Hi!

I am very sorry for the many weeks it has taken me to update. I have been very busy.

Here is the next chapter! Now it starts to get interesting!

EMMA

When the cold sun was beginning to start its descent below the horizon, Ren swerved off the highway and onto a dusty track. We passed a deteriorating sign that read 'Kanheri Caves – 30 miles.' Around us the trees were dense and I could hear the chatter of a thousand birds as they squawked in indignation as we drove past, disturbing the tranquillity. Edison and Anik had been asleep in the back of the Jeep but when they heard the tyres crunching against the coarse gravel their heads simultaneously snapped to attention, their ears twitching.

When the dirt track came to an end the first thing I saw was the massive car park, but then my gaze travelled to the stone steps, that led up a hill to the entrance of the caves that were obscured from view. My stomach clenched in anticipation and I absently wiped my sweaty palms on my shorts.

'We are here,' Ren murmured quietly as he parked the car and opened his door, stepping out with a grim face. The rest of us followed suit and I marvelled at the immense rocky hill. Kelsey was chewing on her lip nervously as if recalling old memories before breathing deep and turning to Edison, Anik, who had morphed into their human form.

'Okay,' Kelsey began, her voice slightly shaky. 'The park shuts in fifteen minutes, and we have to take the car. So Ren and I will leave after you enter into the cave. The tourists will have left by then and you'll have the whole place to yourselves to search for the symbol of the seal. Have you got it?' Kelsey turned to me, and I nodded, unconsciously fingering the pendant that hung around my neck. We had already talked through the plan in the car, but it was good to hear it again. 'Once you find the carving, push the seal into it and twist. From then on I am not sure what you will find, because it is bound to be different from when Ren and I did the exact same thing. Remember, there are three of you, so hopefully it won't be as dangerous. Don't panic, don't-'

'-I think they have it under control,' Ren interrupted sternly, glancing at my ever-widening eyes. 'After you find the prophecy, quickly take a photo with your disposable cameras and leave with haste. You will have to make your own way back to the highway where Kelsey and I will make camp. Just go thirty miles southeast and you'll be fine.' I nodded, readjusting my backpack before saying goodbye and beginning to climb the steep steps, one by one. I didn't have to turn around to know that Anik and Edison were silently following.

By the time I reached the top I was out of breath and panting. Wiping the sweat from my eyes, I glanced back at the boys who were right behind me. They could have over taken me at any point but remained just a couple steps down. Probably so they could catch me with their super-human speed and strength if I tripped and fell, I thought with a snort. That would be typical. But I managed to make it to the top without any of my usual displays of clumsiness.

Once inside the cave, we came upon an open stone bunker with rooms that reminded me of beehive cells. Each one was identical to the other. A stone block the size of a small bed was positioned on the left side of every room, and hollowed-out shelves were located on the back walls. A sign noted that this place used to be where the Buddhist monks lived and that the cave was part of a Buddhist settlement dating back to the third century.

Isn't it strange that we're looking for an Indian prophecy in a Buddhist settlement? I wondered as we continued on. But then again, everything about this adventure is a bit strange.

Reaching the main room, I ran my hands over the deep grooves of the elaborately carved wall. Ancient Indian writing and hieroglyphics had been etched into the walls. I quickly snapped a photo of them, hoping to get a chance to decipher them later.

I turned around to gesture my discovery of the hieroglyphics to Anik and Edison but they weren't behind me. A tap on my shoulder made me jump and slap a hand over my mouth to keep from crying out.

'Jeez Anik,' I scolded, but sighed in relief. 'Don't do that! We are in some dark, creepy, underground tomb-cave and you want to jump at me? Give me some sort of warning first!' I heard Edison snort and I realised that was the first time he had acknowledged anything I had said for weeks. I turned to him and raised my eyebrows as if to say, 'Hey, I exist now?' but he had already moved on to the next room. Anik followed my gaze.

'He'll come round eventually,' he said in attempt to raise my spirits. 'What I wanted to tell you was that Edison and I will turn into tigers and search for the seal carving down low. You look high.' I nodded and retrieved my torch inside my backpack. The room was suddenly illuminated and I started searching for the carving on the shelves and doorways.

At last after we had thoroughly examined six different chambers, Edison emitted a low growl and I hurriedly walked over to where he was indicating. Sure enough, under the shelf on the wall in the back of the room was an engraving that matched the Seal exactly. Anik wandered over just as I removed the seal from my neck and inserted it into the small grooves, jiggling it until I felt it click into place. Then with a deep breath I twisted the seal and almost immediately I heard a mechanical whirring inside the wall. Dust blew out from the edges of the wall revealing that it was in fact, a hidden door. All three of us paused for a moment before I hesitantly reached out and pushed. A deep, muffled rumble shook the wall as it slowly rolled back. I tugged the Seal out, put it back around my neck, and aimed my feeble light through the door, seeing nothing but darkness beyond.

I took a step forward but Edison nudged me with his head to stay back, before entering first. Rolling my eyes with irritation, I followed, Anik coming up behind at the rear.

We were at the top of a winding staircase.

My feeble flashlight barely penetrated the darkness, merely showing ten feet in front. A clicking noise sounded behind us, and with a slight whoosh, the door closed, sealing us in. Already expecting that to happen, I sighed and pressed on, my eyes on Edison's white fur leading into the abyss. The staircase was incredibly narrow, and there were no handrails on either side. I had no idea where the bottom was, or how far you would fall. I bent over and picked up a small pebble, dropping it down into the darkness below.

Nothing.

The two tigers whimpered and I remembered that both were scared of heights. I smirked and patted Anik teasingly on the head. We continued walking very slowly down the steps, my hand resting on Anik's black head for support and balance. After what seemed like hours we finally came to flat surface and the steps were no more. But that didn't make me feel any safer. I knew that it was from this moment on that the tasks would begin.

I shined the torch around our surroundings. We were in a small chamber, with two exits at either end.

'Okay tigers. Use your noses. Which one smells of lotus flowers?' I asked, remembering what Ren had said about the way to determine the right path. Both Edison and Anik gestured with a jerk of their heads to the exit on my left. I took a step in that direction, but immediately halted when out of the shadows shuffled a cloaked figure.

Tada!

Please leave a review, they make my day.

I had a query from the last chapter and I am affirming that the tigers have 24 minutes each day, like the book. In Tiger's Curse Ren has 24 minutes as human after he meets Kelsey, and after they complete the first quest he has 6 hours, along with Kishan.

Thanks a bunch,

Thoughts of a Fangirl