"You know your way around this place pretty well," said Lex presently
"My tribe, we know these caves like the back of our hands" replied Stealth, nodding
"Yeah, but you seem to know particular escape routes," continued Lex "Like from those huts they were keeping us in. The path up the cliffs, I don't think your Tribe practice their escape routes that close to them"
Stealth allowed a small smile play about the edges of her lips.
"Lets just say it's not my first time escaping from them"
"Oh yeah that's right" said Lex, "You seem to have some sort of past with them, and I'm suspecting it wasn't due to being previously captured"
Stealth shrugged at his low enquiring tone and sighed
"What's a girl to do when her tribe turns on her"
"And family" added Lex
"Yes and family" replied Stealth, with a soft nod "It was escape or be traded. Personally I enjoy my freedom. That and imagining the disappointment on Phantoms face when he realises I've escaped his clutches a second time"
"Yeah I love it when we double-cross the bad guys" agreed Lex with a sigh, pulling his legs to his chest slowly and carefully
"I take it your tribe have had their fair deal of trouble to contend with?" said Stealth at his tone
"Oh you could say that"
"Maybe you'll tell me about it sometime"
"Sure, how much time do you have?"
"Depends"
"On?"
"How much you want to stay in here, or get back to my tribe and more amenable living cave-quarters"
Stealth found she was beginning to like him, he reminded her of Moss. Quick witted, short-tempered, ready to take on a fight had a flair for sarcasm.
"Hmm stay here, or move to another cave. You don't leave a guy much choice" smiled Lex
"But at least you have a choice" Stealth smiled back
"That mean we're going to make a move?"
"We can't stay in here forever"
"What about our friends waiting out front"
"The gulls aren't exactly widely known for their patient natures, or their brains. If they have been camping out, I doubt they'll have stuck around long. They're too afraid to venture too far into the cave network for fear of getting lost. Their too impatient to stick around and wait to see if we re-appear."
"You have much faith in your knowledge about them to know they've gone?" asked Lex
"I guess. We haven't got much choice anyway, you'll need some proper rest from that beating you took. The best place for that is back in the safety of my Tribe. We have herbs, medicines, plus your tribe and my own will be worried about us. I don't want them mounting some rescue operation to try and get us back, it's too dangerous"
"I guess we should be moving on then?" said Lex after a moments contemplation
"I'm going to check just once more" said Stealth, not leaving anything to chance.
Standing she repeated her earlier checks, entering the narrow entrance and expelling a few rocks into the dark of the cave beyond. Still no sound returned to her of movement. She edged further, and cautiously stuck her head out of the narrow mouth, looking for any light and listened for sounds. Silence rewarded her efforts and she slithered back to the cave to find Lex now standing and leaning on the wall, arm hugging his chest.
She crossed the cave floor and packed up the few belonging they'd used, stacking them neatly and taking a mental note of the supplies she'd used. They would need to be replenished at some point.
"Lets go" she said standing and looking at Lex "You need any help?"
"Yeah think I may, especially out there" he said nodding towards the exit of the cave.
Stealth raised a brow and realised he was talking about the darkness which would surround them. She pocket two pieces of flint and picked up a small fresh torch, sticking it through a loop in her belt by her hip.
"We can light this eventually, for now you'll have to…"
"Trust you?" said Lex
With a smile Stealth picked up the lit torch they'd been using and approached the exit of the cave and waited for Lex to follow.
"Ok, give me a few moments, then follow me through" said Stealth, "Ready?"
Lex nodded and positioned himself near the entrance. Stealth dropped the lit torch to the ground and stamped on the head lightly, expertly dousing out the flames. She waited a few moments to let her eyes grow accustomed to the dark. It was always an uneasy feeling, being plunged into darkness and knowing there was no light at all for them to discern to.
"Lex?"
"Yeah I'm alright" replied Lex
Sliding along the narrow passageway once more, her heart started beating faster once more, still uneasy that the Gulls could be waiting. She reached the exit point and took a breath before stepping fully into the passageway outside. She paused and listened, before stepping further, a few seconds passed and still nothing. She jumped slightly as Lex brushed against her arm as he too exited the narrow passage into the wider one.
Taking a steady breath, she repositioned herself between the cave wall and Lex and started moving them further along the wider passageway. Still no sound came to her, but she knew they weren't out of danger, the Gull pack would have ventured as far as they could.
The further they walked, the less nervous Stealth became, each step took them closer to safety, out of harms way. Lex was walking better than previously, but they still moved slowly. She manoeuvred them through the various caves, mentally mapping her way throughout the darkness. After almost twenty minutes of walking, she paused and slid her arm from around Lex.
"What's wrong?" asked Lex concerned as they paused.
"Nothing, just give me a moment" said Stealth before sliding to one knee and pulling the torch from where she'd holstered it on her belt and fishing the flints from her pocket. After a few seconds, the torch flared into life and cast eerie shadows onto the cave they were in.
"I think we're safe enough to have this on now," said Stealth with slight relief, she'd manoeuvred them through a maze of caves and very much doubted the Gulls would have made it this far. And if they had, it was probably because they'd gotten lost."
"So we're home free?" said Lex
"Yeah, pretty much" said Stealth standing and giving him a wide smile
"We got much further to go"
Stealth raised the torch and looked about with a puzzled look at the cave they were currently in.
"Um, I don't think so" she replied with a slightly concerned voice
"You don't sound very sure"
"Well it all looks different with a lit torch. One cave is very much like the other"
Lex looked at her dumbfounded, mouth slightly open, and looked like he could pounce if it weren't for his injury.
"I thought you said you knew these caves like the back of your hand"
Stealth sighed and pointed the torch towards another passageway
"You really should have more faith in your guide Lex"
"Your kidding?"
"Course I'm kidding…now it's this way…I think"
Lex eyed her and she couldn't help but let out a small giggle
"You really should lighten up"
""Yeah…well you should learn how to treat your guests" scowled Lex
"Come on lets go…before they start sending out search parties"