75
Shadows
Each member in the cave darted their eyes at each other.
Was that you?
No. You?
No.
A snuffling sounded from inside the cave, shadows running across the walls to slip back into the darkness. Slowly moving toward the fire, Oga picked up one of the burning logs. Furuichi had already moved to follow Oga further down into the dimly lit two men gathered their things before it dawned on them that they had guests over. "You're welcome to come…"Oga offered while gesturing with the torch,"...but it'll be dangerous I'm sure."
Aoi and Hildegard shared a glance and said a million things without breathing a word. Hilde grabbed a log while Aoi produced a battered mask with clean filters. "We don't know what's down there. Better safe than sorry," Aoi said in her singsong way. The rest of the group followed suit.
"Since the band's back together, let's go check it out."
Mother had remained strangely quiet during the group's reformation. Furuichi would've thought Mother had gone to sleep had it not been for the sharp tang of guilt on his tongue. Furuichi knew that wasn't his.
Furuichi?
The group had gone about ten minutes into the cave, watching the shadows scurry further away from the torch light. Yes, Mother?
I think I know what they are.