortcut," Fleck lead the way to the right some fifty yards. The branches of the small samplings parted to reveal a hidden path revealing a second maw.
"What is a hero, Shaggy?" Velma took his hand, looking into his eyes.
"Okay, what is a hero, Velma?"
"Someone who is scared to death to do something heroic, but does it anyway. Shaggy, I'm scared."
"Maybe it won't be so frightening if you have someone with you. Let's do this together." There was no time to think of an excuse not to go, not to follow Shaggy; there was no room for fear, only room to care for others.
Taking a deep breath, she could, would do this. She followed Shaggy into the darkness.
-Xxxxxx
The cave dropped sixty feet in a straight drop that required Velma to reinvent herself from a helmet with a battery operated light to special caver boots that had been selected by Shaggy.
The most interesting was the seat and chest harness. Shaggy had turned her from ugly duckling to a caver, without her pushing the panic button; he checked the harness that seperated yet hugged her breasts in an embrace designed to defy gravity. His hands taking the time to caress the attractive swells.
"Too tight?" he smiled, tugging on the buckle between her breasts.
"No, it's fine. Just wait till I check your seat harness!" Joking aside, this was no Disney creation for an afternoon of family entertainment. This was real.
Fleck claimed the right to go first, followed by Shaggy. Velma took up her position and looked over the edge. The only thing visable was a vanishing point of light.
"Clear!" She heard Shaggy indicate he was ready for her to decend.
She looked back at Crystal, "see you on the bottom. This is an "E" ticket ride!"
She stepped backwards into the darkness.
TBC
