Chapter 8.

"Ow, knock it off, already."

Kyrin would open her eyes, gazing upon those her sister. Relief flooded her face and she tried to hug her, but what she could now realize were flat ropes made of some unknown material were still hopelessly tangled around her.

"Geez you've gotten yourself into quite a mess. Can't you stay out of trouble for five minutes without me?" Jensa was grinning in that cocky way of hers as her hands started to loosen and free Kyrin's limbs. When her arms were free, she'd throw them around Jensa, hugging her sister tightly.

"I was so scared when you fell down here, Jennie. I thought I'd lost you."

Jensa just shook her head, "psh, as if a little fall like that would hurt me. Still, was quite surprised when you started making all that racket. Didn't think you'd come after me. Don't tell me you just jumped into the unknown like that."

Kyrin shifted under her sister's gaze, "you're my sister….of course I'd come after you."

Jensa was touched by these words, but didn't show it. She knew it must have terrified Kyrin. Kyrin just wasn't the brave, foolhardy daredevil that she was. Jensa didn't doubt her sister loved her, but she always saw herself as being the protector, not Kyrin. It surprised her. And she felt ashamed that she doubted her sister.

"So what, you just jumped into that hole with no idea of what might be down here or how deep it went? I must be having a bad influence on you."

Kyrin looked ill at the thought of just jumping into the hole. It had been all she could do just to go in with her vine. She shook her head at Jensa, "I used the Morrow vine to climb down. I think it will hold so we can get back up."

Finally the last of the restraints were free. The strange shape had even stopped making noise. Kyrin got out, starting to nervously look over the thing she'd been in. She could see now how foolish it was to think the thing alive. It clearly wasn't, despite the fact that parts of it seemed to move without anyone helping it, and that it was quite a noisy thing. The only thing Kyrin could think to liken it to was some sort of carriage, as it appeared there were seats in it. But it was the most ridiculous sort of carriage she'd ever seen. For one thing, there were no harnesses or attachments of any sort of an animal to pull it. It also had no wheels that she could see, and it was quite unpractical as it only had a few seats and no space. What was the point of a carriage like that?

Kyrin jumped about a mile when she felt something tug on her sleeve. It was Jensa looking at her with concern. She'd return it with a look of confusion. Apparently she'd been so entranced by the carriage she'd not been paying attention to whatever Jensa had been saying. But instead of apologizing, she'd just ask, sort of in a daze, "what do you suppose this place is…er, was?"

Jensa just shook her head, walking a few paces as her head swiveled this way and that, taking in all the glittering and jagged ruins. "I don't know. No one in the town has ever mentioned anything like this. Whatever this was….it looks like it goes on forever. Probably runs all the way from one end of town, to the other, maybe more."

Kyrin shifted, "do you really think this has been under the town all this time and no one knows about it?"

Jensa nodded, "yup." She'd grin, "Until now, that is. Just think of it, this can be our place. A secret for just the two of us. We can make this place our own and no one can yell at us for being too loud or playing too roughly. It's perfect!"

Jensa practically glowed with excitement. Kyrin herself, wasn't so certain. She didn't know what had happened here in this desolate place or if anyone still lived here. It could be dangerous, more likely, it was cursed and filled with beasts and demons. If any of the villagers ever found out that a place like this existed…well she figured their town would soon be as deserted as this one.

And yet, despite the voices and warnings in her head telling her how foolish this was, she found the thought of having a secret for only her and Jensa very appealing. In recent times it had felt like there was something separating the two of them, even when they'd been right next to each other. Even when she wasn't practicing, Jensa had been totally preoccupied with her newfound abilities. It had felt like she'd lost her. But now, well maybe this could shift the focus, be something they could share. That's why she found herself nodding, even smiling a little.

"OK…we tell no one about it. It's our secret."

Jensa grinned, delighted and filled with ideas and grand plans of all the fun they could have. Already her mind was racing with thoughts of exploring and creating and tall tails. "Well then, there's just one thing we have left to do. We have to name it."

Kyrin's eyes would wander over jagged edges and crumbling walls, before saying, "Gamla. We'll cal it Gamla."