A/N: Loading up chapter 1 was such a malarkey – but it's my own fault I guess, loading up the chapter so late at night. And I should've familiarised myself with the interface first. But I managed to work out (after many hours) that if I upload it in html format, I can keep the original formatting, so future chapters will be a lot more coherently structured and easy to read.
Chapter 1 Reviews: I have a review! *Sniff* I feel like a real author now!
Fayth – You're my first reviewer! I hope this update is soon enough for you! :D I'll update as often as I can, since I am usually glued to my keyboard. Seriously – once I start typing, it is very hard for me to stop. So there will be many chapters and many (hopefully relatively shortly-spaced) updates to come.
~Chapter 2~
Being the fastest runner of the three, Yutshrug was in the lead. He had no idea where he was running to, or how to get out of the caverns with all of that water, but Grôltakh did. Grôltakh turned a corner, followed by Ragnäkah, whilst Yutshrug ran onwards. When he looked back and realised that they weren't following him, he knew that they must have taken the bend, since it was the only other possible exit. Within no time at all, he had rejoined them. This time he made sure not to run ahead of Grôltakh.
"Where are we goin'?" Ragnäkah panted to Grôltakh.
"An exit I know of, built for just such an emergency," came the just as breathy reply. They kept running onwards, and were surprised to see the still naked newborn orc overtake them. He did not remain naked for long though, as he had the audacity to stop for a moment to steal someone's cloak, which had been discarded in the rush.
Grôltakh came to a sudden stop near to a boulder that had been crowded around by other orcs. They were attempting to push it out of the way, but to no avail. The water level was rising quickly, and soon it would reach their level.
"Oh great!" Grôltakh raged. "Whose bloody brilliant idea was it to put a boulder in the way of the exit?" Of course, no one replied, far more concerned about their lives than of arguing at this moment in time. A group of Uruk-hai that were running down the tunnel quickly understood what they were trying to do, and ruthlessly hauling the snaga out of the way, they effortlessly pushed the boulder out of the way of the exit. Without wasting a moment, both breeds of orc rapidly filled the tunnel from cold dark wall to cold dark wall. By now, the water had reached their level and was beginning to spill over their toes. The passageway was tortuous and tilted upwards and downwards, with the water always relentlessly following them, hungrily devouring more and more of their legs. With the knowledge that they might drown, the heat of other bodies pressed close together and the clamour of feet, clanking metal and short, sharp breaths, the moment seemed agonisingly slow. The tunnel joined with others and became a wider warren.
"How long does this go on for?" Yutshrug wailed. The water had risen to their knees.
"It can't be much further now!" And sure enough, the tunnel began to rise, relieving them of some of the water around their legs. The tunnel became level again, and the bodies came to a sudden halt.
"What's the hold-up!?" An Uruk behind them roared. In front, no more than several metres away, the tunnel made one last twist. They could hear heavy grunts and the word 'heave!' spoken many times, as if the orcs in front were trying to do something, trying to push something out of the way.
"It's another boulder!" Grôltakh cried, realising that they were trapped. The water had risen up to their knees again.
"Oh, I knew it! I knew it! We're goin' to die in here! " Yutshrug wailed, sinking onto his knees and bringing the water up to his chest. They were so close, and yet so far. Around the corner, they could hear the grunts as the boulder refused to relent.
~End of Chapter 2~
A/N: Can you steal something that someone has discarded? Well, our not-so-naked newborn orc did. This chapter was rather short, wasn't it? Chapter 3 will be longer and hopefully make up for the lack of length in this one. I hope that that was a good cliff-hanger for you all, though I'm sure that it's too early for them yet – we're only on chapter two!