Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Charmed, but I do own mah faeries, tho some of 'em I got from the brilliant mind of the Master, Brian Froud.
Fairy (if you're actually bothering to read this): Don't tell an eagle how to fly.
princesscatie21: I'm glad you like it… the way I'm thinking up my Gor character is actually kind of logical… which can be a bit different for me. Keep reading and reviewing, since you're pretty much the reason I haven't given up on this yet.
"Imagination is intelligence having fun." --- Anonymous
Chapter 18 Slow Going
The gang had been walking for about 45 minutes before they finally stopped, and Rose turned around to face them.
"I don't see a tunnel." Piper said, looking around her for a hidden hidey-hole.
"Minerva?" Rose looked at the Sphinx questioningly.
Minerva giggled, and did a little loop-de-loop before disappearing in the nearby brush.
More or less immediately, the ground began to rise almost sleepily, and a tiny gap yawned open in front of them.
Minerva reappeared a minute or so later, and gave another giggle at Rose.
"Well, Minerva just checked, and we're in luck, it hasn't caved in."
"Well, then what are we waiting for?" Paige started for the opening.
"Maybe I should go first." Rose walked up to the front. "I can light up the way; it'll probably be easier going."
Everyone agreed, and allowed Rose the lead. As soon as the darkness had engulfed her, Rose began to glow a faint pink glow, and a soft cherry light flooded the narrow tunnel.
"Jeez, what's taking them so long?" Phoebe was getting impatient, though it had only been about 10 minutes.
"Patience, Phoebe. Humans are slow." Aurakmet soothed.
"Do you guys here what I'm hearing?" Jem asked nervously, clearing her throat.
They all strained their ears, listening for whatever it was that Jem had heard.
"A thudding?" Aurakmet started to get a little edgy too. Jem nodded, breathing in sharply.
"I don't hear anything." Phoebe said.
"Listen closer, Human."
Listening to the silence a little longer, Phoebe realized that it wasn't completely quiet. Something was stirring the air, a muted beat.
"You hear it now?" Jem sucked in air agitatedly.
"Yeah, I hear it." Phoebe breathed.
"You know what that means." Aurakmet turned to Jem.
"Gor." Jem looked up at the purple faery, frightened.
"Wait, he's here? Now?"
"He will be soon." Aurakmet answered her gravely.
"We're almost there." Rose called back at the line walking behind her.
"What's almost there? Another hour?" Piper asked anxiously.
"Maybe 15 more minutes." Rose replied patiently. She could understand Piper's concern over her sister.
"Ow! What was that?" Paige rubbed her head, which was practically touching the low, wet ceiling of the cavern.
"Ooh! I felt that! I felt that!" Prue ducked her head and rubbed her own bruised head.
Lucina, who was possibly the tallest of the bunch, slumped a little more to avoid the rhythmic banging going on just above their heads.
The Sphinx Sisters flew up next to Rose and giggled nervously at her.
Rose sighed tiredly.
"Looks like as soon as we get to Phoebe, we're going to have to fight a giant."
"A giant? Wait, the giant isn't with Phoebe, is it?" Piper was worrying again.
"No, but he's on his way, so we better hurry up." Rose turned back to the blackness ahead of her.
"This just keeps getting better." Paige muttered and ducked her head as another loud 'thump' shook the dusty slime from the cave roof.
A/N – Well, I was gonna write more… but I've lazed out. And it sounds like a good end to the chapter. If you want me to update soon, pray that my 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle is pieced together sometime soon… it's beginning to drive me nuts. Review my pretty monkey!