Brooklyn hadn't been prepared for how dark these tunnels would be. He had been navigating through them best he could for some time now, struggling among the rocks and narrow crevices. Fangspirit whined beside him that made him jump, startled but saw it was only his friend. He grinned nervously.
"Sorry, boy. Forgot you were still here," he said, petting his warg friend. The two kept up their pace and despite the warg's attempt to help his scents sometimes got lost in the confused dark areas. There was no place to light a torch, and it was nearly pitch dark. Brook had to rely on his glowing eyes to help him see anything.
After stumbling about for quite a time suddenly Brooklyn gagged a bit on a horrible smell coming as well as suddenly seeing his elf blade glow blue. His ears fell. Beorn told him of the Goblin Town up above, and had no desire to find a whole kingdom of them. Fangspirit growled, glaring where the town was down the tunnel until Brooklyn eyed another tunnel. It was smaller and narrower but seemed much better than going up there. Shouldering his bag again and swallowing Brook made his way in; praying he made the right choice.
But it got steeper with each step Brooklyn took down this new pathway. Fangspirit yipped when he heard his friend stumble and Brooklyn quickly grabbed his scruff. "Be careful boy," Brooklyn advised; the warg whining but wagging his tail slightly. The odd pair kept up their pace until suddenly a low growl was heard beside them. Brook's eyes widened when he noted his blade hadn't stopped glowing. Turning around he yelled when a horrible creature jumped from the shadows; a goblin. Brooklyn grunted as he and the goblin both rolled over onto each other, punching and clawing.
Fangspirit was still a pup and didn't know how to fight, yipping fiercely and pawing roughly at the goblin though it didn't do anything. The two kept on rolling over each other until Brooklyn was able to kick the brute off, wincing from the wounds he got from the goblin.
The goblin leered at him, swishing its knife and charging again, cutting Brooklyn on his shoulder, causing Brook to scream and hold his arm, wishing to have stone sleep cure it.
"You'll never leave this mountain alive intruder…" The goblin threatened, looking forward to taking him to the Goblin King. But Brooklyn growled again, a mix of a dragon and gargoyle growl. "Not if we have anything to say for it!" He snapped back, twirling his own blade but suddenly his foot slipped on a really steep slope. The goblin took this weakness unaware of his doomed fate, jumping onto Brooklyn again and the two fell down into darkness, Brook screaming out from it. Fangspirit howled down at them, climbing clumsily down the slope to catch up to his friend.
Brookly grunted in agony after shoving the goblin off and hitting his head, which caused his world to explode in red and white before going unconscious.
…
A skinny unnatural creature slunk its way through its home in the chasm that Brooklyn had fallen into, hissing softly at the sight of the two figures but unaware of the warg pup still trying to climb down. Its enlarged ugly eyes narrowed, seeing the goblin but not seeing the one he didn't know, going to inspect it.
"Ooh, another goblinses, Precious. We haven't had goblinses for ages. Is it goods to eat? Gollum! Gollum!" he hissed to himself. He dragged the goblin across the floor to his lair.
Brook blinked, his head hurting like hell as he opened his eyes, groaning weakly and rubbing it, wincing and felt blood on his hand. He wondered where he was at first then saw the cave walls and tensed up when remembering the goblin, looking around warily for it. But instead heard a strange growly breathing that didn't sound like a goblin at all. Weakly sitting up Brook had his eyes glow again as he looked for the source. What he saw nearby sent a chill in his stomach. It was a weird alien looking skinny being who was dragging the downed goblin with it. And to Brook's confusion it was singing.
"The rock and pool
is nice and cool,
so juicy sweet!"
Being as quiet as he could, Brooklyn crept quietly close to the rocks but not to be seen by the creature. The Goblin had woken up and growled trying to get away but the creature struck it out with a rock and dragged it by its feet while out, making Brooklyn jump slightly.
He kept on following until he came into another low cavern that had a cave pool in it. He found a secluded hiding spot and peeked out; watching this gruesome looking pest delivering death to the goblin. His sword had by now stopped glowing so Brooklyn figured it wasn't a goblin that he was now alone with.
Suddenly he felt a tongue licking his arm, making Brooklyn cry quietly out, jumping. But it was only Fangspirit who had caught up with his new Master, whining and sniffing him. Brook sighed in relief, stroking the warg's head. "You gotta be quiet right now boy, we're with some pretty ugly unknown company at the moment. Look." He gazed out again but to his surprise the creature was gone, and the goblin. It made bile rise in his throat now knowing that the beast probably ate it. Shaking Brooklyn casted his eyes about wondering where it was, unaware of the creature skulking above the rock he was hiding, eyes reflecting the eerie cave lighting.
Fangspirit had scented the close presence, causing him to growl and glare upward. Book was confused at first but suddenly the creature surprised him, jumping down near, head tilted.
"A nastys intruders in our hole has come, Precious. But it isn't a goblinses, elfses, or a orcses. What is it Precious?" Hissed the creature. Brooklyn held his sword out, glaring. "I'd not come a step nearer, you pest. We're just passing through and got lost. I have to find my way out."
The creature eyed the blade and then for some reason looked like it was having a spasm attack. "Gollum! Gollum! Creature is lost, Precious! But wants to hurt Smeagol, Precious!" Brooklyn was confused on so many levels but kept his sword out. He really didn't want to hurt anyone or anything if they attacked him first but so far this creature hadn't hurt him.
He lowered it just a little but not much. "C-can you find my way out? I have to find my father and I can't when I'm stuck down here. Smeagol, isn't it?" that made the creature tense a little from hearing its own name from someone new. He hadn't heard that name in ages from other people. "New creature wants to find its familys. But would Smeagol help him, he wonders. But what is you?" Swallowing a bit Brook introduced himself. "Brooklyn. I-I come from another universe after learning that my birth dad is here. I don't want to hurt you and if you help me I would be in your debt. As long as there aren't any dirty games from you…"
Smeagol perked up slightly, causing Fangspirit to growl slightly. "Games? We like games Precious don't we? Does Brook-yn like to play?" He asked in his playful version. Brook felt baffled from his sudden mood swing, blinking slightly. "Uh, s-sure," he stammered, putting his sword away. Smeagol jumped up and down. "Tell us what games to play. We can helps if you play." Brooklyn didn't really know what games to play with this weird creature. Not tag, that's for certain. But maybe a word game or something.
"Well, it may sound kind of lame and weird. But how about riddles?" He asked. Hudson had taught him how to play it when he was a hatchling. Though he never enjoyed it there were a couple riddles he enjoyed hearing. Smeagol gave little grunts of excitement. "We loves riddles! Shut up!" He suddenly had a change of mood. Brooklyn was confused again. "I didn't say anything." Smeagol glared. "Wasn't talking to you!" He then talked to himself again. "We doesn't trust this Brook-yn. He may play a nasties trick." "No, Brook-yn didn't hurt us Precious. At least test him. But if Brook-yn loses, we eats it whole." Said Smeagol, which made Brooklyn a bit confused but he nodded. "Er, alright then."
Brooklyn sat down on a rock. "So… we start?" He pressed, swishing his tail impatiently. Smeagol nodded, crouching down. "Brook-yn starts first," he offered. Brook swallowed slightly hoping he would win this game with this odd creature.
Thinking hard he suddenly came up with one. "Walks in the wind, but stand where there's moist. Counts time, stops clocks, swallows kingdoms, gnaws rocks," Brooklyn said for his first riddle. Smeagol looked rather confused at first, eyes darting around. But then eventually he thought of it for often it was around his lake. "Sand! Sand Precious! We love the cold sands on our feet in our cave doesn't we Precious?" Snickered Smeagol triumphantly which made Brook groan inwardly slightly knowing he lost this round.
Now Smeagol had one. "It is quick, deadly, and runs over land. Swallows any who falls in." He hissed. Brooklyn's ears fell. This one he didn't know. Swallows any who falls in? What the heck does it even mean? He asked, rubbing his chin. Smeagol couldn't help but look smug at the confused look on the intruder's face. Fangspirit was sitting nearby but watching Smeagol with his ears flat, growling. But then Brooklyn gave a smile as he realized the answer. "River. It is a river, isn't it?" He stated, feeling rather good about himself for figuring it out. Smeagol growled, eyes narrowed.
"Your turn, Brook-yn…" He said in a sinister tone, backing up slightly. Brooklyn tapped his foot for a moment, wondering what else he could do for a riddle then he thought of one Smeagol could guess, but not so easily.
"What begins and has no end? What is the ending of all that begins?" Brooklyn asked, wondering how the creature would answer this one. Playful Smeagol rocked back and forth on his feet, looking really confused. It was several long minutes before eventually Brook spoke up. "Give it up? Will you show me out?" Smeagol growled. "Give us a chance, Precious!" He snapped, before eventually remembering all the deaths or decay it witnessed. "Decay, is it decay, Precious? Yes!" he giggled, jumping up and down. Brooklyn now felt desperate. If Smeagol wins the next round he was done for.
"Our turn…" Smeagol purred sinisterly, sneaking around the cave and was lost to Brooklyn's sight. Brooklyn instinctively pulled out his sword, hand shaking a bit. "Alive, without breath. As cold as death. Never thirsty, ever drinking. Clad in mail, never clinking. Drowns on dry land, thinks an island, is a mountain, is a puff of air."
Brooklyn really felt lost on this one now. What on earth could it be? He gulped a bit while struggling to think. "Uh, dunno this one," he said shakily. He heard Gollum snicker evilly. "Ooh, is stuck. Brook-yn stuck. Is it tasty? is it scrumptious…?" Brooklyn felt hands on his shoulders. He yelped out, swinging his sword and jumping back from Gollum. "No! Wait! I think I'm close!" He then recalled an animal that matched the riddle's description. Then a smile came. "Fish. It is a fish, isn't it?" That made Smeagol madder but he was somewhat impressed with this new visitor's intelligence.
"Last question, Brook-yn…" Hissed Smeagol, eyeing Brooklyn carefully without even blinking that made Brook feel rather nervous, his warg friend growling again. He sat down on a rock, trying to come up with a stumper. Then he thought of one.
"Th-The cost of making the only the maker knows, valueless if bought, but sometimes traded. A poor man may give one as easily as a king. When one is broken pain and deceit are assured." He said, now seeing in the creature's eyes that he didn't know it. Smeagol whined and clawed the dirt with his hands, trying to think of something but felt completely lost. He felt somewhat humored by the little guy, even if he was ugly looking.
"Ooh, Precious! We don't know it! Aaah!" He wailed, falling to the ground and holding his legs. Brooklyn knelt near him. "So, have I won? Will you show me the way out?" He pressed, tail swishing impatiently. Smeagol looked up at Brooklyn before then hissing and eventually nodding reluctantly. "Brook-yn wins. Smeagol will show him the way. A way past Goblinses," He said. "Secret path he knows. Follow Smeagol!" He chirped, getting up and headed towards another tunnel. Brooklyn hoped Smeagol was telling the truth. "Come on, Fangspirit. But if he's lying you can eat him," He whispered softly, petting the warg who licked his face making Brooklyn chuckle.
The duo followed their strange companion through the passage far away from Goblin Town, still rather dark in the tunnel. It took them quite a while to get through it but eventually Brooklyn could smell air, his ears perked as they went upward. He was close to getting out of this foul place! Fangspirit whined happily at the idea of smelling fresh air again.
"We almost there, Brook-yn. Smeagol keeps his word. But Smeagol can't leave caves." Said the creature with a hint of sorrow in his tone. Brooklyn noted he backed up as the three neared the mountain entrance. "I understand." He responded, feeling somewhat reluctant to leave this poor creature. Smeagol though went up to him. "But Smeagol wants to know. What was answer to Brook-yn's riddle?"
It made Brooklyn's ears fall slightly but he smiled sadly. "It was promise my friend. That was the answer. And you were able to keep yours to lead me out. Now I have to keep my word to my family at home that I would find my father." Smeagol had tears coming down his eyes. The riddle with its answer was quite emotional to him. He suddenly reached with his hand and took Brooklyn's.
"Smeagol… hopeses for Brook-yn to find daddy," He said with a soft tone that Brooklyn never heard before but appreciated it. The hybrid nodded. "Thank you. And good luck," He said to the creature who then turned and skulked back into his dark home. Brooklyn sighed at his odd friendship with whoever that creature was or used to be as he and Fangspirit both exited out of the Misty Mountain caverns out near a canyon. It would take them a while to find any fields or plains to rest in but soon the duo will be close to the second Elf kingdom; Rivendell.
