Here it is! Chapter 5!
Here, we get to see some more of the Underdark! I hope you all enjoy it!
Obligatory Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Surface Bound
Yu awoke with a jerk as something heavy landed beside his head, blinking with confusion as a chipper voice declared, "All right, rise and shine, up and at 'em, we've got a long walk ahead of us today!"
Long walk? What was going on? And who was in his room?! And why was it still so dark?
Dark . . .
Yu's eyes flew open and he sat up, the memories rushing back like a painful tidal wave. The spider, the Underdark, Tirin . . . Yu closed his eyes again and let out a disappointed sigh. A small part of himself had hoped the events of yesterday had all been nothing more than a nightmare. Of course, they weren't going to be that lucky . . .
But he was here. And so were his friends. He couldn't dwell on his disappointment.
Looking over, he saw his friends were stirring as well, sitting up and rubbing at their eyes to wipe away the last vestiges of sleep. Several of the glowing stones Tirin had stowed away last night had now been set at the center of their 'campsite', shedding a pleasant light around the cave and banishing the deep shadows that would have otherwise been present. However, it still felt too dark to Yu. But he supposed that would happen when there was no sun to be had.
Chie looked around, a small frown on her face, "Man, so it wasn't a dream . . ."
Beside her, Yukiko yawned, "It feels like one, though . . ."
"Damn it, I think I slept on a rock . . ." Kanji growled, rubbing his hand against his neck in an effort to ease out the kinks.
"Well, yes, we all slept on rocks, Kanji-kun," Yukiko said, looking puzzled.
Kanji sighed, "That ain't what I meant, Yukiko-senpai . . ."
"Feels like I didn't sleep at all . . ." Yosuke added miserably. Yu had to agree with him. His muscles ached after sleeping on the hard stone, and his back felt stiff and sore. They were in for a long day . . .
"If it helps, I feel pretty good!" Teddie chimed in, perhaps helpfully, perhaps not.
"That's because you had the sleeping bag, you ass," Yosuke growled, temper a bit shorter than usual.
"Ugh, I don't even want to think about what's in my hair right now," Rise muttered, running a hand through her tangled locks.
"If you want, you can wash it in the pool," Tirin supplied her as he dropped something next to Yosuke, "Oh, and I'll be taking that bedroll back now!"
The brown haired boy blinked at the object next to him, picking them up with hesitant fingers, "Are these . . . boots? Where did you get boots?"
"Gloaming magic," Tirin replied smoothly, face completely smooth as he stuffed the bedroll away into his bag. A bag that was . . . too small for that bedroll to fit . . . ?
"How are you doing that?" he asked, staring in awe as the larger object vanished into the bag.
"Bag of Holding," Tirin 'explained' as if Yu knew what that meant, tapping a finger against seemingly ordinary brown cloth, "Also magic. It can hold things that are a lot bigger than it, and it makes carrying things easier."
A magical 'bag of holding' . . . did he still have a right to be surprised?
"Really?" Chie asked, ears perking with interest, "What else you got in there?"
"Stuff," was his response.
"Uh . . ."
Propping himself against diagonal slab of stone next to the cave's opening, Tirin sifted around in his bag again while saying, "Your feet should be better now, so put those boots on. They should last you until we get to the surface."
Yu glanced down to the floor, finding that a pair of leather boots had been deposited beside him as well. The object that had woken him up, he guessed. Picking one up, he examined the worn boot carefully, noting the slightly torn seams and discolored brown leather that marked its age. It looked a little big around the heel for his feet, too, but beggars couldn't be choosers. He did wonder where Tirin had gotten his hands on them, though.
"Um, I don't know if I need these," Yukiko said, gesturing to the serving shoes she had just placed on her feet.
Tirin smiled as if a child had just told him something amusing, "Oh sweetheart, I know you're smarter than that. Those shoes aren't going to last a day down here. Now put the boots on."
Yukiko pressed her lips together in a thin line, not exactly appreciating the chastisement in his tone. But she seemed to realize he was speaking plainly, for after a small sigh, she took them off. Yu had to agree with Tirin, those slight sandals were not meant for heavy duty activity.
He glanced to his left when he saw Naoto sit up, the girl having pursed her lips as she gingerly held a boot in her hand, "And just where did you come by so many pairs of boots?"
Tirin just shrugged, pulling a wrapped bundle from his bag, "Does it matter?"
Naoto narrowed her eyes, "That depends."
"Look, I didn't steal them, if that's what you're think. There isn't exactly anyone around to steal from, anyway," Tirin said, looking up.
"You yourself said you hadn't packed with guests in mind," Naoto said, "So it would stand to reason you wouldn't have packed so many pairs of boots as well. You had to have taken them from somewhere, all I am asking is 'where'?"
At this point, Tirin had dropped his hands and was giving her a flat stare, voice laced with exasperation, "You really wanna know where I got them? Fine," he gestured to the narrow crevice, "I got them from the spider's nest. Satisfied?"
They sat in a shocked silence for about several seconds before Rise suddenly hurled the pair she was holding away from her, screaming, "EGH!"
Yosuke dropped his, face twisted with disgust as he shouted, "Are you telling me you got these off of dead bodies?!"
Yu very quietly set his boot down, frowning and feeling a powerful urge to stick his hands into the nearest open flame in order to clean them. But, seeing as there were no open flames around, he decided instead to follow Chie's tactic of frantically scrubbing her hands in the pool. It was the much saner, safer method right now, anyway. . .
"Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Kanji demanded, looking ill.
Tirin rolled his eyes, looking progressively more annoyed as the argument wore on, "So what if I got them off of dead bodies? They're dead. It's not like they need them anymore."
"That's not the point!" Yosuke continued belligerently, "You can't just go doing that, and then ask us to wear them! That's disgusting!"
"Seriously! How could you even think that's a good idea?!" Chie demanded furiously, though she looked slightly sick.
"Gross, gross, gross, gross-!" Teddie mumbled, shaking his hands frantically.
"Aren't there laws against grave robbing?" Yukiko asked, hands clamped into the fabric of her kimono as she stared at the boots in revulsion.
"I prefer the term 'looting', thank you," Tirin said crisply, a scowl starting to form, "You'll find its a very common practice here."
"That's still robbing!" Rise said, dousing her own hands in the water.
"Moral issues aside, the potential health risks of wearing these are also problematic," Naoto put in, nose just slightly scrunched up in disgust, "Many of those corpses have already gone through the putrefaction process, who knows what manner of bacteria or viruses may have accumulated within these shoes!"
"I cleaned them!" Tirin defended.
"That's hardly going to-!"
"Z'lonzic!" The word was unknown to Yu's ears, but the volume and sharpness with which it was spoken made everyone fall quiet. Tirin had stood to his full height, and Yu noticed with alarm that his blue eyes were blazing, "In the Underdark, there's one rule; survive. The reason why is because it's a dangerous place that doesn't care for the weak or the stupid. Things like this," he gestured at the boots laying scattered across the floor, "Are what separates the survivors from the ones you saw hanging in those webs! Now, I get that this is all a little out of your element for you, but if you don't start growing a thicker set of skin, then this place will kill you faster than that spider ever could! And if you still don't like that, well, I can always just take my expertise elsewhere and let you figure out what you want to do on your own."
He braced the backs of his hands against his hips, a parcel of something still clutched in one as he gave them all a smoldering stare, "Are we clear?"
No one said anything at first, too stunned by the sharp and angry scolding they'd just received. On it's own, it was strange and uncomfortable enough. But when it came from someone who shared a face with a person who never snapped like that to anyone, who rarely even got genuinely angry, it took 'strange and uncomfortable' to a whole other level.
"Well?" Tirin snapped, making everyone jump.
Yu quickly stepped in then, pushing away his own discomfort in order to ease the tension pulsating like a livewire between them, "Yes, we're clear. Very, very clear."
Tirin's eyes narrowed, and for one long moment, he didn't speak. Then, his posture relaxed and he sighed, "Good."
He suddenly threw the parcel he was holding Yu's way, and he caught it just in the nick of time, feeling the thick brown paper crinkle under his hands. Eyebrows furrowing in curiosity, Yu pulled the twine holding it together away and pulled the paper apart, only to blink when a large loaf of some sort was left in his hand. He heard Tirin speak, "Its food. You'll need lots of energy today, so make sure you split that between you. I'm going to scout ahead to make sure the path's clear, and when I get back I expect it to all be gone."
Yu looked up at him, "But what about-?"
"Me?" Tirin cut him off as he turned away. Waving a hand over his shoulder, he said, "Already ate. I'll be back. And remember, not a crumb left."
He stepped into the darkness and was swallowed, and Yu knew he had left them alone. At least, partially. If he looked closely, he thought he could see a pair of white eyes watching them from the darkness. Xirskam. Swallowing, he tried to pay the creature no mind.
"Well, he sure got huffy!" Teddie commented with a disapproving frown.
"I'll say . . ." Chie said.
Yu glanced at the ring of silent faces around him, sensing the subtle apprehension that remained and deciding that the best way to fix it was to give them something else to focus. And that was . . .
Yu held up the loaf, "Breakfast, anyone?"
Teddie was the first to recover, leaning forward and reaching for the loaf with greedy hands, "Mm, you betcha!"
Which in turn spurred Yosuke into action, who quickly grabbed the boy by the collar and held him back, "Hey, keep you're sticky fingers off!"
"But Yosuke, a growing boy like me needs food!"
"If I let you go, you'll just eat the whole thing! Let Yu split it up first!"
"That sounds like a good idea," Yukiko agreed.
"Yeah, Senpai will be fair," Rise said, smiling his way.
Cheered up by the prospect of food, Chie added, "Well, what are ya waiting for? Start sharing, Narukami!"
Smiling, Yu held the loaf in his hands and carefully pulled it apart. The outside was strangely spongy in consistency, plaint in his hands, and the surface was covered in thin, rippling ridges. When he tore off the first piece, the scent of rich spices hit Yu's senses. Wrinkling his nose, he held it up and took a quick whiff, "Hm, smells like spice bread."
"You know what spice bread smells like?" Kanji asked, looking over with interest.
"Well, I sorta made one once with Nanako. It . . . didn't end well," he said, passing the sections he tore off around, making sure everyone got an equal share.
"Really? What happened?" Yosuke asked as he examined the hunk he'd been given.
"We used paprika instead of nutmeg. And orange juice instead of milk."
"Why . . . why in the world would you- . . . you know what, I'm not even gonna ask," Yosuke finally decided.
"That's for the best," Yu replied evenly.
Nearby, Chie tore a hunk of the loaf off with her teeth, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing, "Well, its not meat . . . but it'll do."
"Mm, its good," Rise said, licking her lips to catch any stray crumbs, "The texture's a little weird, though."
"Yeah, its . . . rubbery," Kanji said, chewing, "Is spice bread supposed to be rubbery?"
"Not in my experience, if you'll have it," Naoto commented before taking another stoic bite, "Still, some sustenance is better than none."
"I like it!" was Teddie's verdict.
Everyone having gotten their share, Yu finally took a bite of his own. Kanji was right, the texture was a little rubbery, and tougher to chew than bread should be. But the taste was pleasantly sweet and flavorful, a blend of aromatic spices that melted across the tongue and infused the nostrils. Yu found had no problem finishing the rest of his slice off, just as the rest of his friends did. His hunger probably helped in that regard.
Satiated at least in part, Yu sat back and let out a sigh. He glanced at the crevice that led out, wondering when Tirin would return. The thought brought with it a reminder, and Yu found his eyes falling back to the boots that lay discarded on the stone floor. They looked innocuous enough on their own, if a little worn. Yet the soles of the long-dead had been inhabiting them not that long ago, and the knowledge made an unpleasant shiver go down his spine.
"So . . . what are we gonna do about this?" Yosuke asked, gesturing to the boots.
Rise folded her arms over her chest as if to protect herself, "How could he ask us to wear them? Seriously . . ."
"No kidding . . ." Chie said, frowning, "But, we don't have any other shoes . . ."
Everyone fell again into an uncomfortable silence, fidgeting where they sat. It was true, Yu reflected, that the dead had worn them not long ago. But it was also true that they were sorely lacking any other proper footwear, and he did not fancy traveling all the way to the surface barefoot.
In the Underdark, there's one rule; survive. The reason why is because it's a dangerous place that doesn't care for the weak or the stupid.
Tirin's words rebounded in his skull, and he frowned. This place was dangerous, they'd found that out the hard way, and if what Tirin said was true, then they could expect more danger along the way. They couldn't afford to be picky over where their help came from, even if it was gross and morally dubious. Idly, Yu wondered if that was why Tirin had gotten as riled as he did over their protests.
"Partner?" Yosuke questioned, "This is ultimately your call."
Yu gave him a small nod, gathering his thoughts together before somberly speaking, "We . . . don't really have a choice."
"But-!" Rise started to protest.
"I know, Rise. Normally, I wouldn't even consider it," Yu admitted, "But . . . look at where we are. If even half of this place is as dangerous as that spider's cave, we don't have the option of trying to tough this trip out without shoes."
Rise's eyes dropped to the floor, but he could see she was starting understand his point of view. Most were. He wished he didn't have to push them to do this, but forcing them to trek in this dark underground realm barefoot would have been crueler.
Naoto frowned deeply, not pleased with this decision, "I can understand your reasoning, Senpai, but what about your injuries? Open cuts are a prime way for bacteria to travel."
"Well, he did say he washed them . . ." Yosuke mumbled, not looking convinced.
"With disinfectant?" Naoto prompted rhetorically, "I highly doubt such amenities are easy to acquire down here, if they even exist at all."
"Well, that's only if we still have cuts on our feet, right?" Chie asked, "If . . . if we don't, then it should be . . . kinda okay to wear them, right? I mean, disease-wise."
Naoto sighed, "Perhaps, but I still wouldn't recommend it."
"Let's check first," Yu offered, "And we'll see what to do from there."
Reaching down, he swiftly undid the bandages wound around his feet, the soiled cloth falling to the floor in a small heap. The medicinal salve he'd smeared on the day before was pretty much gone, and when he examined the soles of his feet, he found that the wounds had pretty much healed over night! All that remained were thin red lines that crossed over each other, the skin whole and repaired, if a little raw to the touch.
"Wow . . . that stuff is powerful," Chie commented.
"Yeah . . ." Yosuke quickly undid his own, and the others followed suit. It soon became apparent that the phenomenon had happened to them as well, the skin healed and with only the faint lines that marked the places where the cuts had been.
Yukiko smiled as she took it all in, "Well, I guess that means you won't have to worry about getting any infections!"
"True . . ." Naoto agreed slowly.
"Well then, let's get this over with!" Kanji said, leaning down and scooping the largest pair available.
"Uh, Kanji-?" Chie started.
Kanji looked at her, "What? We already decided to put 'em on, right? What's the point in stallin'?"
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled the boots on in quick order, a few of the others wincing as they watched. Yu watched as Kanji tightened the belts around the cuff, clipping them in place with a sort of fierce determination that was kind of inspiring.
Kanji sat back once he was finished, silent. Then, he nodded, "Huh, they actually ain't that bad."
"Well, if you say so . . ." Yosuke said, frowning as he picked up a pair himself.
"No time like the present, I guess," Chie murmured, sifting out a pair with really tall shin guards, "These actually kinda look like something I'd use in the TV world . . ."
Yukiko pursed her lips as she removed her sandals, "I'll miss these sandals. They served me well."
Teddie was poking one with a finger, looking reluctant, "Do I have too?"
Yosuke scowled at him, "Yes, you have too!"
Rise was sitting on her knees, cringing at the boot she held in her hands and making no move to put it on like the others were. That was when Naoto touched her shoulder, "If you prefer, Rise, I can lend you my shoes instead. I can wear the boots."
Rise immediately shook her head, "No, no, its okay, Naoto-kun. I'm just . . . psyching myself up, is all! It's just like a big concert. Gotta get your head in the game, you know?"
Naoto frowned, but saw the hardened gleam in Rise's eyes and knew she couldn't change her mind, "If you insist. But the offer remains open."
Rise smiled, "Thanks Naoto. But I'll be okay. I'm tougher than I look, even if it is gross!"
Yu smiled, and when he caught her eye, he gave her a reassuring and pleased nod. A blush bloomed across Rise's cheeks, but she smiled as she hastily pulled the pair she had on, doing the laces up with deft knots to secure them in place.
Seeing that everyone was getting by on their own, Yu quickly pulled on the ones he'd been given, buckling the straps in place. The heel was a little big as he'd suspected they'd be, but they stayed on, which was all he could ask for given their . . . origin.
The shadows from the crevice shifted, and all heads turned as Tirin stepped into the cave once again. His eyes flicked from one person to the other, and slowly, a pleased smile began to grow on his face, "Now that's more like it! You've all eaten, yes?"
Everyone nodded, different words of affirmation flowing together in a jumble. But the main message was conveyed regardless, and Tirin was soon ushering them to their feet, "Well, come on, get up! It's time we started moving!" he cast them all a grin, thankfully slipping back into more normal behavior, "I think you'll find this next bit a little more fun!"
Everyone groaned.
As they filed out of the cave and onto the rather thin ledge, Yu found himself hanging back in order to ask Tirin a question, one that had been bothering him since last night, "So, Tirin?"
"Hm?"
Yu scratched the back of his neck, "You know how you, well, look like one of our own? Exactly like one of our own."
"Yes, I noticed."
"Well, I was wondering if perhaps you might now why that is? And if their might be . . . others out there, like the rest of us?"
Tirin crossed his arms, looking thoughtful, "I don't really know about you first question, but I imagine it also has something to do with magic. As for your second question, well . . ." Tirin leaned his head back, a mysterious smile tweaking his lips, "Spoilers."
Before Yu could ask him what that meant, Tirin turned and sauntered ahead, leaving him with more questions than he'd had at the start.
(*)
A cool draft twined through Yu's hair, and he sighed as he reached the end of another tunnel. They had traversed through who knows how many of those by this point, some occasionally emptying out into small caves that connected to more tunnels that gradually sloped upwards. The rough, craggy walls and confined spaces were really starting to wear on him, and as time wore on, it felt like the tunnels were gradually pressing closer with every step he took. His mouth felt dry, but there had been no pools of water aside from the one they'd left behind, and it was far too late to go back for more. His legs were getting tired, as they'd walked for hours now, but Tirin wouldn't let them pause for a break. At least, not yet. The only saving grace of this whole endeavor was, ironically enough, the boots. Sure, it had taken some getting used to, and he had to fight not to think about where they'd come from, but it had made the journey at least somewhat bearable. All the same, the weariness all culminated into a rather high-strung version of the usual Yu Narukami, though he tried to keep it under wraps. All he could do was tough it out and hope they reached the end soon.
Speaking of an end, their contemporary guide hadn't been very forthcoming in regards to where they were in relation to that. In fact, aside from either humming or deflecting their questions about where they were going with vague replies, he rarely spoke at all. And, given the atmosphere, conversation became a quickly dwindling pastime amongst his friends, and soon they were journeying in silence. He supposed it didn't help that their strange guide still made them all slightly uncomfortable.
Just slightly . . .
Taking a quick moment to catch his breath, Yu held up the stone he held in his hand to see where they were. The shadows bled back as the light chased them away, and Yu blinked when he saw that the cavern they'd exited into was much larger than the others they'd crawled through. Big enough that he couldn't see the ceiling or the opposite end. The open space was strangely relieving, and Yu felt his shoulders start to relax a little more as he welcomed the change.
It was also the first cavern he'd seen that held life in it. Large domed mushrooms grew out of cracks in the floor and walls, their frilled edges rustling gently in the wind, the closest to leaves this place could come. Some were no bigger than his hand, but others were taller than he was, their caps closing over their heads like a conglomerate of umbrellas and giving them shelter both comforting and strange. He could make out each gill from these giants quite clearly, the folded ridges a startlingly vivid electric blue that popped out against the grey stone. Each cap bore mottled black stripes that ran along their domed skin, fanning out in intricate patterns that gave each mushroom a unique beauty. Only one path remained open amongst the veritable forest before them, a trail of gritty earth bordered on each side by the giant fungus as it curved deeper into the shadows.
Huh, he wondered if they were edible . . .
His attention was brought back to earth by Tirin's excited twittering, "Yes, yes, yes, we're finally here!"
"Huh? What'dya mean 'we're finally here'?" Yosuke asked, "I don't know about you, but this doesn't look like 'outside' to me."
Tirin rolled his eyes, but if there was an annoyance there, it was overshadowed by the excitement that sparkled in its stead, "Oh, Yosuke, we're almost there, I promise, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy some of the sights along the way! There's reason I chose this route!"
Everyone glanced at one another, unsure as to what 'sights' he meant.
"Um, do you mean the mushrooms?" Yukiko asked, looking doubtfully at the stalks beside her.
"Of course!" Tirin replied, walking back over to them with kick in his step.
Naoto let out an aggravated sigh, "That is all very well and good, but I'd rather we not waste any time-!"
"Naoto, relax!" Tirin rebuffed, pulling the bag he wore at waist open without taking his eyes off the small detective, "We're in the clear here! Cross my heart!"
"She does have a point," Yu cut in, and Naoto sent him a grateful look as he sided with her, "We do need to get to the surface soon. Besides, there's nothing stopping us from looking at the mushrooms as we go along, right?"
Keep the peace.
"Oh, we'll be walking, but you're all missing the point," Tirin said, "But, I guess that happens when you walk everywhere with a light. That said, give me your stones, please.~"
Protests began flying, and Tirin had to wave for silence. When at last everyone settled down, he placed a hand on his hip and said, "Look, just trust me on this, okay? You'll regret it if you don't!"
"Why would we regret being able to see?" Yosuke asked rhetorically.
"Oh, you'll see," was Tirin's vague reply, "Trust me."
"You're not going to budge on this, are you?" Yu asked, already knowing the answer.
Tirin grinned, "Nope!~"
Yu sighed, irritation flaring. But he had to remember that this guide of theirs had vast more experience when it came to this realm's workings. He had to trust he knew what he was doing now. So, after a brief moment of hesitation, he finally handed Tirin the stone he held.
Tirin wasted no time in tossing the stone into the bag, the cloth sack swallowing its light entirely, "That's one! I need five more!"
"You sure about this, dude?" Yosuke whispered, looking reluctant.
Yu gave him a helpless shrug, "No, but he's not going to take us anywhere until we give him what he wants. He's a lot like Teddie in that regard."
He heard Teddie sniff in protest, "No way! I'd never do something so terrible as deprive you of your sight, Sensei!"
"Apologies," Yu said hastily. He'd rather avoid dissention in the ranks if he could help it.
"So, why are we doing this?" Rise asked as she reluctantly forked over her stone.
"You'll see!" Tirin said.
"I wish . . ." Kanji grumbled, arms crossed and looking uneasy as the light continued to dwindle.
When the last stone had been returned, everyone practically held their breath as Tirin slipped it back into the bag, the last of the light vanishing into its depths. Darkness closed in around them like a shroud, so dense and thick Yu couldn't even see his own hand in front of his face. He could still hear his friends rustling fearfully around him, but even that seemed muted.
"Well, I'm sure glad we did this!" He heard Yosuke grumble, but it was edged with nervousness, "Totally worth it!"
"Just hush," Tirin said.
Yosuke began to growl, "You know, I've just about had it-!"
"Yosuke," Yu whispered, staring ahead.
"-up to here with all this bullcrap you keep-!"
"Yosuke!" Yu said with a bit more force, reaching back to grab his shoulder and get his attention.
"What?!"
"Look," was Yu's quiet reply, not turning his head. When all that answered him was silence, Yu knew that Yosuke was finally seeing what he was seeing.
The mushrooms were starting to glow. In small, broken pockets they started, the black markings along the caps and the gills rippling under their surface all beginning to shed a soft azure light that pooled across the ground in patches. But then, that light began to spread out from those pockets, traveling from one mushroom to the other like ripples fanning out across a pond. Almost as if in a trance, Yu extended a hand and watched as the light traveled up his fingers, the mushroom dancing over their heads alighting with the same cold fire that set the whole forest beautifully aglow. Shadows still rippled between the stalks and danced along the walls and ceiling, but the light played with those shadows, dancing with them and making it seem as if the whole cave had been submerged underwater, a small paradise separated from all the world.
"Wow . . ." he heard several of his friends breathe in unison, staring in awe at the forest around them.
"It's beautiful . . ." Rise whispered under her breath, the light dancing in her eyes,
Tirin walked until he stood in front of them, turning on his heel and giving them all a smug smile, "Told you you'd regret missing this. Now, follow me," he spun back around again, but he glanced back over his shoulder with a wink and a smile, "There's more to see."
He began to bound ahead, but as he did so, he reached up so his fingers brushed along the underside of a mushroom. The gills he touched glowed just a shade brighter, and suddenly, spores began to fall like little motes of glowing stardust that trailed after Tirin's fingertips as he pulled away. They then hovered in the air, spinning and twirling on the breeze until they came to float around the awestruck group.
Teddie let out a sudden whoop of excitement, no longer able to contain himself and blitzing ahead of them, running his hands along any gills within reach and releasing clouds of spores in his wake, the glowing motes appearing like tiny universes between the trees.
"Oh boy . . ." Yosuke mumbled, chasing after the blonde. But Yu could see his eyes still shooting around when he caught up with the bear, and he was relieved to see he was looking less tense than he was before.
In fact, all of his friends were looking more relaxed than he'd seen them in a while. Yukiko and Chie were all but twittering with excitement as they, too, patted at one of the mushrooms, laughing as the released motes clung to their hair and clothes.
"Chie, you look like your covered in glowy little mothballs!" Yukiko snorted.
"So do you!" Chie retorted, but their was a smile on her face as she gathered up a handful of stardust and playful tossed it at her friend, an action that only made Yukiko laugh more.
Rise was reaching out with her hands, cradling little motes between her fingers and staring, entranced, at the glow. Her face looked serene in the light that basked her face, and her smile was a peaceful one as she let it fly away again.
Kanji was crouching down, examining the little mushrooms that lined the path with an attentive eye, a slight half-smile on his face as he mused, "These things are kinda cute for plants . . . huh, Ma might like one for a nightlight . . ."
Even Naoto looked more relaxed as she studied one of the large stalks, gazing up into the mushroom cap with a contemplative look in her eyes, "Strange . . . I've heard of bioluminescent toadstools before, but never of this size . . ."
A small mote flickered across his vision, and Yu reached up and tapped it with a finger. It spun back, twirling as if in delight at its own freedom before spinning away, and Yu felt a smile come to his lips. This place was truly gorgeous, he gave it that. It did his heart good to see his friends spirits liven so. This was a much welcome reprieve from all the frightening things that had happened to them so far, and for the next fifteen minutes, Yu found himself idly wandering from one stalk to the next, watching his friends and admiring the glow. It really felt as if he had just suddenly stepped into a true fantasy world.
"Hey Partner!" He heard Yosuke cry from farther down the path, "Come check this out!"
Smiling, he followed the sound of his voice until he'd nearly reached the very end of the trail, occasionally glancing around to admire the scenery. He found both Yosuke and Teddie standing before the mouth of another tunnel, one that was lit by the same glow as the mushroom forest.
Yosuke spun around, beckoning him over, but Yu found himself doing a double take instead. Yosuke's hair had been flecked by numerous little spores, the blue motes almost resembling a starry veil that made his eyes shine. It was . . . it was . . . it was a really weird thought, Yu should probably stop.
He shifted uncomfortably when he noticed Yosuke was staring at him as well, and he quickly cleared his throat, "Well, Yosuke? What's up?"
Yosuke blinked, looking startled, "Huh? O-oh, right! Sorry . . ." he let out a small, somewhat forced laugh, "Dude, your hair is covered with that stuff, you know?"
"Is it?" Yu asked, reaching up and running a hand through his hair. The motes that drifted down told him that, yes, it was.
"Yosuke, tell Sensei about the thing!" Teddie demanded excitedly, gesturing to the tunnel.
"What thing?" Yu asked, intrigued.
"Oh, uh, well . . ." Yosuke fumbled over what to say before finally giving up and pointing to the tunnel, "It'd be easier if you just looked."
Creeping closer, Yu did indeed look, and what he saw made him gape. The tunnel before them was not made of stone, but instead living, growing mushrooms! The walls, the ceiling, even portions of the floor, were all mushrooms! Light filtered from the caps and gills, spores hovering statically in the hollow space like tiny stars.
"Well, that's unusual," he finally said.
"Yeah, its weird, but I'll take it over giant spiders any day," Yosuke said, crossing his arms.
"Let's go inside!" Teddie trilled excitedly, taking a step forward.
A shadow suddenly slipped in behind him, and they all jumped as a pale hand reached out and grabbed the bear by the collar, "Oh no, not without me you don't."
"God damn it, will you stop that!" Yosuke hissed under his breath as he glared at Tirin, patting a hand over his chest.
Tirin merely waved a nonchalant hand at him, "Can't help that you're so jumpy, sorry."
By now, the others were starting to gather, staring at the tunnel with interest.
"Oh, what's that?" Yukiko asked.
"The next stop on our little trip!" Tirin supplied her, "Are you all ready to move on?"
"Huh, already?" Rise asked, glancing back at the forest behind her.
"Oh, don't worry, my dear, the sights aren't over yet!" Tirin promised her, giving her gentlemanly bow and a smile.
Several enthusiastic glances were shared, and even Naoto couldn't quite put a stopper on the gleam in her eyes as she demurely said, "It would be good to move on."
"Everyone, follow me!" Tirin said, stepping into the tunnel.
At first, it was a little tricky navigating the mess of a tunnel. The mushrooms that lined the floor made the ground more springy than normal, and twice Yu nearly tripped as his toes struck the underside of a cap. But he got used to it quickly enough, and it wasn't very long until he heard a distant, tumbling rumble echo from farther up the cave.
"What's that?" Chie asked.
"Just wait," Tirin said, walking forward confidently.
They had no choice but to follow, and the rumbling steadily grew louder and louder until it was a roar, a sound he had most definitely heard before.
A waterfall.
No sooner had the realization crossed his mind when the tunnel suddenly opened up again, and Yu felt his breath catch in his throat as the roar filled his ears.
The cave was vast, more vast than any he'd seen before, and filled with the same glowing mushrooms from earlier. They stretched on as far as the eye could see, a vista of light and shadow that lit the cave as well as a blue midmorning sun. But one critical difference was that these mushrooms were enormous, some as tall as fifteen-story buildings, towering over the landscape and overshadowing anything that lived beneath their caps. Yu, however, was actually looking down on them, for he and his friends were situated on a point higher than any, the craggy stone walls around them sloping down into the massive forest below. Several mushrooms grew out of the walls, one of which sprouted just below the tunnel they stood in, the stalk forming a broad, sturdy bridge to the broad flat of stone just across from them. Spores floated in the air, great clouds of stardust that sparkled and shone just like the night sky. Close to them, just on their right, a waterfall tumbled down straight from a hole in the ceiling, the cascading water shimmering like satin in the soft light cast by the mushrooms. It hit the floor below with a thunderous crash, and Yu could see between the caps that the ground was completely flooded with water, a sea as great and vast as the mushrooms that blossomed from their depths. Motes of light were continuously being swept down by the current, splaying out under the water so it looked as if a piece of the universe itself lay trapped beneath the waves, a mirror reflecting the stars above them.
"Whoa . . ." was all he could mumble, completely spellbound by the sight before him.
"Yeah . . ." Yosuke mumbled in agreement.
"Those are some big mushrooms . . ." Kanji observed, staring.
"It's so pretty!" Chie said, looking this way and that as if she couldn't see enough of it.
"Look at all those spores! It almost looks exactly like the night sky back home! Rise said, pointing up.
"It does, doesn't it?" Yukiko agreed softly, awestruck.
"I don't regret giving up being able to see at all!" Teddie said.
"I'm am quite glad you think that!" Tirin said, stepping out onto the bridge with graceful steps, grinning. Turning to face them, he gestured to the grand forest below, "They call this place Knif'taur . . . The Glowing Forest."
"I can see why," Yu said, watching the motes above his head swirl in the spray kicked up by the waterfall.
"And up there," Tirin continued, pointing to the waterfall, "Is Rhikna'rei, the Glimmering Falls. It actually empties out from Lake Belladonna, just above us."
"An actual lake?" Yosuke asked, staring.
"Mhm!" Tirin nodded, "We're real close to the surface now, so there are lots of places like this where water from above ground flows into the caverns! But I haven't found one yet that's quite as pretty as this one."
". . . Why do this?"
Yu glanced at Naoto, who seemed to realize she had spoken out loud for she quietly pulled her cap a little lower down her face and amended, "I mean, its not that this is . . . not appreciated. This truly is a gorgeous place. But . . . why? One would assume you have better things to do with your time than act as a tour guide."
For a moment, all Tirin did was look at her, and Yu wondered if he would even answer. Then he turned away, lacing his hands behind his head as if in thought, and when he spoke, there was a note of wistful sadness in his voice that hadn't been present before, "You know, most people from the surface believe that everything about the Underdark is bad. And its not exactly unjustified, either. Like I said, its a dangerous place that'll kill you if you aren't careful. But that doesn't mean those people are right."
He reached into his satchel and pulled something out. What he held up looked like a small crystal orb with a glowing center, as if it held its very own star, "There are nice things here too. Places like this, and people who can be just as compassionate and self-sacrificing as someone from the surface. All you've seen so far are the bad parts of my home, so . . ." he glanced at them from over his shoulder, a smile on his face, "I thought maybe it wouldn't hurt if you saw some of the good things about it, too."
Yu blinked, understanding dawning for him. Tirin was right, most of what they'd seen had been . . . pretty shitty. The small argument they'd had when they'd woken (if one could call it an argument), probably only punctuated for the Gloaming how much they'd been disliking everything they'd had to do down here. He guessed . . . Tirin had wanted to prove that it wasn't all 'survival of the fittest'. That they could enjoy some of the things down here, too.
The others seemed to have reached the same conclusion as well, for silence reigned supreme.
Then, Tirin broke it, "You know, I wouldn't have really left you on your own. I mean, have you ever found a box of puppies just abandoned on the side of the road? You wouldn't just leave them there, would you?"
" . . . Are you seriously calling us 'puppies'?" Yosuke asked, a note of disbelief in his voice.
"I take umbrage as well," Yu said, holding up a hand, "I'd much prefer to be a kitten."
"Dude, really?"
"A Senpai-kitten? What would that look like?" Kanji mused to himself.
"Small and adorable, of course," Rise chimed in.
"But, but, but, but I thought I was the small and adorable one!" Teddie protested with a pout.
Tirin let out a short bark of laughter, "You keep telling yourself that, soggy."
"Hmph!" Teddie harrumphed, pointedly turning his back.
Gesturing for them to follow, Tirin jerked his head towards the bridge, "Come on, just over the bridge and its smooth sailing from here. I take it you're all wanting to see real sunshine again, right?"
"That would be nice," Naoto said.
"Oh, fresh air! Let's do it!" Chie agreed enthusiastically.
Everyone stepped out onto the bridge, the thick stalk not even swaying under their weight, something Yu was eternally grateful for as they made their way across. As they neared the middle, a soft spray continuously misted over him until his hair was sticking to his forehead. But the coolness was refreshing, and when he opened his mouth, he savored the feeling of wetness on his tongue. Although, a real drink wouldn't be declined.
"You're going to have to jump down, but its not a long drop. You'll be fine," Tirin told them as they approached the opposite end. Just ahead, Yu could see the other end of the mushroom curve up so its cap formed an umbrella over the stony plateau, the rock washed with blue light and glimmering spores. The curved point of the stalk hovered just above the cliff's edge, about eight feet down. It wasn't a long fall, like Tirin said, but Yu didn't fancy the nearness of that cliff and the drop just beyond. The plateau itself was situated in the rock, a shelf surrounded by a sheer alcove that had looked as if it had been gouged out by a great claw. Within, Yu could make out three separate tunnels, the two on the right leading down and one on the left sloping up.
"Uh, I don't know about this . . ." Rise said doubtfully, gazing at the cliff with fear in her eyes.
Tirin waved at her, a hand braced against the curving stalk as he stared at the ground below them, "You'll be fine! Just keep your eyes on where you want to land, and you'll make it. Now, watch me first, and then-"
Yu's eyebrows knitted together in confusion when Tirin suddenly broke off, the man's eyes darting towards the tunnel on the far right. Yu looked himself, but saw nothing save rock and shadow. Looking behind him, Yu saw his puzzlement reflected on the faces of his friends, and as the silence wore on with only the roaring of the waterfall, everyone began to grow more and more uneasy.
Finally, Yu spoke up, "Tirin-?"
He broke off when Tirin's hand snapped in front of his face, and for the first time Yu noticed the tension of his stance. That, coupled with the fire burning behind his eyes, finally clued him in; something was wrong.
"Go back. All of you, turn around and go back," he hissed, not taking his eyes off the tunnel.
"W-what? Why?" Yosuke started, looking bewildered.
"Alu! Go, now!" Tirin's gaze snapped to them, and there wasn't a trace of play or teasing in his eyes.
The moment Tirin turned his head, something bright and silver flashed in the darkness of the tunnel, flying out at them with frightening speed.
THUNK!
Yu jolted back as a black arrow suddenly embedded itself in the stalk by Tirin's hand, the shaft quivering in place.
"Shit!" Tirin spun around and shoved Yu back hard, pushing for him to go, to run- "Move! Move now!"
By now, no one needed to be told twice. As one, they spun on their heels and began sprinting back towards the other tunnel, feet flying over the stalk. Not once did Yu even entertain the idea of falling, fear giving his feet wings. Nor did he think about what had fired that arrow, for he had a strong suspicion that he did not want to me who or what had done so.
The sound of screeching rose up from the plateau, and that just made Yu run faster.
Almost there! he thought desperately, eyes locked on the tunnel, We're almost there!
Then a sudden, pained cry made him grind to a halt, heart pounding with renewed vigor as he spun around.
Naoto lay collapsed on the floor, foot having snagged on a fibrous strip that now was tangled around her ankle. Her hands were already tearing at the plant, and Kanji was already running back to her side. Without pause, Yu and the others all did the same.
At that moment, right as they all reached her, a terrifying skittering sound swept by them as something large crawled along the underside of the bridge just beneath their feet. Spinning around, Yu watched in horror as another overly large spider crawled over the edge, planting itself firmly between its prey and their escape. But it wasn't alone, because there, seated on its back, was a rider.
But he couldn't stare long, for another terrible screech rose up behind him, and he spun back to see another mounted spider block the last escape route they had. All along the plateau, he could see other tall, humanoid shapes lining up along the cliff's edge, bows raised and arrows all pointed their way. Tirin stood between them and the gnashing fangs of the spider, daggers drawn and lips turned down into a fierce scowl. But he was outnumbered ten to one.
With growing horror, Yu realized they were trapped.
Uh-oh! Seems out heroes have been cornered! What'll happen now?
We'll find out next time! ;)
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