“It’s close,” he said. “The entrance should be to the left of the central one. Hidden behind it, actually.” He led the way, pullingsomething from his pack as they circled the rock. A flashlight device, she saw as he turned it on.
“Technology?”
“Like I said, the Oraku prefer not to use it, but that doesn’t mean they don’t keep some around, just in case.”
“And this was one of those just-in-case occasions?”
“I thought so.” He pulled out a long knife as well. Maria’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Like I said. Just in case. Now, stay behind me. The stories were a little vague, but we need to be careful.”
She didn’t ask what he meant by that, but his tone said enough. She fell in close behind and stayed quiet, even the Llamalians right behind them seeming to sense the need for stealth.
Zepharos set the flashlight device to a red-hued light to spare their night vision, then turned it to a lower illumination setting. Enough to see by, but not so much as to flood the place with light. It was a natural tunnel, but there were signs where tools had made alterations to the stone, widening it in places and carving what looked like torch or candle holder spaces along the walls.
It was readily apparent that no one had been through here in averylong time, and there were no traces of any of those ancient lighting implements anywhere to be seen. The pathway was relatively clear, though. A layer of dirt in some places, but mostly just rock, the downward angle making it feel even more like they were descending into some oppressive subterranean realm, though even if they’d been moving straight ahead and perfectly level they’d still be walking beneath the incalculable weight of a mountain.
They descended for hours, occasionally entering larger chambers but mostly traveling in a simple tunnel. It was wideenough to walk side-by-side, though, so it didn’t feel too claustrophobic. At least not any more than walking beneath a billion tons of rock normally felt.
Abruptly, the walls widened into a proper cavern, its high ceiling and spacious area appearing to be at least the size of a football field even in the dim light. There were fallen rocks throughout, dotting the space with what looked like debris. Only as they passed did Maria note that they had been worked on and shaped, though most were quite broken. A few, however, seemed intact, and the way they sometimes lay against one another gave the impression of an odd sort of stone village of sorts.
She was about to comment on that when the sound of a low snarling growl filled the air, reverberating off the stone.
Zepharos quickly keyed up the intensity of the light and held his knife at the ready. What they saw was horrifying, but not as scary as it sounded. The creature was a sickly gray color from a life without sun. No need for pigmentation living in the dark. Its eyes were enormous, but it seemed to move more by hearing and smell than vision. It moved like a leopard, claws scratching along the stone, saliva dripping from its fangs, its sinewy muscles clear beneath its hairless hide.
Without warning it leapt through the air, covering far more distance than would have seemed possible, flying right at Maria and the animals. The light clattered to the ground as Zepharos threw himself between them, absorbing the impact while driving the knife into the animal’s twisting body.
It howled loud and spun away as it landed, circling angrily then charging again, its attention now focused on the threat rather than the prey. Zepharos dove aside, slashing with the blade, opening a small cut along its flank. The beast, however, also landed a blow, clawing open a shallow gash on the man’s arm.
More sounds began to fill the chamber. Growls. Snarls. Zepharos and Maria realized at once what that meant.
This animal was not alone.
Zepharos lunged into an attack, taking the offensive and charging the animal, his knife held low. The beast reacted, springing forward in response. Zepharos turned aside at the last second, his blade flashing out hard and fast, burying itself deep in the creature’s chest where he hoped its heart was located.
It hit the ground with a thud and slid to a stop, motionless. His blow had struck true.
Zepharos didn’t waste a second. “In there!” he commanded, pointing to a gap between two rocks where a triangle symbol had been carved into the stone itself.
Maria didn’t hesitate, running right into the void, the Llamalians right behind her. She looked back to see him snatch his knife and pick up the flashlight then run after her, the sound of the approaching animals growing louder by the moment. She saw their shapes in the distance. A dozen or more of them, equally ugly and just as dangerous. Maria looked around at their surroundings. It was a small room carved into the stone, and Zepharos was rolling a massive wheel-shaped stone across the entry opening. It was the only way in or out, and, with great effort, he managed to close them in.
The sounds of growls and yelps were muffled but they could still hear them as the pack descended on their fallen comrade. But rather than mourn its loss, the wet crunching sounds made it clear that they were devouring the unexpected meal. Here in the underground, apparently no meat would go to waste.
Zepharos dropped his knife and slid down to the ground, leaning against the wall out of breath.
“How did you know this was here?”
He shrugged. “Like I said, the locals had stories. Not just the path, but the dangers as well as places to find refuge.”
“What are they?”
“Volvix, if I’m not mistaken. At least, that’s what the old ones called them.” He pulled out a water container and washed his wound, wincing in pain.
“It’s not too deep,” Maria said, taking a look. “I’ll dress the wound.”
“Thanks.”
“You saved me back there. It’s kinda the least I can do.”
“Still, thanks,” he said, slumping over.
