Second Challenge: Cave Guardian
I crossed the river and continued on my journey up the mountain. I spent many hours climbing that mountain. I once had to walk across a part of the path that was covered with small rocks. Normally, this wouldn't have concerned me but since I left my shoes behind I basically hobbled over the rocks. I made a mental note at that point. Never leave your shoes behind when climbing a mountain in the Himalayas.
Every once in a while I stumbled upon the old woman also climbing the mountain. Most of my questions about how she got there were answered with simple, obvious, responses.
I soon saw that the path curved its way into a cave. I walked into the cave and felt my way through most of the cave until I came to a chamber that was lit by a single candle. And the path just disappeared. "Hey, where'd the path go?" I asked.
"You can not see it." A raspy hissing voice said. I saw movement in the cave and suddenly I saw the giant pale serpent slithering its way across the cave floor. It rose up behind the candle wearing a ragged old shirt over its head. It somehow was able to move the sleeves (don't know how since snakes don't have arms) and push back the hood, to reveal a round face with empty white eyes and a mouth full of fangs. "I am the guardian of the cave. If you wish to proceed, you must get past me." The snake said.
I could tell its eyes were blank and empty, caused by cataracts. "You're blind." I pointed out. "I don't want to fight an uneven match, but if I have to I will."
"There is no need." The snake said. It swung the sleeve of the ragged shirt over the candle, the flame went out, and the cave instantly became pitch black. "Now the fight is even. For neither of us can see."
Once the cave went black, I suddenly felt out in the open. Exposed if you will. Now the serpent had the advantage. Since he lived in the cave without any light, he had to know his way around in the dark. My eyes were completely useless. It didn't make much difference whether I had them open or closed.
The snake struck from behind. It slammed its head against my back, shoving me against the stone wall. "You cannot trust your eyes if you wish to find me." The snake hissed. I struck were the sound had come from but only it rock, hurting my foot. "Nor can you trust your ears." He struck again, snapping with his jaws. I was just able to dodge the attacks while throw my own. But each of my attacks missed.
I realized I would have to sense him without using my senses. Somehow I would have to find him without finding him. I closed my eyes and let all the world's sounds, smells, feels, and sights, fall away. I found that I could easily tell where the snake was. But then I sensed something else. Someone else was in the cave.
"Someone else is in here." I said.
"I sense it, too." The snake replied.
Then a sight, a sound, and fell came back to me. I saw bright orange, heard a loud roaring and felt extreme heat. All of these were coming toward us. "Look out!" I yelled. I tackled the snake just as a ball of fire flew past us. The flames struck the cave wall and instantly dissipated.
"What was that?" The snake asked.
"I thought you were supposed to be a great guardian of the True Master, slimy serpant." I saw two more balls of flames appear. Then I saw that they were being held in the hands of a person in a black robe with the hood covering his face. In the center of his forehead, the Mark of Scath burned brightly.
I knew exactly what is was. "Scath."