Chapter 11 – Cave of Horrors
The companions were thankful to finally reach solid ground, as the dragon had flown at full speed. The dragon dearly wanted to rid himself of this burden.
Neraka muttered a half hearted 'Thank you' to the fire dragon as it took off into the sky heading home to Kalamon.
"Great" Said Kiara. "So how are we supposed to cross the river?"
"O.K. Maybe we can build a raft from some wood, should we start looking?" asked Ewan taking charge as top impress Jaelie.
But Siera, eager to cross the river was already at the river bank conjuring up an ice bridge.
"Or we could do that said Jaelie as she watched Siera proudly cross the bridge.
"Hurry it wont last long." Shouted Siera who was now on the other side of the river.
The companions quickly hustled across the ice bridge, Kiara was the last to cross. The bridge began to crack, making Kiara run the rest of the way. Near the edge of the bridge she slipped and crashed into a tree in front of her.
The group didn't notice as they were distracted by the dark cave before them. Toran noticed a small, faded inscription on the cave wall and began to read it out loud.
"Inside dwells an ancient beast
Whom on humans it likes to feast
Heed this warning and beware
Enter the cave of horrors if you dare!"
Toran ignored the warning and began to venture into the cave.
"You can't go in there!" Protested Siera. "Did you not see the warning?"
Toran smiled, took Siera's hand and continued to walk into the cave. The rest followed.
"Isn't there another way around?" asked Neraka.
"Not unless you want to walk for another 3 days straight." Replied Toran.
They had been walking for hours and Siera was getting tired so she decided to rest against a wall.
"I can't see a thing!" snapped Neraka.
"Light Orb" called Jaelie, and 3 glowing balls of light lit up the cave.
The companions looked up and to their horror they saw what Siera was really leaning against.
"Siera" warned Kiara barely able to speak.
"What!" snapped Siera, she noticed that the entire group was staring above her.
"Oh I know what you're playing at" began Siera "You're trying to trick me into thinking there's a monster behind me. You should know better then to try and fool me."
"It's not a trick! Siera turn around." Jaelie pleaded.
"Oh look a Big scary monster" mocked Siera as she began rubbing the wall with her hands to prove there was no monster there. She gripped something cylinder like and hairy. Siera heard a deep growl and slowly turned around and saw exactly what her friends had seen.
The creature that stood before the group was a gigantic, hairy spider with blood red eyes and poisonous fangs.
Siera screamed. Startled, the monster smacked Siera with its leg sending her flying across the room. Luckily Toran had cast a protection spell around Siera, keeping her safe from harm.
Ewan drew his sword and stepped protectively in front of Jaelie to face the monster.
As he did this, Neraka turned and glared at Jaelie disapprovingly. While her attention was drawn to Ewan and Jaelie, the spider seeped its poisonous fangs into her shoulder.
The spider leapt into the air, landing behind the companions with a hard thud that made the roof of the cave crack and shake violently.
Huge rocks began to fall directly above where Toran was standing, Siera saw this and immediately ran and pushed him out of they way, taking Toran's place under the falling rocks.
As Siera was buried under the falling rocks, Toran screamed her name and ran to the pile of rocks and began shifting them aside, looking for the princess he loved.
Meanwhile Ewan fought the beast relentlessly, while Kiara was glued to the wall from the spider's web. Jaelie was desperately trying to heal Neraka's wound. Jaelie came to the conclusion that she couldn't heal poisonous wounds.
Toran dug his way to Siera, clutched her tightly to his chest and kissed her lightly on the head as tears swelled in his eyes. He softly whispered to an unconscious Siera, 'I love you'.
Ewan turned to Toran and shouted, "Take Siera and leave through the exit at the back of the cave! There is nothing more either of you can do."
Toran carefully carried Siera top the exit but before he left, he looked back at his friend and nodded respectfully to him, then turned and left.
Ewan took a mighty heave and threw his sword at what remained of the beast. His aim was true, the sword struck the monster directly between the eyes, it died instantly.
After retrieving his sword, Ewan freed Kiara from her web imprisonment and turned to Jaelie to help Neraka out of the cave. The four then made their way outside the cave to find Siera and Toran with a very unexpected guest.