Chapter Two
Teela rode on horseback through the dusty canyon, a sword lay slung across her back.
What could Skeletor want with this necklace? Teela thought. If this necklace is truly as powerful as Zodak claims it is, I can see why the Ancients would hide it in a cave.
The towering canyon walls dwarfed Teela and her mount. Speaking of Skeletor, where IS Ol' Bone Brain, anyway? I haven't seen him ONCE today. A chill suddenly ran down her spine. Either he's far behind me … or he's far AHEAD of me.
All at once, Teela was being pelted with rocks. She looked up and saw a hairy ape-like beast heaving large stones at her from the rim of the canyon.
Shadow Beasts! Teela thought. She looked ahead and saw five more come from seemingly out of nowhere. They rushed towards her, throwing rocks and waving large sticks.
Instinctively, Teela reached underneath the tassel on her uniform, pulled out a set of flash beads, and heaved it at the oncoming Shadow Beasts. The beads exploded in a flash of light, blinding the Shadow Beasts. Teela urged her horse into a gallop and rode through the mob of blinded Shadow Beasts, onward and out of harm's way.
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The entrance to the caverns should be somewhere along in here, Teela thought as she rode through the canyon. As she rounded the next bend, she found her path blocked by a green-skinned monster with the head and torso of a woman and a snake-like tail where legs should be.
Here's the entrance to the caverns, Teela thought. Guarded by a She-demon, she added wryly to herself. She dismounted her horse and gave him an affectionate pat on the neck. "I guess this is where we part ways, my friend," she said to the horse. She then drew her sword and braced herself for battle.
The She-demon hissed and fired energy bolts from her hands. Teela bobbed, weaved, and rolled to avoid the blasts. The She-demon fired an energy bolt at Teela's arm, knocking her sword from her hand.
"I've got one of my own," said Teela as she touched her gauntlet, arming and engaging her freeze ray. She then fired a freeze blast at the She-demon, encasing her in a block of ice.
THAT oughta hold her, Teela thought as she retrieved her sword and sheathed it in the scabbard on her back. She then marched past the frozen She-demon and crawled through a small opening in the canyon wall, entering the cave.