Chapter 28: Things that Bump in the Dark
Anna rolled herself into a burrito with the blankets while Elsa was gone using the restroom. All that stuck out of one end of the burrito was her nose, lips, and a couple strands of hair. She huffed and heard muffled laughter.
"What are you doing all wrapped up like that?"
Anna grunted and wriggled her body, looking like a fat caterpillar. "It's chilly and I refuse to sleep on the floor. But I am sorry, I didn't mean to offend you earlier. It was just crazy to see you eat so much food."
"Oh Anna.. You don't have to apologize. I mean I was a little mad but- oh just unwrap yourself already so I can kiss you, you dork." Elsa watched Anna shift in the roll of blankets. After a moment she still wasn't free.
"Yeah Im stuck. Its pretty tight in here." Anna admitted and Elsa laughed and that renewed the angels efforts to free herself. Anna could just imagine Elsa rolling her eyes at the end of her laughing.
Suddenly soft warm lips pressed to hers, she barely registered that Elsa kissed her when the warmth was gone. She could still feel the small puffs of air, Elsa must have stayed close by. "You really do look adorable all bunched up like a little bug." Suddenly she could see once more and Elsa was helping her untangle her arms from the blanket.
"I am not a bug." Anna pouted crossing her arms once she was free and turning slightly away. Elsa nuzzled Anna's cheek placing a soft kiss to her cheek. Anna resisted and flopped onto the bed, hiding her head beneath a pillow.
Elsa wasn't deterred, with a sly smile she sat on Anna's lower back. "But you were a cute wittle bug." She got a grunt in answer, and she ran her fingers along Anna's back. Nails lightly traced designs in the gap between Anna's wings. She watched the feathers flutter and twitch from her soft touch.
"I'm a handsome bug. None of this cute nonsense." Came a muffled voice from beneath the pillow and Elsa tapped her chin in thought. She shifted a little on top of Anna and then eventually laid herself across the angels back resting her cheek on a shoulder blade just above a flexing wing.
"Well you are rather handsome, but cute too."
"Oh lay off it."
XxXxXxX
The next morning the Eilonwy set who was to go back to the main camp with all the horses and who was to go into the cave. Gene and Mark were to go back with the horses leaving six people to go into the tunnel.
Oaken was supplying them with ropes, food, flashlights, and much more to hopefully survive the tunnel. He gave everyone except for Elsa a pick axe and a machete. Elsa didn't look like she cared but she commented that she "wasn't a flower why didn't she get an oversized butter knife too?"
Everyone was carrying some sort of bag and they all wore heavy coats with lighter jackets underneath for inside the tunnel. Eilonwy said it was warm in the tunnel from time to time. The closer they got to the tunnel the more irritated and jumpy they got.
The tunnel door itself was a short walk through the snow. Though lugging the gear on their back made it seem even longer than it was. Elsa looked tired and grumpy this morning, even more so now that they were trekking through the snow. She was fine earlier but it was like someone flipped a switch and she grumbled about every little thing. Her jacket was too tight, her shoes were too loose, this shirt was itchy, and whose idea was it cook fish this morning?
Even Anna had the sense to steer clear of Elsa this morning.
The tunnel itself looked harmless but the eerie feeling you got just by being near it said otherwise. The opening was a dark hole, and icicles hung low and sharp making it look like an open mouth.. waiting to swallow any victim inside. Any vegetation that could even survived the cold, was dead and rotting. There was no birds to be heard near this tunnel.
Eilonwy passed around amulets that looked like an eye settled on a shield with a few feathers etched into the back of the shield as well as a motto or maybe a prayer.
'Follow the light, shun the dark, believe in the Hero.
Watcher guide you through darkness
and into Creator's arms.'
Anna was given hers last and she held it for only a few seconds before she dropped it into the snow. Her hand was burning and she pulled her glove off, and Jason noticed her. While she examined her slightly red hand he bent over and picked the amulet up.
"You dropped your amulet." He held it out to her and she gripped her hand tightly glaring at the amulet a moment.
"You hold on to it for me a minute.. Please." She added the end as an afterthought and he raised a brow. She shook her head at him pulling her glove back onto her hand, hiding the near rash on it.
"If you say so. But you need it on before you go in. I have heard stories of this tunnel. It truly is only used in dire need. There is evil in this tunnel, but sometimes its necessary to go through." Jason whispered to her, glancing at the tunnel and still trying to listen in on what Eilonwy was talking about.
"So we go into this tunnel." Eilonwy was saying. "I have my watch set to make us stop every one and a half hours. We will rest, drink water, change any batteries if we must. When we have traveled at least six hours, we will rest for five. Always keep that amulet on, and if you see something. Don't advance unless it advances on you. Keep Watcher in your heart and you will make it. Got it?" The blonde leader held her hands out waiting for her answer. "Oh and grab a buddy."
There as a collective nod and a few mumbled 'yes ma'am.' Oaken then handed Eilonwy a sack that was stained red near the bottom. No one asked about it but the bag certainly smelled terrible.
Then everyone thanked Oaken and started inside. Eilonwy went in first, followed by Jason. Then Lyle and Joe went in next and that left Elsa and Anna to enter. Elsa looked at the amulet and she put it around her neck. "Here you go Anna. Jason gave me yours for you. Said you dropped it." Elsa put the necklace around Anna's neck and the angel had to hold back a pained whimper.
"Thank you." The words forced and her voice cracked slightly and even Elsa noticed it and she opened her mouth to say something.
"Anna are-"
"Yo love birds lets go. We lose each other in here and you probably are dead. We don't want that. So lets roll." Lyle's head was poking out of the cave and though he was smiling at them, his hand was gripping the amulet like it was his lifeline.
Elsa took Anna's hand and pulled her over to the mouth of the tunnel. Elsa started to shake, her whole body told her to run, to find another way. But there was no other way and with a trembling step she entered the tunnel but Anna stayed behind for just a moment. She watched the darkness swallow Elsa in and she couldn't see her anymore.
Anna stepped into the tunnel and she felt something pass through her. As if what ever lay inside sensed her and welcomed only her. The rest ahead shivered and grabbed onto their charms. Praying that Watcher would save them from the evil. Anna realized the evil inside recognized her, and it wanted her.
But why was it? She wasn't evil, she fought for the good. It made no sense and the light sting and itch from the amulet on her chest was bothering her, making a thin sweat break out on her forehead.
She pulled out her flashlight and attached the little bracelet around her wrist, that way if she dropped the flashlight then it wouldn't hit the ground. In front of her the rest of the five tread carefully in the cave. The cave itself was pointed and rough and Eilonwy called out to be careful and not trip.
To trip would be to impale one's self on the sharp rocks. How fun.
"How are you doing Anna?" Elsa called over her shoulder watching her feet so she wouldn't trip or slip and sprain an ankle. That would be the worst. Behind her Anna grunted in reply, scratching at her neck.
"Im fine. You just keep an eye out." Anna said finally and picked up her pace since it seemed Elsa and the group was getting too far ahead for her liking. After nearly slipping twice she found herself directly behind Elsa. Idiots luck she didn't trip she supposed.
"Light. Light. Light. In Cave.. Light. Shun.. the light."
Something in the tunnel rumbled and there was a cold breeze causing everyone to shiver. Lyle jumped in place slightly pointing down another tunnel entrance. "What's that over there?"
Eilonwy up front turned around and hissed quietly, "Everyone freeze, and shine the light over there. But do not go in there." No one wanted to go anywhere anyway.
Six lights shined on the tunnel entrance and there was hiss and something flashed across the light. Jason looked at Eilonwy, eyes wide. "Alright Eilonwy. What the fuck is in this tunnel?"
Eilonwy started walking through the tunnel again taking a moment to relax herself. "Chaos had a friend. A helper so to speak. It isn't told in stories often since it was considered unimportant. This creature was an ugly one. Its body was covered in shadows and smoke, and a single touch from it could kill anyone. Only if it chose to do that though. Chaos used this monster to bring death to many and destroy anyone who got in his way. Today we call it Death since it was the cause of many. When Watcher defeated Chaos he banished Death somewhere deep and far."
Eilonwy stepped around a small hole in the ground and pointed it out to Jason who echoed it back to Lyle behind him. "Death supposedly lurks here because it knows we cross through here. But it is weak. Weak to the light, and we are everything good and we are strong. We've tried to run it out, but it always comes back. So long as darkness doesn't meet with Death, we should be fine. It's said that Death only listens to Chaos and his minions."
As she spoke those words the soft scraping noise of claws across rocks started up behind them. A soft clicking joined in. Like what ever was in the room was trying to sense them through echolocation. It grated on the groups nerves. All but Anna. When Anna looked behind herself, she saw two faded green eyes staring back herself and she straightened and ignored it. She merely nudged Elsa along a little bit faster.
But she could feel the eyes on her back and her feathers ruffled at the thought of being followed. "I am not evil. I am good." She mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?" Elsa glanced over her shoulder a brief moment before continuing to maneuver the rocky path.
"Nothing. I just hate the dark." A smile.
A lie.
XxXxXxX
The burning of the amulet was still there even after they stopped for a small break. Anna was sweating lightly and everyone was shivering from the cold weather. "Bathroom breaks and food breaks. Ladies over here. Gentleman over there." Eilonwy glanced at Anna and then shrugged, "Anna.. just go with the guys."
Anna nodded too tired to even try to even make a comment. Jason, Lyle, Jo and Anna all lined up in one area. They kept their eyes on the tunnel, ears straining to hear any sounds. Other than the occasional rock breaking and falling in the distance, or the sound of water it was relatively quiet. Oh and the sound of everyone pissing at once.
"Ah.. I should have ate first. Now i'm gonna have dick hands when I eat." Jo grumbled as he zipped his pants up.
Jason snorted and wiped his hands on his pants just to be sure. "You're right man.. Eilonwy usually passes out the food so im wondering how this.. ew. Alright I hope the rations are packed individually."
Everyone picked a place to sit in the black cave and they were spread out oddly. The backpacks actually had their own rations since they didn't want to lose all the food if someone dropped the bag down a hole.
Anna found Elsa a smooth rock to sit on and she sat near her on the ground, munching on the bread and cheese. She used this time to study the rocks around her. Now that they had been walking long enough the rocks no longer were as sharp and they gave way to smoother rocks. Though there was rough scratches all throughout the whole cave. Some rocks were wet from water or slime, Anna wasn't about to test it.
"Are you going to eat that?" Elsa asked and Anna wordlessly handed her bread over. She had the cheese and that was enough.
"Planning a hibernation Elsa?"
"Please do you even know what that means?"
"I know enough that you're veering from the topic"
"I thought we were over this.. what are you even trying to say?" Elsa growled at her and took a bite of the bread. Glaring at a spot on the wall above Anna's head. Her brows were lowered and she had an adorable pout on.
"Im just saying when i'm dead from starving or something-" Anna was cut off by a terrible gurgling roar and she felt a whoosh of air. Anna saw a flash of white and she yanked Elsa to her body, pulling her out of the path of claws and a jaw full of teeth.
The creature landed in the middle of the group and everyone flashed their lights at it, it took up most of the cave. The air smelled like burning skin and the monster screeched. It had translucent skin and some skin was rotted or even missing in some places. It had the head of a bat and wings much like a bat as well. The leather of the wing had small rips or tears.
It reared up on two legs and it had four arms that ended in nasty claws, matted fur covered its shoulders and neck and it turned into a v down its abdomen. The fur covered its legs and its feet were much like a lions paws. Its tail was much like a lizards, scaled thick with a pointed tip. It had a large underbite and when it screeched again spittle flew. Pale glazed over eyes eyed the human and fliers with hatred.
"Kill.. Kill.. KILL THE LIGHT. GET OUT!"
With a flick of its wrist it slammed Jo against the wall, picking the now dazed man up by his waist and pinning him there. It licked from chest up to the side of his face. It hissed in pain and slashed at Jo's chest and the amulet fell to the ground. Jo whimpered in pain and fear. It let out a content hum and Eilonwy pulled out her machete-which Anna now understood why Oaken gave them one- and she slashed at it's arm.
The cave creature hissed curling in the wounded arm and used its free arm to shove her away and then it licked at its wounded arm.
Eilonwy dropped her bag and machete when she landed a few feet away and Jason ran to her side helping her sit up.
Jo tried to lean over and grab his machete at his side but the creature slammed him against the wall once more and he went limp, slumping over to the left.
"Jason grab the bloody bag! Everyone run now!" Eilonwy shook her head in hopes of clearing the stars. "Open that bag and throw it as far as you can back the way we came." She commanded and she grabbed her pack and machete.
Jason did just as she said, opening it to find a bloody and dead got inside. He cringed but he spun and tossed the bag. Blood dribbled onto the ground and the monster rumbled and let Jo go.
It crawled over and past Elsa and Anna and it lifted the bag with two arms, hunching over it sliding its long tongue inside to slurp at the blood inside.
Anna took her chance and got to her feet and helped Elsa up. She stopped at Jo's limp body, urging Elsa to run. Everyone was scattering up the cave in a panic. "No Anna come on! Let's go!" Elsa tugged desperately on Anna's arm.
Anna put her ear to Jo's chest and she couldn't hear a heartbeat. "He's dead." She heard a crunching sound. The monster was eating its way through the goat, and only its legs and part of its gut stuck out.
"Holy fuck.. I'm sorry Jo. Run!" Anna pointed her light at the ground and pulled Elsa along with her. She picked her way around rocks and didn't dare glance behind her.
Anna felt a tug on her arm, she heard a cry and she toppled backwards. Elsa had tripped and since she held Anna's hand they both went down. Anna looked over her shoulder at Elsa, who looked ready to faint from panic. Anna could smell the blood from the goat, the rotting of the monster, the fear on Elsa.
She could see it moving quickly towards them. Its large ears alert and its eyes zoned in on their general direction. Anna grabbed Elsa's hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "Stay down."
"What are you doing?"
Anna scrambled to her feet and she took a calming breath and she stepped over Elsa's prone body. She lifted her wings and stretched them above her body as far as she could. She ruffled her feathers and she bit her lip holding her arms high. Her heart was pounding and she felt like she was going to be sick. The amulet buzzed harshly against her chest and she got the urge to rip it off.
Oh fuck me I hope this actually works.
And then she let out a growl that turned into a scream. The creature seemed surprised and stopped a few feet from her and it stood on its hind legs. It roared at her, stretching out its four arms and its wings as far out as they could in the cave and she refused to flinch even when spit hit her across the cheek. She looked it in the eye and took a step forward, jerking her wings in a quick forward motion.
It stepped back confused now and it seemed to be studying her. As if it noticed something for the first time.
"Friend? friend? friend..? Foe? Foe? Foe? Dark. You are Dark.. Dark. Tiny creature is dark."
It lowered itself and sniffed at her chest where the burning amulet rested. It snorted and Anna scrunched her face in disgust. Its breath was horrible, she could smell rotting meat and overall decay inside.
"Light. Light. Why. Light..? Why light? Burns? Doesn't.. Buuuuurn? In paaain?"
Anna could hear it in her head and she didn't know how to communicate with it. She hoped it would get her words. She reached into the first layer of her jacket and grabbed the leather pulling the amulet from its hiding place. She felt instant relief on her skin as soon as she lifted it away from her skin. She pulled it out into the tunnel for the monster to see, it recoiled slightly. It let out a long low growl and Anna leaned away from the amulet. The light coming from it did bother her.
"Shun the light. Right?" She tossed the amulet to the side and the monsters head jerked up and down in a nod. "Who are you?"
"Forgot.. Forgot who.. am. Monster. Kill. Kill kill kill many. Banished. Banished. Left.. behind. You. Are are?"
Anna tilted her head up at the creature. Was this Death? Or was this just a follower? "I am Anna. I am friend not foe." It copied her movement and tilted its own head, studying her with its glazed eyes.
Anna helped Elsa up deeming that it was safe enough to help her up. She made sure to keep an eye on the monster. Elsa was shaking a little and she looked a little green.
"Female female.. human.. Light. Human. Follow light. kiiilll…?"
"No! The human female is mine." Anna glared up at it and it didn't seem to get it, looking suspicious as it leaned in to sniff at Elsa who leaned as far away as she could without toppling backwards. Anna took another step closer and growled once more. "I said she's mine." Her eyes flashed green for just a moment and the creature lowered itself to the ground, trying to look smaller.
"Not kill. Why? Why? Light. Shun it. Destroy it. whhhhyy?"
"Because I said so. I'm the boss and I say what is what. Now get out of here." Anna gently pushed the still shell shocked Elsa back a little. It was time to go. Anna had enough with this creature. It had killed Jo and even though she didn't know him too well, he was still a person.
"Boss boss! Stay. I stay. Others. Danger here. Not safe."
Anna whirled around when she heard the word others and danger. "What do you mean others? You aren't the only thing in this tunnel?" She motioned for Elsa to keep going down the tunnel and Elsa didn't need any further prompting. She wasn't going to leave Anna behind, but her body told her to stay very clear of that.. that thing.
"We are many many. Death. She leads us.. hides hides. Banished to tunnel. Her creation. We are Creation. I follow. Stay with you. My master. New maaster. I help."
The creatures voice was like a whisper she had heard many times before and yet it was so unfamiliar. It had no definite male or female voice rather its voice shifted from male to female constantly. Never the same after each word. It was as though the creature itself did not know itself.
"Death.. is here? It lives here? Can you sense them? We are trying to pass through here. We want to stay safe and away from them." Anna wanted to get to the bottom of this but she didn't have the time. She needed to get Elsa home and she needed to tell Kristoff news of what Carter and Roe were up to.
The creature looked over its shoulder huffing and it got up to rest on all its limbs. "Death is here. Death not here. Banished. New other thing is Death. F-f-former Death live here. Sense you. Former Death sense you. Powerful darkness. You. Find us. No escape. You leak.. reak.. power." It shook its massive body and sniffed at a claw licking some left over blood off it.
"Okay.." Anna wasn't sure she got it, this was all a dream. It had to be. She was talking to a monster like they were old friends. For Watchers sake she was hearing it in her head! The angel ran both her hands through her hair, walking in a small circle.
"Give power. Weak. I weak. Can't fight former death. You have power. Give some? I heal.. become strong. Fight." Anna stopped walking and looked up at the stinky monster tilting her head. Feeling a little suspicious, who was to say it wouldn't turn on her. As if it heard her it reached a thin arm out and prodded her chest with a claw gently. "Fight. Fight for.. you."
Anna sighed and wondered what her life was coming to. "Alright. Tell me how to give you some power."
XxXxXx
From further down the tunnel five heads were peering around the corner of another cave entrance. "What the hell is she doing down there? Is she talking to it? What the fuck?" Eilonwy grumbled still shaking slightly from her near bout of death.
Elsa huddled with the rest, her body was relaxing now that she had put distance from the monster. Or as relaxed as she could get as she watched Anna pace and wave her arms around. Still looking like she was talking to the creature.
Everyone watched in terror now as the monster pushed Anna down. Trapping the angel, its large clawed hands holding arms and legs down. They watched as two long slithering tentacle like limbs poke out from its belly. At the end of the tentacle was a sharp piercing claw.
The creature let go of Anna to take off her two jackets and lift her shirt enough to reveal her stomach. It pushed her back down again and once it had her in its hold, the two tentacles stabbed into the angels stomach.
Up until that point Anna hadn't struggled. Now she screamed a blood curdling scream and jerked around.
XxXxXxX
Anna wondered why she did things like this. Like being stabbed in the stomach and supposedly giving up her power. Or well some of it to the creature. Even now as she tried to throw herself into a happy place while she watched something from her body be sucked down the tubes to the creature.
The creature who looked like it was having the time of its life. It's eyes were closed and it was humming. Or purring. Anna didn't care to figure it out. She whimpered and she could hear it hush her in her head. "Oh holy Gods.. Are you done?" Her voice cracked and she could hear the pounding of footsteps coming from behind her.
"Yesss. I won't take anymore." The two tentacles slid out from her stomach and she groaned in relief. The pressure was fading, and now she watched as the creature opened its eyes. No longer a faded green, they were a bright teal matching her own.
Carefully it licked the two small holes and once they healed, it helped her sit up with one arm. The other arm pulled her shirt down and the other two helped pull up the first jacket and then the second.
"Thanks." She was helped to stand now and it dusted her off in an almost loving gesture. A claw came up and wiped away a tear she didn't know she let go away from her cheek. She smiled up at it and its lips pulled back to copy her. It looked terrible and creepy, but she still got the idea.
"Who am I? New name. Name. Rename. Give one." It bounced a little on its feet its eyes only on her. And she was lost. What to call it? Was it male? Female? What was its purpose before she found it? It mentioned killing people but under her command maybe it could be better.
"Barrus. You are now known as Barrus. Because it seems to fit you." She had never seen such a creature in her life. And now it had a name, and it was beyond happy. It nodded its head up and down in a quick jerking motion.
"I am Barrus. Follower of Tiny Creature." It bowed and everything seemed like it was going to be alright.
And then the machete sang through the air and landed in Barrus's shoulder and it roared.
XxXxXx
Jason watched the monster claw at the machete lodged into its shoulder and he grinned. Throwing practice had paid off for once. What he didn't expect was for the monster to pull out the machete and snap it in half. Nor did he expect the gash in its shoulder to seal up like it was never there.
"Wait everyone stop!" Anna cried, holding her arm out to the group who had stopped mid charge and the other to Barrus to stop him from charging. "This is Barrus! It won't hurt us anymore! I.." She couldn't exactly say she could speak to it. "I made a deal with it. Barrus will lead us out of the tunnels."
"I lead. Lead light.. hate light. Like light. Master like light.. Barrus hate angel boy. boy. kiiiiill?" Barrus grumbled and Anna did her best to ignore it for a moment.
"Barrus im gonna assume you're a guy because I feel rude just saying it all the time." Anna watched as Barrus lifted its leathery wings in a mock shrug. "He knows there are more things lurking in here. He can help us sneak around the rest and we can get through here faster. Wait hold up.. How did you get around them before?"
Eilonwy stepped closer eyeing Barrus the whole time but when he didn't even budge or notice her she looked at Anna. "We had amulets and flash lights. These creatures hate the light and they are weak. Very weak. We could sneak around them or flash them with the lights and use the amulets to keep them at bay. They never attacked us before. Once they did, but we killed it. And then you come in and talk to it like its nothing. How is that?" Blue eyes narrowed at her, and the group shifted uneasily.
"I know things. And I made a deal with him. He gets some energy from me and we get to all live. Jo dying was a terrible thing. I am sad at his passing. But Barrus is gonna help us now. I promise. I don't even know how I speak to it." Anna hoped Eilonwy would believe her and wouldn't ask anymore on it. To be honest Anna wondered if she really was evil. Barrus said she was dark and that she had power. She had enough of something that she could share with him and she wondered what this all meant.
This was too much like a fairy tale for her tastes.
"As a Guardian.. I know we shouldn't ask about things of the past. You are a Guardian. What you might have done and was before no longer matters. We trust. Without trust darkness could overtake us. So.." A loud long defeated sigh. "Let it be our warning and guide. It stays in the front and at least fifteen feet ahead of us. I don't want it near us. Gives me the fucking creeps." Eilonwy turned away to converse with the group and Anna felt like maybe things were going to be okay.
XxXxXxX
"Are you feeling okay Elsa?" Anna asked as they followed Barrus through the tunnels. They had been walking for at least ten minutes and Elsa looked a lot less green now. Anna was worried that maybe she would be sick for real but it never happened. If anything the blonde woman visibly relaxed after she gained distance from Barrus. Maybe it was his looks that unsettled Elsa.
"I am now. I just.. things like that shouldn't exist. At all Anna. Its like a bad dream or a movie." Elsa grabbed Anna's hand in her own, squeezing it gently. "I was scared. For you when it stabbed you and you started screaming. I didn't know what to do. I felt like a coward. Jason ran up as soon as you started to struggle. I just sat there until everyone followed him. I'm not strong like the Guardians are. This entire cave makes me sick to my stomach. I just want to run and never look back."
Anna smiled a little knowing that feeling a little. Feeling like maybe she wasn't enough for Elsa. Especially with the barrier of pet and master. "I agree it shouldn't exist. Just so you know a little secret. It's ok to be scared. It doesn't make you weak. I heard it makes you human."
Elsa smiled and looked more at ease now. "Only human huh. Does that make you an animal?"
"Ha! No! That makes me a demon."
XxXxXxX
"What the hell is up with the monster?" Lyle asked looking at the thing that used to be Barrus. Barrus was curled up tightly with its own wings covering itself and a weird cocoon had covered its body. They had stopped to rest and get some actual sleep and they woke up to Barrus looking like a caterpillar in a cocoon.
Anna was the only one who could talk to it so she strode up and put her hand on its wings. The cocoon covering it shuddered beneath her hand. "Tiny Creature to Barrus, come in Barrus!" Anna felt a pulse go through the sac holding her follower and after a tense moment she got her answer.
"I heal… Stronger. Change. Go on with.. out me.. Go. Go. Okay. Everything. Okay." Then the pulse stopped and it seemed all life inside stopped. It was odd being cut off from him just like that. As if the tether between them was severed. She shrugged though and grabbed her pack.
"Barrus is like.. cocooning his way through life. Guess he needs to heal up. So we just move on without him." Anna fiddled with the straps of her pack, and zipped and unzipped her jacket nervously while she waited.
Eilonwy's lips dropped into a frown at the news and Anna worried she was going to be angry. She wasn't in the end. It just means they had to keep an extra hard eye out for anything suspicious.
So onward they trekked into the tunnels following a cave system that Eilonwy seemed to know by heart. They heard more things scampering around the tunnels but Eilonwy said it was normal and to keep moving. The sooner they got out of the tunnels in a few days, the sooner they could forget about this place.
XxXxXxX
"What is this?" Eilonwy put her hand on a wall that was in her path. "This wasn't here. Not before." She patted it as if testing to see if it was real and maybe the tunnel wasn't playing with her. "What is this?" She repeated. They had been walking for quite some time and now they were at a dead end. "We didn't go the wrong way. What the hell?"
Everyone sat down with a groan, mostly frustration. "Can we take a break?" Lyle griped, resting his arm across his eyes. "I just want to relax a little and eat some food."
Elsa perked up a little from her spot on the ground. "I second that. I'm hungry too. We should rest and think about this mystery wall in a minute."
Jason scratched his head in thought agreeing with Lyle and Elsa. "Yeah we're safe anyway."
How wrong he was about being safe.
XxXxXx
They had only ten minutes of peace and quiet when creatures from all directions leapt out. It was as if they were part of the rock itself. In a flash everyone was grabbed by the arms and legs and constantly passed to the next creature like a hot potato. Anna could hear many voices through the whole thing.
Capture! Surprise. Master wants! Bring them. Light. It burns. Pass them. Capture.
Anna reached for Elsa who actually did get sick this time and before she could touch her they were pulled apart. The bumpy ride went on for fifteen minutes until they were dropped into the middle of an open cavern.
There was grunts and growls, snarls even throughout the whole room. The creatures bouncing around them and pushing them down any time they tried to stand. Some even punching or scratching at the group. As soon as Anna got her bearings she crawled to Elsa who was curled up in the fetal position on the ground. She covered Elsa with her own body, using her wings to curl around them both.
Suddenly the light pounding on her back stopped. After waiting a moment longer she peered over her shoulder, finally rolling over to see where the creatures went. . The monsters had all backed away and standing above Anna and Elsa was a woman.
Her skin was pale, so pale that you could see a few of her veins underneath. Her eyes were a dark glittering red and they scanned over the group. She wore a tattered black cloak, worn and torn in some places. She wore nothing on her chest and she wore only a loincloth, and her feet were bare as well. Her dark red hair was long, down just past her shoulders and the left side of her head was partially shaved. The woman had gold piercings in her ear, and even a cartilage piercing, as well as a silver lip ring.
She smiled a predators smile when she noted Anna. "Well well it seems I have guests." She did a mock bow that all fliers did when they submitted to another flier; two arms stretched out to the side and one leg stretched behind her. Then she waved her arms to the partially lit cave.
"I was once known as Death. Now I am known as Kani. This is my cave and these…" She gestured to the bouncing creatures who slobbered at the thought of possibly eating the humans.
"Are my creations." A pale foot pressed hard on Anna's chest. "I was sleeping.. But then I was rudely awoken an uproar. I see now why I was woken up. It's not often i'm awake when there are delectable things to play with."
Anna got a real bad feeling about this. As the usual of course. Since she seemed to have the worst luck on this earth. It had to be destiny.
AN: Well I got this out faster than the last chapter. YAY! Got a little delay because of college and some procrastination. But here ya go.
Not my longest chapter but still up there.
How bout meeting Barrus and Kani ay?
How about that amulet burning?
Howaboutareview? *cough* Whoa whoa who said that? Reviewplease*cough* Sorry must be a cold.
Well we will get to see what Kani wants and stuffs next chapter. More Barrus as well! Um more tunnels too. Well.. I will see YOU in the next chapter. BYE BYE!