Chapter 2:
Ali's thoughts fluttered around inside her skull. Something cold and dark was coiling around them; dimming them as air drained from her lungs. She felt only the harsh grip of the squirrel; his claws digging into her fur. Dazedly; her eyes opened. The sudden shock of realisation that she was underwater released her thoughts from the coils. She could feel her feet dragging against stone; and felt that the squirrel was dragging her towards something. With horror; she saw the light from above disappear. She madly flailed about; trying to free herself from her captor. Her lungs were screaming; she needed air. Ali felt herself being pulled upwards; but in her terror she struggled against the force. With a great splash; she surfaced into pitch black, the squirrel finally letting go of her. She gulped down the air; gasping and coughing.
"You okay?" asked the squirrel's voice from somewhere in front of her. Furious and terrified; Ali yelled at the squirrel between breaths, "Okay? Okay? You dragged me under and near drowned me!"
"You're welcome; don't mention it..." he replied; his voice dripping sarcasm as much as Ali's fur did water. Ali, recovered but still shaky, was shocked and outraged at the squirrel's demeanour, "Welcome?" she bellowed, "You kidnapped me!"
There was no reply from the squirrel. Ali waited a moment, and then repeated herself, "I said you kidnapped me!" But there was still no reply.
"H-hello?" she stammered, beginning to get nervous.
"Follow me!"
The sudden sound made her jump, loudly splashing in the water. She turned towards the sound; somewhere far to her right, "Where are you?" she yelled back at the squirrel.
"Oh for... Stay there..." she heard him say, and the sound of paw against stone gently echoed throughout the darkness. "Hell-?" she started, but was cut off an intense sound of water splashing, quickly followed by water spraying her and two gasps.
"Ali! Ali! Where are you?" Mytra gasped.
"Mytra!" Ali cried into the darkness, wading over to the splashes. It was significantly deeper here, the water reaching her neck. Bercan was holding onto Mytra's paw, unable to swim as well as his otter friend. Mytra felt a paw grab her clothes, pulling her. "Ali!" she shouted in relief, hugging her friend as soon as she was within reach. Bercan quickly swam around Mytra to anchor himself on Ali's arm.
"Get me outta here! I can't swim!" he panicked, thrashing in the water madly. Ali quickly waded to the shallows.
"What happened?" asked Mytra, letting go of Ali, "Where's the squirrel?"
Ali was about to answer, but she was interrupted by a light appearing in front of her. It was being held by the grey squirrel. Upon spotting Bercan and Mytra, the squirrel raised his hook, "What are you doing here, vermin?" he roared at Bercan. Bercan snarled,
"I'm rescuing my friend yew kidnapped, toad!"
The squirrel frowned, but kept his hook raised, "Friend? You threatened to eat them!"
"Oh fer... I was joking yew idiot! Have yew ever seen anybeast eat somebeast else?"
The squirrel remained unnervingly silent. Bercan's eyes widened, "Uh, have yeh?"
"I have never known a ferret who is friends with woodlanders."
"Yeah, well, now yeh know one."
The squirrel's eyes narrowed, though it was unclear if this was from the poor light or irritation. With a growl, the squirrel turned and walked away from the trio. His light illuminated a tunnel, which twisted and turned out of view.
"Get out of that water, lest you want to freeze to death." The squirrel said coldly.
The three friends quickly realised just how cold the water was, the excitement from before beginning to die down. They hurriedly waded out of the pool, their clothes dripping onto the cold sandstone beneath their feet. The squirrel nodded at them, then headed down the tunnel. Bercan murmured to Ali, "I don't trust this squirrel..."
Ali sighed in agreement, "I know... But what choice do we have?"
Bercan growled, grumbling as they followed the grey squirrel down the tunnel.
Looking around, the tunnel was made from sand and lime stone, with streaks of white and pale pink running around them. The occasional drip of water would fall here and there, suggesting water above. Wherever they were, it was cold and menacing. Ali started to feel claustrophobic; almost feeling the weight of the earth above her. Slowly, light from ahead started to make its way to their view. It was a golden orange-ochre, and it flickered occasionally. In the new light, Ali finally had a chance to look over their 'captor'. He wore a tattered dark green tunic, which was covered in many layers of filth and dirt. His fur was scraggly and untamed, sticking out at any odd angle. His tail was tipped with hazel, an unusual sight among squirrels. The hook he wore as a left paw was tied onto a green rag with rough rope.
"Where are you taking us?" she asked the squirrel. The squirrel kept walking, his voice echoing through the tunnel, "CORIM; you'll be safe there."
"CORIM? What the heck is a CORIM?" Bercan huffed, "We were 'safe' back outside, yew idiot..."
Bercan received no reply, however, as they turned another corner, revealing a brightly lit cavern. There was an arch in the wall, revealing an enormous cavern. The cavern was filled with a horde of beasts, all dressed as dirtily as the squirrel. They were huddled around fires, and didn't notice the newcomers. Sniffles, cries and murmured chatter came from them, but it was all unnervingly quiet.
"You don't know CORIM? Where are you from?" asked the squirrel. Bercan huffed, but Ali quickly answered before Bercan, "We're from one of the southern villages; we were travelling up here with a group of traders; but we got separated."
The squirrel finally turned to look at them, his face full of curiosity and suspicion, "There are no southern villages here, nor traders. Where are you from?" he asked again.
"We already told yeh, squirrel!" snapped Bercan, "What does it matter?"
The squirrel glared at Bercan, "It matters. Where are you from?"
"Uh," Ali started, "We're from deep Southsward, near the-"
"Southsward..." The squirrel repeated. He went over to the archway, looking into the crowd of beasts. "What's wrong with Southsward?" asked Mytra. The squirrel look back at them, his voice grim; "You can't go home ever again, I'm afraid."