Land of the Moon

Chapter 7

The rain had still not let up, trapping us in the cave for well over a night and half a day now. Eventually, we would have to risk leaving the cave and traveling in the rain or try to hunt in this unknown terrain. Our food was starting to get a bit low since we all decided to travel light and restock in the next town. We were told the Dark Mountains weather could be unpredictable, but none of us were expecting to be trapped in a cave by the rain. Nikolaj had ventured further in the cave to see if it had another opening or if we were going to be stuck with the one plan.

A good amount of time had passed when Ema had noticed Nikolaj returning. He stretched out before taking a seat by our small fire. “There is more to this cave. It looks as if it is a way to pass through this mountain without being seen.” Nikolaj said loud enough for us all to hear as he informed Cairo.

“You say it like that may not be a good thing.” Ema pointed out for everyone.

“The thing is, there are quite a few ways to go. And there is no telling what may be in them. I know none of us sensed anything here in this part of the cave when we first got here, but when I went further in I picked up a couple of different scents. They were old and did not make their way over here at any time, but it could be something that sticks to the tunnels. Like I said there is no telling.” Nikolaj stated as he tossed a small piece of wood on the fire.

Cairo considered what Nikolaj had told everyone, before addressing the rest of us. “What do you all think?” He asked as he watched each of us while we all rolled this information around in our heads.

“Well we only got two options and they both are dangerous,” Mira replied to Cairo as she watched everyone over the small campfire.

“Mira is right, though if we take the tunnels we might have a better chance. And not be so exposed to the elements and god knows what else might be out there.” Louisa added on. We all thought about what she said and what would be our best bet. Making something small for us all to eat, Louisa sat quietly lost in her own thoughts like the rest of us. When she handed Ema and me our portion for the night she whispered to Ema, “Do you want to practice a little more earth magic?”

Ema nodded her head and gave Louisa a small smile. She was happy that throughout the small ordeals we faced, and what the Hunters now knew of us, Louisa still treated her kindly. After the meal, Louisa took Ema to the other side of the cave to practice. We truly got lucky with the Hunters having Louisa with them. It helped speed along Ema’s training immensely. The two girls were just finishing up their study session when Cairo called us all together again.

“Alright, we all have had a good bit to think our options over, what are your answers?” It did not come as a surprise to him that we all agreed that the cave tunnels may be a better option. “Since we are all in agreement, we will head into the tunnels once we are all packed up.”

“My nose is pretty damn good in my human form, but if I shifted it would be more accurate and help me guide us out of here. What do you think, Cairo?” Nikolaj stated as he watched Cairo.

“That is a good plan, you go ahead and do that, and I will carry your bag for you. Hopefully, we can get the hell out of this place without running into anything. Fighting in close quarters is going to be difficult, especially since we have no idea where we are going. Louisa, you follow behind Nikolaj you can help him out with directions since you are an earth witch. Vladimir, you follow up if anything comes at them or attempts to pass I know you will not miss. Ema and Cecily you two will be in the middle of us all. Mira and I will take up the rear and keep all our asses safe. Are we ready?” We all nodded in confirmation. “Good then let’s move out.” Cairo then turned and started to pack his things.

Nikolaj shifted then trotted to the back of the cave where the tunnels began. When we got closer he was sniffing at two entrances one leading off to the left the other to the right. By the time we reached him, he started heading down the left tunnel. Louisa cast witch lights so that we could see where we were going in the dark tunnel. There were a few places where it got a little tight before opening up again where we could once again walk comfortably instead of sideways or taking off our packs to carry at our sides. Nikolaj led us down farther into the mountain only stopping shortly when we came upon more tunnels to choose from.

We had just left a small clearing after picking a tunnel when Nikolaj suddenly shifted back holding his nose. It was not long till we smelt the rotten stench of flesh that Nikolaj had gotten the pleasure of first coming across it. The smell was growing stronger as if making its way towards us. We started to back up only to be met with more of the rotting flesh stench. It seemed whatever was giving off the horrible smells had trapped us in one of its tunnels. Louisa brought in the witch lights so that they were only right around us and had dimmed them so they were not giving off much light. Everyone had drawn a weapon preparing for whatever it was that was slowly headed our way.

“I could open a small space in the rock and hopefully connect it to another tunnel, but there is a chance it will not connect to a tunnel or just open up to more of whatever is coming our way. It will also take me a bit cause it takes a good bit of magic to accomplish.” Louisa whispered back to us so that Cairo could hear her. It was a plan, a fifty-fifty chance but a plan none the less.

“If it gets us all out of here or at least having the damn things coming at us from one side it is a better chance than being stuck here in the middle. You all with me?” Cairo gave us all a quick glance before looking back the way we had come.

“I can try to help you, so that it is not too much on you, Louisa.” Ema had made her way over to Louisa wanting to help out as well since they all helped in protecting her.

“Thank you, Ema,” Louisa gave her a small smile. “Alright, what you can do is put your hand on my shoulder or back and just concentrate on sharing your magic with me. That will help me to keep from exhausting my own as well, and hopefully, give us a better chance of controlling where we open up to.” Looking back over her shoulder she told us all to be ready to move as soon as they got it open because she would not be able to hold it open long. Vladimir already had a few arrows knocked in his bow ready for whatever was carrying the stench closer to us. 

We just caught a glimpse of the monster's shadow when Louisa called out for us to move through the opening, her and Ema had now created, into another part of the cave tunnels. There was a shrill howl that echoed down the tunnel to us making it sound like a dying wolf before the wall closed behind us. Louisa was so focused on the wall that her witch lights had faded out to nothing when she closed it. We were now in complete darkness. It was much worse for Cairo, Louisa, Ema, and Vladimir since they could not see well or at all in the dark. Nikolaj, Mira, and I were comfortable in the dark moving around the others as a shield so nothing could get at them while they were unaware. I glanced at Ema and Vladimir who were now holding hands with Ema positioned safely behind him with her back to the wall. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Mira glancing at them as well, with a small smile on her face. 

Louisa got her witch lights working again lighting up our little escape route. As soon as the darkness disappeared Vladimir and Ema let their hands fall apart from each other. Ema then moved over behind me, trying to hide the faint blush now fading from her cheeks.

“Which way do you think we should head now Cairo,” Louisa asked.

“I think we should take the right from where we entered. Nikolaj what are your thoughts?” Cairo was using all of the Hunters’ instincts when in an unknown situation as we were in now.  He was certainly a good leader and it was obvious why they all put their trust in him. 

Nikolaj gave Cairo a nod of confirmation as he moved in front of us to take the lead. We had made our way in this new tunnel quite a ways before we came upon an opening of another tunnel with a fork. Louisa sent two witch lights a few feet down each tunnel to see if there were any more openings shortly in them. Keeping to the right tunnel we kept moving along, our instincts were whispering to us to keep along our current path.

We traveled for what felt like hours since all we had were Louisa's witch lights we couldn't tell if it was day or night. We were also unsure how long we had been in these tunnels now. Our party was fortunate enough to not have run into another creature as we almost did in the beginning. Ema was starting to feel uncomfortable being underground for so long now. 

“How are you holding up Ema?” I whispered to her as she walked ahead of me.

“I am doing ok, I will feel better once we are out in the fresh air again. Being underground gives me the creeps.” As her body shivered giving herself gooseflesh.

Cairo had stopped us to give us all a small rest. We were all alert listening for anything in the tunnel with us. None of us wanted to stay long enough to rest especially since there wasn't much room in case we needed to fight. Vladimir was never far from Ema since our first encounter earlier in the tunnels. While we walked they would move together just slightly touching as if each of them needed the other's contact. 

I watched Ema now as she sat close to Louisa making small talk. Exhaling slowly to help release some of the tension in my muscles, my mind started working on the possibilities of how this was going to work out for Ema in the end. Letting her learn and experience love, whatever was growing between her and Vladimir to bloom. Only to tear them apart when it was time to come back to reality. 

How am I supposed to let this start between them only to rip them apart and watch as her heart breaks from her first love? Elves do not fall in love easily, especially someone who is a part elf. Her father King Arathorn took time to win her mother's heart, Queen Clementine. Their Kingdom was of mixed race, one of the few. Ema was fortunate not to know first hand how others treated each other when everyone was of a different race. When we first met the Hunters it seemed as though Vladimir has had first-hand experience of the cruelty of others' judgments. Though it seems he is also drawn to Ema as she is to him.