Ch. 3
When I awoke, I felt softness all around me, like a cocoon. I almost felt like I was back home with mom, because I could smell something sweet cooking. The warmth from whatever it was gave me strength, and I opened my eyes again.
I was in a cave of some sort. Dang it, I had hoped I was actually home. The walls and ceiling were covered in strange, rust-colored brick that was holding the place up. There was a strange light to one side of the cave, so I looked over. A large cauldron with boiling liquid sat over next to the wall, a warm fire crackling right below it.
I slipped out from under whatever it was. As it turns out, it was just a blanket. Sighing in relief, I began to wander around the cave. A table and chairs stood against the same wall as the massive cauldron. Small tunnels broke off from the walls, some entrances glowing with a soft, yellow light. I picked one, and began to walk down it. The short tunnel was tall enough to walk in, and was still covered in that rusty brick. There was a room at the end, filled with those strange, heart-shaped fruits. Remembering my last experience with them, I backed out in disgustt.
The next tunnel led to some kind of bedroom. A massive hammock hung from two of the walls, a nightstand with a flower in a pot sitting to one side. A torch of some kind flickered and wavered with that yellowish light. A closet stood open on the wall opposite the hammock, shreds of fabric hanging from make-shift clothes hangers.
The last tunnel was the exit. The walls were covered in strange banners, each containing a piece of some creature. There were about twelve different ones.
"What do you think of my Banner collection?"
I jumped and whirled around.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU!"
There stood a woman of some sort. Green scales covered her entire body, partially covered by shreds of fabric, and three massive crests swept back along her head. Large, yet lean muscle added bulk to her arms and shoulders. She had a narrow waist, but had prominent abs, so she wasn't thin at all. However, her hips and thighs were ridiculously huge, and she had quite a chest. A thick, 6 foot tail slowly waved back and forth. Large, lake blue eyes stared at me, a thin smile creasing her lips.
I panicked, and began to run in circles, screaming like I was on fire. I eventually collided with a wall, and fell over, still trying to run. I heard laughter, and looked in that direction. She had sat down and was laughing very hard, her chest heaving up and down as she sighed deeply.
"You're so funny! That look on your face… that was gold! Pfffftttt HAHAHA!"
I backed into a corner, and began sobbing.
"PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU!"
She stood up, easily reaching eight feet in height.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. But I saw you before, in the Jungle. Do you remember that?"
I was to busy screaming as she approached. I tried to scramble backwards through the wall, but the brick did its job well and kept upright.
"Come now, there's no need to be afraid of me. I'm not gonna eat you."
She was mere inches away, and she knelt down in front of me. She began to stroke my cheek, but I pulled away.
"Dude, I just want to feel your… skin. I've never seen another person without scales."
"I-I…"
She smiled.
"You CAN talk! That's really cool! Finally, someone who I can talk to without almost dying! Seriously, everyone else tries to rip my head off! What's your name, buddy?"
I was too busy internally freaking out to pay attention. Lizard people!? What the flip was going on!?
"C'mon, pink thing, please talk to me. I don't want to be alone anymore. Please."
I gulped, and stammered my name;
"E-E-Eri-c-con. Ericon."
"What a pretty name. I'm Emilon. Emilon Rodriguez. Man, this is so cool! I'm actually talking to someone! This is- where are you going?"
I had gotten to my feet and was trying to escape. But she was too fast for me, and I was soon cornered again.
"Let me go, please! I want to go home! Where the heck am I!? What are lizard people doing here!? Why are you so tall!? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?"
Emilon was seemingly concerned.
"Eri- I mean Ericon, please calm down. I'll tell you to the best of my ability, but I don't know much either, so…"