Tori's Misfits

Chapter 15

Jaccia’s Pov:

I once again am the first up, careful not to wake the others, I start my day. Picking out a comfortable outfit and taking the drinking jar, I head to the main chamber.

Checking to ensure that the cave is undisturbed, I quickly clean up and change, wondering again what's on the other side of the waterfall. I hear the others stirring, rushing to fill up the water jar. I then make my way back.

“Morning,” I greet them.

Carli glances at me while stretching and nods her head with a small smile. I smile back letting her know that there are no hard feelings. I am still upset about being overruled but I understand the importance of making sure we are safe.

I glance over and see my friend Tori exiting the tunnel, her unkempt, tousled hair cascading around her face. As she rubs her eyes with her fists, I can’t help but laugh. She glares at me sticking her tongue out. “Stop laughing at me, I can’t help it,” she mumbles.

I send the girls to get ready for the day while I prepare breakfast. I pick two jars, one with pickled eggs, and the other with blackberries, and place them on the eating stone. Grabbing the plates and forks I set the table, then wait for the others to return. When we are all seated Tori gives the blessing and Carli serves the food.

After finishing the meal, we quickly wash the plates and put them away. I pick up the bag I packed with the jerky, candles, the rope, and a knife and we close up the sleeping tunnel.

Carli’s POV:

I haven’t told the others that I am struggling with staying in the caves. I can feel the dampness of the rocks, smell the mustiness of the earth making me fear being buried alive. I need to explore and keep busy to keep the panic at bay and stop myself either shutting down or running from the cave. For these reasons I am glad that we are exploring the other tunnel, instead of heading back to the pool chamber.

Grabbing the pack I head toward the tunnel, stopping I count to ten, taking a death breath I enter.

“I hope we are able to finish exploring this tunnel in one day,” I tell the girls.

“If not, we have a blanket and enough food with us, and will just keep going” Tori stated.

“Will that be safe?” Jaccia asked.

“I believe it will be fine,” Carli stated.

I noticed the tunnel was wider than the previous one we explored, and we seemed to be going uphill very slightly. The walls are damp and in places, water is pooled on the floor. We are going slowly to keep from slipping or walking into the pieces hanging from the ceiling. The hanging pieces are from ceiling to floor in places making us have to go around them, some are very large others are thin enough we can see around them. I can see and hear bats above us, making me cringe at the idea of them attacking us. I come to a stop suddenly as I round one of the bigger jutting pieces and see that the path splits into two tunnels.

A sense of uncertainty fills me as I stare at the two openings disappearing into the darkness. Hiding my fear I turn to face the others “Which path should we take first?” cringing as my voice echoes off the cave walls.

Jaccia peers into the tunnels, straining to make out any details. “I’m not sure,” she admits, “can you see anything in the tunnels?”

We all stand peering into the darkness, “The right one seems narrower than the other,” Tori observes.

“Yes, I agree” dread filling me with the idea of having to take several different forks while exploring and getting lost. “I think we need a way to mark where we have been, before we start venturing into different tunnels.”

“That’s a good idea, but how?” Jaccia asks while looking thoughtful. We look through the few supplies we brought with us, and decide the rope is the best way. Jaccia cuts a strip and ties it around a jutting rock that can be seen from both tunnel entrances.

“I think we should take the wider path on the left first and then we can do the narrower path,” states Tori.

Decision made; we start down the path on the left after a bit notice it is going at a down slope. Making sure to go slow and watch my steps, I tell myself repeatedly you can do this, you are safe.

We are following the downward slope with a drop off to one side, walking in single file, when I hear a commotion behind me. Turning quickly, I see that Jaccia is clinging tightly to Tori’s arm and trying to pull her back onto the path. I hurriedly walk back and grab her other arm and help pull her up. Once back on the path, we check to make sure she is alright then continue on.

“I’m getting thirsty,” Tori states.

“We will stop at the next place wide enough to be safe and get a drink. I don’t think it will be long. The tunnel has been getting wider and staying level for some time now.” I reply in a strained voice.

“Sounds good, I think we could all use a break,” Jaccia answers.