The promise of water lures me farther inside, fifty paces into the darkness while my eyes adjust, right up to a spot where the opening narrows so much that the stretcher won’t fit through it. But when I crane my neck around the opening, I can see that the cavern widens again beyond the narrow section. Beyond it is the back of the cave and, on the far-right side of that, is the water source.
Liquid falls steadily down a jutting crevice at the back of the cave not more than ten paces away, cascading into a small rockpool on the cavern floor.
Stagnant water is dangerous, but running water is more likely to be safe.
I’m torn between choices as I lower the stretcher to the ground, rubbing my shaking arms.
If I want to drink, I’ll need to leave the Vandawolf here, and I won’t have a clear line of sight to him from the rockpool.
Of course, if I collapse from thirst, I won’t be able to protect him, either.
Making my decision to drink while I can, I push the stretcher as close to the opening as possible so I’ll have a chance of keeping the top edge of it within my sights when I enter the second cave.
I slip through the narrow pass, hunching my shoulders so I don’t scrape them on the jagged surfaces on both sides. The intact plates of my armor protect me to some degree, but I don’t want to risk needless damage.
There’s barely any light within this second cavern, but the walls glimmer with a soft, amber light, the origin of which I can’t pinpoint.
I make it to the cascade of water that’s as wide as my hand, drop to my knees at the edge of the little rockpool, and quickly unwrap the human material from around my hands before I hold my cupped palms beneath the water flow.
At the last moment, I retract my left hand, using only my right to direct the flow of water to my lips.
I drink, and drink, and drink until my stomach feels like it’s bursting and my thirst is finally quenched.
My thoughts clear a little, although I know it will take time for the liquid to replenish me fully.
When I lean back, preparing to rise to my feet and hurry to the Vandawolf, there’s a soft, scuffling sound from within the outer cave.
I freeze, half-risen, listening carefully.
Unfamiliar voices reach me across the distance. I identify three of them, all carrying a higher pitch, indicating the speakers are likely female. Each voice is a soft, melodic whisper that reminds me of a gentle breeze passing through branches, but there’s nothing soothing about them.
The hairs on the back of my neck have shot right up.
My left palm is tingling. Not the same sensation as when I detect Blacksmith magic, not even the same scent as when blood-rain threatens to fall, but there is certainly magical energy in the air.
The first voice carries a mix of fear and disgust. “What is it?”
“We should kill it.” The second voice is followed by the soft ring of steel, as if a weapon has been drawn.
A third woman speaks quickly but firmly. “Whether this creature lives or dies is for the Commander to decide.”
They can only be talking about the Vandawolf.
Fury rises within me.
The location of their voices is close enough that they could be standing over him, but they aren’t near enough to the opening between the two caves that I can see them from this angle.
The edges of their shadows become visible as I prowl forward, my footfalls silent. There may be more of the newcomers farther back in the outer cave, but the shadows cast up over the wall confirm that three are hovering over the Vandawolf.
The first woman is speaking again, her voice sly this time. “Commander Dawn is busy checking the other cave. I say we kill this thing and tell her it was dead when we found it.”
“With fresh blood dripping from the wound?” The third woman’s contempt for the suggestion drips from her words.
“We don’t know if it’s going to bleed,” the first woman snaps. “Look at it. It’s covered in metal.”
“And with some sort of… tooth. Do you see it?” That voice belongs to the second woman, and her shadow indicates she’s leaning right over the Vandawolf.
I’m at the lip of the pass now, concealed behind it, able to see the full extent of their silhouettes cast up on the wall directly to my left—as well as the Vandawolf’s silhouette where he lies, unmoving, on the stretcher.
