She that dwells beneath the earth

Chyemme

We walked along carefully, once we had left the sight of the saber cats. True enough, I didn't sense any of them near us and we hadn't encountered any. It looked like the demons really had kept their word. Speaking of that whole mess, everyone was full of questions, including myself. The knowledge that I had been out and my life had ridden on the backs of my friends greatly disturbed me. I wasn't there to fight beside them for my own life. I had to trust in someone else. Moreover, I had to trust Piricus.

I'm not stupid, and it didn't take me long to deduce a strange feeling between Scorpious and Piricus. They were oddly quiet about their teamwork, and much to our displeasure quiet about pretty much everything else. My guess was that something big went down between them, but I had no proof, just a hunch, so I kept my mouth shut. At any rate, we were alive, and as luck would have it, Piricus and Scorpious had managed to snag the Horadric Cube while they were in the Halls of the Dead. Scorpious had, however, told us the interesting part of their exploits when they had used the power of the cube to make that saber-cat whole again. Incredible, the power of the ancient magi. Speaking of magi, Sovellis had a keen interest in the cube and was in the process of wrestling it away from Piricus.

"Give here. Let look," Sovellis demanded and reached for the glimmering box Piricus was carrying.

"Not on your life, sorcerer. You'll mess something up and fry us all to pieces. I suppose that would be fine in the case of everyone else, but as for me, I'm not skilled enough yet to put my own pieces back together," Piricus said flatly.

"If you were, you'd be inhuman," Ryelass growled.

"You mean he ain't already? Nobody is as cold as 'e is," Alminus said in distain.

"Ice cold, and rock soild. I'm not the paladin. I'm not made to break easy," Piricus said with a snide smile. "Sorcerer, if you don't stop I'll rot off your arm," Piricus hissed and gave the cube a firm tug out of Sovellis' grasp.

"If I don't trust anyone with the cube, it would be you, Piricus. The last thing we need is for that thing to become corrupted with death magic," Maria said flatly.

"Is magic really that easy to taint?" Ahmad asked, eyeing the glimmering box uneasily.

"It is if you're not careful," Maria said gravely.

"I don't see what he could use the cube for. It just puts things back together," I admitted.

"That is the function, yes, but the cube in itself is an immensely powerful object. Can't you feel it from where you are?" Maria asked skeptically.

"I thought the powers of the Horadrim were pure? Weren't they the ones that sealed away the prime evils?" Laurella asked, eyeing the cube with curiosity.

"Every magic can be corrupted," Maria said seriously. "Ancient ones especially."

"For once, that was something intelligent, assassin. It's true Rogue. You want to talk about so called 'pure' magic gone corrupt, look at the paladins," Piricus sneered.

"Paladins aren't bad," Laurella countered. "Scorpious and Fara are nice."
"Wonderful logic, little girl. You met two out of zillions and assume they are wonderful. Trust me, rogue, you're lucky this moron with us only spouts garbage and doesn't back it up. I'm beginning to think he's actually a wuss in addition to being weak. Most of his so called compatriots would have hacked you into pieces and called you an infidel," Piricus sneered.

"You're just saying that," Ryelass growled.

"Well, maybe not the rogue," Piricus corrected, "she believes in their so called God. Now, the amazon here would be a different story," he said, looking to me apathetically.

"Me?" I asked with a snort.

"Yes you, amazon. You're polytheistic, and that is unacceptable to a paladin. Isn't that right, paladin? The amazon here is going to hell because she doesn't worship one God?" Piricus said snidely.

Scorpious didn't even turn around. "Nowhere have I ever said such a thing and nor do I believe it. I do not believe Chyemme is correct in her religion, but I hardly believe she is going to hell," he answered simply.

"There you have it. You do not agree with him, amazon, so you are not correct. You and the druid would be right there next to me on a paladin's to-do list," Piricus said bluntly.

"I'd hope they get you first," Ryelass laughed, "that would give Chyemme and Cloudyous time to get away."

Alminus snorted and laughed too along with Laurella. I managed a small smile of my own. Of course, I would never run away and leave Piricus to fend for himself if he needed me.

"Got it!" Sovellis exclaimed in triumph and snagged the Horadric cube while Piricus was preoccupied.

Piricus got a nasty look on his face and actually reached for his dagger, but I stepped in-between them and nudged him with my elbow. "Play nice. Share," I teased.

Piricus scowled and shoved me hard, though by this time Sovellis was a good ways away from him.

The dark-skinned mage ran his hands over the interlocking swirls and runes on the object and I saw the hair on his arms stand on end. He touched the lid and without warning, a bright spark of lightning rippled across the top. He dropped it in surprise and everyone jumped.

"Wha' jus' happened?" Alminus asked in concern.

Moments passed, and nothing happened, there wasn't even a wisp of smoke. Sovellis turned his hands over, checking them.

"Are you hurt, Sovellis?" I asked in worry.

"No. I fine. It strange. I never feel magic this strong," he said, though calmly. Once he assured himself he was alright, he leaned over and picked the cube up once more.

"Are you sure that is a good idea, my friend?" Ahmad asked wearily. "What happened just now could have been a warning."

"I agree with Ahmad," Scorpious said gently. "Sovellis, you should let someone else carry it."

"Why did it spark like that?" Laurella asked.

"It reacted with Sovellis' natural magic," Maria informed.

"Was it dangerous?" I asked.

"I don't know. It was too brief to tell. Sovellis, I will carry the cube," Maria said authoritatively.

"Why you?" Ryelass asked.

"Because I am not a mage of any kind and my skills make me immune to such effects most of the time," she answered simply.

"Most of the time?" Piricus snickered. "What's wrong assassin? Don't tell me you're actually vulnerable to some things."

"It is fact of life I don't like, but I'm only human. Though, to my credit, I've defeated every single mage I've come up against, albeit sometimes I had help," she admitted.

"I gathered that, otherwise your pathetic ass wouldn't be here," Piricus said rudely.

"I bet if she went after you, you wouldn't think she's so pathetic," Ryelass said with a laugh.

"I've seen better," Piricus said with a mocking grin.

"Not likely," Maria said plainly. "You've not seen anything yet."

"Ooh. I have chills," Piricus said sarcastically.

"Vendra say you would if she here. She say she freeze toes together," Sovellis said with a laugh.

"You could do that too, couldn't you Sovellis? Give him frostbite so bad he falls over?" Ryelass asked eagerly.

"He may get in a strike, but I promise you, my counterstrike would be numerously worse and linger like nothing else," Piricus promised.

"The cube," Maria reminded Sovellis and held out her hands.

I expected Sovellis to look insulted or to protest, but he did as she asked.

"You seem experienced in the ways of magical artifacts," Ahmad said as he eyed Maria.

"It's my lifeblood," she said simply. "Have to know how they work to disable them."

"And yet, you are not a mage," Ahmad replied.

"No. And I will never be one even if God himself came down and handed me all the powers in Sanctuary," she admitted.

"You speak as if you despise them," Ahmad continued.

"Maria is a mage slayer," Laurella said without thinking.

My assassin friend gave her a reproachful glare as Ahmad stared at her in shock.

"An assassin? I've heard the tales of some of the mage clans," he said uneasily.

"Assassin, bitch, same thing," Piricus said nonchalantly from beside me.

"You are a mage, I can see why you do not get along," Ahmad admitted.

"It should make no difference if I were a drunkard in a tavern. I paid you to do a job, so don't question me, just do it," Maria said flatly.

"I meant you no disrespect," Ahmad apologized.

"He may be smarter than he looks, assassin. I would want to know who my boss is and if by their nature they were going to get me killed," Piricus laughed.

"We're out in the desert filled with demons and monsters. He could die anyway," Ryelass pointed out.

"Ain't jus' 'im. We all could. We all gotta be on guard," Alminus added.

"Very optimistic barbarian," Piricus laughed.

"I agree with Alminus. We need to be careful," Scorpious agreed.

"You say that every five minutes, Paladin, you sound like a parrot," Piricus said rudely.

"It's true," I remarked. No sooner did I speak the words, than did Ahmad suddenly disappear through the ground into the sand beneath his feet. Laurella and Alminus stepped down unwittingly right after him and without time to even yell, they disappeared too.

"Quicksand!" Ryelass yelled in shock and ran after them.

"Stop, you'll fall in," Maria warned. "We have no idea where it starts; we need to stay where we are."

"Those are my friends! We have to do something!" Ryelass demanded, though he did fall short.

"Scorpious, we need to act!" I shouted.

"Amazon, you have no idea how far under they are or where they went. Jumping in after them would be stupid," Piricus said bluntly.

"I can find them if someone can help me get them out!" I said and immediately focused my inner sight. I held my breath. They were pretty far down already and sinking further each moment. I could also tell that they were running out of breath. I could see them struggling in my mind.

Bright stars lit the area over where they had fallen, three in separate locations.

"How far down?" Maria asked quickly.

"Five feet as of a second ago," I answered swiftly.

"Damn! That far?! Do something!" Ryelass demanded.

"Stand back. I try!" Sovellis said urgently.

"The sand starts about three feet from you," I warned.

"Very well," he said and stopped just short.

He closed his eyes and raised his hands. I could see him struggling greatly, his whole body was shaking and his muscles were twitching. I could feel energy coming from him, but I didn't know where it was going.

Then, out of the sand under one of my stars, came a fair hand. The hand was soon followed by Laurella's body as she was magically hoisted into the air, over the sand and put down at Sovellis' feet.

She coughed and sputtered, and I ran to her. I laid her down and shoved hard on her stomach. She heaved heavily, spitting sand. Her breath was ragged, and she began choking.

"Move," Maria demanded quickly.

I moved aside and Maria dragged Laurella to her feet and grabbed her from behind. She gave a hard shove on her abdomen, then pressed two fingers into her navel and ran them up the middle of her chest into the middle of her throat, putting steady pressure.

Laurella vomited and tossed up about three inches of sand before shaking and opening her eyes. She fell to her knees, coughing, but conscious.

I turned my attention back to Sovellis, he was struggling to stand, but he didn't break his spell. Ahmad suddenly surfaced, hanging limply in the air as he was brought back to safety. Maria took him and repeated her motions.

Sovellis struggled hard and fell to his knees. I saw Alminus' large hand break sand, but then it fell under again.

"ALMINUS!" Ryelass cried frantically.

"He too big. I not strong enough," Sovellis panted, out of breath.

"I'll help you, I'll lend you some of my energy," I offered hastily and ran over to him.

"It still not enough," he gasped.

"I'll help too! Hurry damn it before it's too late!" Ryelass shouted and raced up to us. Ryelass and I grabbed onto Sovellis' hands on opposite sides. I felt some of my mental energy go out of me as the mage stood up. Suddenly, it was like I was trying to lift a house with my mind. I grunted and so did Ryelass. I felt shaky, so I could only imagine what Sovellis was feeling.

Much to my relief, it seemed to be working. Alminus' body appeared from the ground and together the three of us brought him to safety.

I fell onto my knees and so did Ryelass, Sovellis collapsed completely.

Maria tended to Alminus, then pulled three white vials out of her bag. She handed one to me and one to Ryelass, and then leaned over Sovellis and helped him drink his.

Miraculously, I felt strength back in my limbs. Soon, all three of us were back on our feet.

"What were those that you gave us?" Ryelass asked, looking at his empty vial.

"Stamina potions," Maria said simply.

"It good thing. If I no have, I no go," Sovellis admitted in earnest.

"What happened?" Ahmad asked, looking around wildly.

"You fell into a pit of quicksand moron, just after the stupid paladin just told you to be careful. Ironic, actually," Piricus said snidely.

"I remember going under and I thought I was going to die. How'd you get us out?" Laurella asked shakily.

"The sorcerer here is telekinetic," Piricus said bluntly.

"Doesn't that take a lot of power?" I asked.

"Yes. That not easy thing I do. Take long time to learn," Sovellis explained.

"Well ya learned yur lesson well n' thanks ter that I owe ya my life," Alminus said gratefully.

"You would do same for me," Sovellis said dismissively.

"I'll find a way ter pay ya back, I promise," Alminus promised.

"It not necessary," Sovellis assured.

"All tha same," Alminus vowed.

"Are you guys alright?" I asked, looking at them.

"I'm fine now, thanks to you all," Laurella assured.

Ahmad stood up and brushed the thick layer of sand off of his clothes and armor. "I am ready to continue, this will not stop me," he reassured.

"With the amount we paid you the only thing that should stop you is death," Piricus said bluntly. "Well, I guess death wouldn't stop you entirely. I could make use of you," Piricus said with a sadistic smile.

Ahmad gave him a repulsed look, before turning to face front. "This presents a problem I'm not sure how to get around," he admitted. "I do not know how far this quicksand extends. It could go on for miles."

"It's deep though?" Maria asked.

"Yes," I informed.

"Then we walk over it, though it's going to demand more from Sovellis and Ryelass," Maria said simply.

"Me? What can I do?" Ryelass asked skeptically.

"Your little whim to learn a spell of fire magic might actually be useful. Sand when it gets heated turns into—" Maria began.

"Glass," I finished for her. "And glass is solid."

"But, isn't glass brittle? Won't we break it?" Laurella asked skeptically.

"Not if we heat it deep enough," Ryelass said in realization.

"Are you two okay to do this?" I asked in concern.

"I fine," Sovellis promised.

"Me too. Come on Sovellis, let's do this," Ryelass assured and together the two of them stepped up to the edge of the sand. Both chanted spells and fire flew from their hands in columns. They aimed directly for the ground and as expected, the heat and force was enough to blast the sand smooth. They walked forward onto the new glass and continued to expand our path across it for another ten feet.

"It stops there," I said, checking it psychically.

"It's safe," Ryelass assured from the other side, tapping it with his foot for reassurance.

"You're sure?" Ahmad asked uncertainly.

"Move dumbass, he wouldn't be over there if he wasn't sure," Piricus said bluntly and walked onto the polished surface and across with no difficulty.

As soon as all of us were across, we continued on our way. The desert wind actually picked up a tone of humidity and as the heat flickered off the ground I saw a blur of green.

"Do you guys see that? Looks like trees," Laurella pointed out.

"That's because they are. Welcome to the Far Oasis," Ahmad said, gesturing around himself.

"We should stock up on water if there is some ahead," Scorpious suggested.

"A good idea," Maria affirmed.

We walked for a little while and the oasis came into focus, there were some tall palm trees and patches of actual grass. I could see a pool of water in the center. We walked over to it, and I wrinkled my nose. The water was stagnant.

"We can't drink this," Ryelass said simply.

"Not so fast," Scorpious said with a smile. "I can attempt to purify it."

"That sounds like a job for the druid. You're telling me you can make this muck fresh?" Piricus asked skeptically.

"I said that I'd try," Scorpious corrected.

"Well, tha's better than nothin'," Alminus said plainly.

"Go ahead, Scorpious," I affirmed.

He nodded and walked over to the water's edge. He knelt down and placed the tip of his blessed sword in the water. He began chanting. I saw a thousand flares from my inner sigh about a second too late. Without warning, a mass of small shapes can darting out of the water in a cloud so thick it obscured the sun.

These masses batted my exposed skin and I felt a pinching sensation. I looked over and could vaguely make out what looked like a gigantic grasshopper latched onto my arm and taking bites out of it. Locusts. They had been dormant on the lakebed. I flailed wildly, lashing out at it, I shoved it off but ten more landed on my hand and started biting on it. I swung my shield but they swarmed around it and under it. I dropped it as the force of the mass overpowered me. It was all I could do to stay upright.

I tried to yell out for the others, but my voice was drown out by the hum of wings and the buzz of the frenzied locusts. A ring of fire erupted from around my waist and lashed out at my attackers that were now all over my body like a coating of dirt. Fire swarmed into their bodies, but to my horror, they seemed to absorb the heat and grow bigger. They had almost reached the size of a rat when Scorpious stopped his aura and replaced it with another one. Lightning sparked through the area, but this didn't stop them either, it seemed to energize them more. I tucked my exposed arms into my chest and dropped to my knees on the ground, pulling my armorless upper legs into my body for protection as the locusts continued biting at me. If someone didn't do something quick, they were going to eat me alive.

Lightning became replaced by frost as snowflakes swirled from all around me off of Scorpious' aura. I could immediately see the difference. The locusts slowed and ice coated their wings. I could see ice bolts shred through the area. One soared over my head. The ice continued to coat the insects' wings until at last all of them fell limply to the ground. I stood up immediately and started stomping down hard on everything around me, crunching my stiff assailants beneath my feet. Looking around I was surprised at how many there were. There had to be thousands of them.

"Stand back," Sovellis said in distain from my right. He pulled ice energy around himself, then cast it outward in a ring, solidifying the insects, then blasting them apart until there were nothing but chips of ice everywhere.

Looking around I could see the others had been battered too. Piricus and Sovellis looked fine; my guess is that they had conjured shields around themselves. I assessed the damage to my own body, I hurt terribly. Much to my dismay, I seemed to have gotten the worst of it in the group.

"Amazon, if you'd have lost anymore flesh the only thing left of you would be your bones, maybe not even that," Piricus said bluntly, looking me over.

"My god, he's right. Chyemme you look terrible," Ryelass said in concern as he made his way over.

"Drink a healing potion," Maria said, tossing one to me. "We don't have time to stop."

I noticed that she had some bug bites of her own.

Ahmad scowled and pulled a frozen locust off of his helmet. "Truly fate doesn't want us here."

"Fate has nothing to do with it. Keep moving," Piricus said flatly and waved his hands onward impatiently.

"I'm going," Ahmad hissed as Ryelass helped me to my feet. I drank the potion and felt some of my wounds dry up and crust into scabs, but I could still feel the little teeth on my skin. I shivered and decided it would help to walk it off.

"Where exactly r' we goin?" Alminus asked as we walked further into the lush green.

"We walk until we find a clue. I have no knowledge of a den of beasts," Ahmad admitted, "I only know the landscape."

"It's too bad Cloudyous isn't here. He could find this place in no time," Laurella remarked.

"Can't you and the amazon use that psychic gift of yours and find this place?" Piricus asked impatiently.

"No need, Ahmad look--!" I shouted swiftly, but I was too late. An enormous creature burst out of the ground in a tunnel of dirt. It had antennae, two faceted black eyes and more importantly, two enormous pincers. It grabbed Ahmad's leg between them and it nearly crushed his armor. The creature made to drag him under, but Laurella notched her bow and shot a flaming arrow into the center of the creature's head. It shrieked in a high-pitched clicking noise and fell limp, half in, half out of the earth.

Ahmad drew his halberd and immediately readied himself. I saw movement under the earth tunneling towards us, but Ahmad was ready. He thrust his spear into the ground and blood fountained into the air, though it was a strange black-green color. There was another loud shriek, suggestive that Ahmad had killed another creature. Soon, they were bursting from the ground all around us. A few managed to pull their chubby bodies onto the sand. They had a thick, grub-like trunk and six spindly, hairy legs.

A pair pincers snapped for my legs. I jumped on top of them when they closed and kicked the creature in the face. I drew my crystal sword when it stumbled and sliced its head off.

Alminus had just simply cleaved one in half with his enormous axe. Ryelass' sword was sparking lightning into his opponent, though it appeared to be doing little good. The girth of the creature seemed to be absorbing the shock. He hacked and slashed, though he did little more than cut blubber. He locked his sword on a pincer and managed to slice through it, but not before the other one caught on his leg. It plunged deep into his thigh. I could smell the flesh burning and I realized with a sinking feeling that these creatures were excreting and acid-like venom.

Ryelass cried out in pain, then he suddenly went stiff. The creature made to finish him, but Scorpious jumped onto its back and ran it through. I could tell one had taken a bite at him too. There were acid holes in one of his greaves. He quickly took to chanting over Ryelass, and became so absorbed in that three monsters sprouted up around him.

I grabbed a javelin off my back and hurled it into the side of one, running it through. It stumbled, then changed course for me. It moved surprisingly fast for something so big. It was on me in no time. I used another javelin to stab it in the eye. It flailed, and then before I could finish it, it tunneled back into the sand.

Maria had a similar plan. She hurled a knife into one eye of a creature, then the other. Blinded and thrashing, she moved in for the kill. Sovellis cast a bolt of ice that impaled the remaining creature through the side of the head.

All was still after that. Or so we thought. The biggest worm I had ever seen suddenly rocketed out of the ground and snagged Sovellis' boot. He blasted it in the face with fire, but the creature blinked it off. The mage gave a shout of pain and surprise before the creature dragged him under.

"Sovellis!" I cried and raced to the hole. Sure enough, with something that big, I could easily fit down.

"Amazon are you crazy?" Piricus asked bluntly as he saw what I was about to do.

"Stay up here then. I'm going after him," I said and jumped down the chute. The earth was fresh and muddy so I skidded all the way down to the bottom. I readied a javelin and plunged it into the back of the creature I landed on. I looked up immediately, seeing something large. I readied my javelin, but hastily jumped aside when I heard Alminus' hearty voice call,

"Watch out below!" He landed like an elephant, squashing juice out of the bug cushion.

I turned around and stabbed an oncoming maggot in the mouth, killing it. Several moments passed and I felt the others come down the tunnel behind me. I saw a flash of green light and realized that even Piricus had come down. His poisonous energy was eating holes through his assailant.

"What the hell?" Ryelass yelped as ice suddenly spread over the floor and started coating out boots with frost. We were beginning to get frozen in place. A chill washed over me and when I looked up, I found an enormous worm that took up and entire cavern and was emitting an icy mist from its underside.

The worm with Sovellis was only a few feet away from it.

"That must be the female!" Ryelass called, taking the sight in.

"What makes you so sure?" Laurella called.

"Because only females would lay these," Piricus said with a snort and gestured to the cavern at large we had entered. There were pulsating puddles of goo with sickly looking gel going into them from veins on the surface.

"Eggs!" I shouted in surprise.

"I'm not a druid, but I think those need to go first!" Piricus insisted.

"He's right. The first thing those animals are going to do is try to feed!" Maria shouted.

"What about Sovellis?!" I shouted. The large creature, presumably male, was presenting him to the female. I didn't wait for a response, I launched a javelin and it the creature in the side. Blood started to leak out, but the blood was soon replaced by ice as my javelin froze over and broke.

I might as well have punched the creature for all the good that did. I noted with urgency that Sovellis was starting to become stiff as the ice coated his skin.

"Guys! The wall!" Laurella shouted in worry. Without fail, ten fully grown sand maggots burst through the wall and started spitting poison.

We were trapped with little room to move in and even less room to dodge. What saved us was surprising. White bones rocketed out in front of all of us, and I could hear the acid hit the outside. I knew the bones wouldn't hold long. My guess was that the only reason Piricus had done this in the first place was because he was in front of us.

"Tha eggs!" Alminus roared. Goo suddenly rained down everywhere and with it, hatchling maggots, pincers clicking. We were swarmed, we had nowhere to go. We were forced back to back just as Piricus' shield gave out. Acid splashed onto his armor and he hastily threw it off, leaving only his shirt.

Scorpious sacrificed one of his gauntlets. He took it off and tossed it into the path of an oncoming barrage of acid.

Me and Laurella started tossing and firing into the masses, me with lightning, her with fire. We managed to kill some of the hatchlings, but more seemed to take their place. There had to be hundreds of them.

Ryelass pulled me behind his shield as acid splashed onto it. The metal faded away like sugar in water. The next attack I met with one of my javelins, and that too disintegrated into nothing.

Maria took off one of her bracers and used it as a miniature shield to bat acid away from her face. Like everyone else's armor and weapons it melted.

"SOVELLIS!" I screamed again as the enormous female maggot opened her maw. To my horror, he had frozen stiff.

My line of vision was suddenly swarmed by row after row of baby sand maggots.

No matter what I did, we were going to be too late. Worse still, there were just too many of them, not enough shields, and too little space. I braced myself for the onslaught.

There was a loud roar, followed by a growl. Something fell through the ceiling and landed directly onto the female sand maggot's back. I saw a spear shoved into the creature's girth. Not unlike what could happen to us, the maggot's flesh began to rot away. I thought it was Piricus for a moment, but he was trapped like the rest of us. Ice flew onto the newcomer, but it didn't seem to faze them.

The cold died away as the gigantic maggot died. The newcomer hurled the spear into the maggot holding Sovellis and it dropped him.

"Get down!" an unfamiliar female voice called. There was something odd about it, it didn't sound normal.

Scorpious got a shocked look on his face, then shouted "Do it!"

All of us dropped to our knees, then hunched over. Something made of glass broke and then a green mist filled the air. Poison. I tucked my head into my arm to avoid breathing it in. Luckily, it passed over us. The multitude of monsters breathed the gas in and suddenly toppled over, dead.

When everything was over and the gas was cleared, our savior stepped into the light from one of the tunnels. I couldn't have been more surprised. A fully armored saber cat stood there, with her tail swishing over the maggot's carcass.

Piricus laughed. "You're kidding me, right?" he said sarcastically.

"No. And I should think you'd be grateful for my intervention, it looked like a critical situation. Then again, Gyra told me you had an attitude," she said in a

weird cat/human voice.

"Who are you?" Ryelass snapped, becoming defensive.

"My name is Nira of the SunFur tribe. Your friends saved my life," she said, gesturing to Scorpious and Piricus.

"Incredible," Scorpious said in disbelief.

"So wha' now?" Alminus asked in amazement.

"You're even with us kitty cat, now you can leave," Piricus said bluntly.

"Hardly. I have repaid only a portion of my debt. You have saved my life, so I saved yours, but in our culture that is not enough. Your life belongs to that of your savior. I am here as is proper and I am at your disposal," she said stoutly.

"So, you're our slave?" Piricus asked, clearly surprised.

"If you believe you are, then as a master, I release you. Thank you for saving us, you have repaid your debt. You are free to go home," Scorpious said humbly.

"Do not insult me, paladin. It would bring me dishonor to go home when my masters are still out in the desert fighting for their lives. If honor wasn't enough, Ketan would have sent me with you anyway. He believes that what you are seeking is something that concerns all of us. This," she said, reaching under the enormous monster, "is solid proof. The power in this artifact alone worries Ketan. He wants me to go with you and make sure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands," she said, holding up an old, weathered staff. The feeling of magic off of it was nearly enough to knock you over.

"Is that the—" Laurella began.

"The shaft of a Horadric staff? Yes," Maria said, scanning it with her eyes.

"This is . . .incredible. I don't believe it," Ahmad said, stunned. Like the rest of us, we were having trouble taking this in.

"I must warn you," Nira said gravely. "This is a race against time if you are seeking to create and use a Horadric staff. Someone else is seeking them too. A dark wanderer passed through our lands—" she began.

"What did he look like!?!" Ryelass said quickly.

"I know not. He wore a robe and a hood. And he had another human with him. I do not believe that this wanderer was human. I wasn't there, but Ketan speaks on this encounter with fear and he is not afraid of anything," she said with a slight shiver.

"She goes with us," Ryelass announced to the group at large as if we had nothing to say in the matter. "We need to know what she knows."

"That's not your call, warrior," Piricus said hotly.

"This will have to be a pride decision. One of my masters wishes me to leave and the other," she said, looking at Scorpious, whom nodded, "wishes me to stay."

"I say she stay. She save life," Sovellis said as he brushed himself off and headed over.

"She saved all of us, I think it would be a good idea," Laurella admitted.

"What makes you fools so sure she won't kill us in our sleep?" Piricus asked, mistrusting.

"Would I have bothered to save you, master, if I was merely going to kill you later?" Nira asked politely.

"Oh great. Piricus is somebody's master. This is going to be a disaster," Ryelass growled.

"You forget that Scorpious is too. They'll balance each other out," I replied.

"Whatever the decision, we should leave here now. I doubt we have finished off all the creatures in here," Ahmad urged, eager to leave.

"Piricus?" Scorpious asked him expectantly.

"Oh hell, why not? This might actually be amusing," he laughed.

"Come then, Nira. Tell us what you know on the way out of here," Scorpious requested as we headed towards a side tunnel that would take us to the surface.