THE TRAIL OF THE THREE
1328 Words
Chapter 38
The cave waited.
Its black entrance seemed to swallow the morning light, leaving only darkness beyond.
For several long moments, no one moved.
The expedition stood at its mouth, each warrior checking their equipment one last time.
Gorak tightened the leather straps around his beast-hide shoulder guard and rested his shortened war hammer across his shoulder.
Kaela tested the edge of her curved blade before sliding it back into its sheath. Her new fang dagger rested against her hip, easy to reach if needed.
Zahren carefully rolled the ancient text into a waterproof leather case and fastened it securely to his back.
Around them, the six chosen warriors prepared in silence.
Tarlok adjusted the massive claw bracers forged from the saber-tooth beast.
Sena coated her throwing knives with tree resin to improve her grip.
Rhea inspected the point of her newly carved fang spear.
Korin secured the thick hide armor around his chest.
The final two warriors checked their rope, torches, medicine satchels, and waterskins.
No one knew how long they might remain beneath the earth.
⸻
Gorak looked across the group.
“Once we go inside…”
His deep voice echoed against the stone.
“…everything changes.”
The warriors listened.
“We stay together.”
“If someone calls for help…”
“We answer.”
“No one tries to become a hero.”
Kaela nodded.
“We have survived because we trust each other.”
She looked at every warrior.
“That trust ends only when we return home.”
One by one…
The warriors nodded.
Then Gorak stepped into the darkness.
The expedition followed.
⸻
Immediately…
The temperature dropped.
Cold air drifted through the passage.
The cave smelled damp.
Every sound echoed.
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
Water fell steadily from the ceiling into unseen pools below.
Tiny creatures darted between cracks in the stone.
Skitter…
Skitter…
Skitter…
Some resembled pale insects.
Others looked like blind cave lizards.
None paid the travelers any attention.
The only light came from bundles of glowing worms gathered into woven cages that served as living lanterns.
Soft blue-green light danced across the stone walls.
Their shadows stretched and twisted like ghosts.
⸻
Then…
Gorak stopped.
“Do you smell that?”
Kaela inhaled.
A strange scent lingered in the air.
Sharp.
Bitter.
Almost metallic.
Zahren frowned.
“It smells…”
He searched for the word.
“…chemical.”
No one recognized it.
It wasn’t smoke.
It wasn’t sulfur.
It was something entirely unfamiliar.
The odor grew slightly stronger the deeper they traveled.
⸻
Then another sound echoed.
…
Tap…
Everyone froze.
Silence.
Again.
Tap…
Far away.
Slow.
Almost rhythmic.
Kaela narrowed her eyes.
“What is making that?”
No one answered.
The tapping continued somewhere deep within the mountain.
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
Whatever produced it…
Was still moving.
⸻
The tunnel widened.
Then suddenly opened into an enormous circular chamber.
Three separate tunnels stretched away into darkness.
One curved left.
One curved right.
One continued straight ahead.
The expedition gathered in the center.
Gorak studied each passage.
“Three paths.”
Kaela folded her arms.
“We’ll cover more ground if we separate.”
Zahren looked uncertain.
“Normally I’d disagree.”
He glanced at the ancient text.
“But this place was built for the three clans.”
Gorak nodded slowly.
“It makes sense.”
Kaela looked around the chamber.
“We stay close enough that a runner can reach the others.”
Everyone agreed.
⸻
The groups divided.
Left Passage
Gorak.
Tarlok.
Korin.
⸻
Right Passage
Kaela.
Sena.
Rhea.
⸻
Center Passage
Zahren.
One Gorilla warrior.
One Panther warrior.
⸻
Gorak looked at everyone.
“If you find something important…”
“Send word immediately.”
Kaela smiled.
“And try not to die.”
Tarlok laughed.
“I’ll do my best.”
The three groups disappeared into separate tunnels.
⸻
The Left Chamber
Gorak’s tunnel sloped downward.
The tapping sound slowly faded behind them.
The passage eventually widened into a rocky chamber covered with giant mushrooms.
Bones littered the ground.
Fresh bones.
Korin whispered,
“This isn’t good.”
Then…
Movement.
Four creatures burst from behind the mushrooms.
Each resembled a smaller version of the saber-toothed beast they had fought the previous day.
Their bodies were about the size of large wolves.
Powerful.
Fast.
Covered in thick gray hide.
Their long fangs glistened in the dim light.
Tarlok grinned.
“These are much more my size.”
The creatures lunged.
Gorak stepped forward.
His new fighting style flowed naturally.
One-handed.
Balanced.
His shortened hammer came down.
BOOM!
The first beast collapsed instantly.
Korin caught another across the jaw with his claw gauntlets.
CRACK!
Tarlok slammed a beast against the cave wall.
The fourth tried escaping.
Gorak intercepted it.
One precise strike ended the fight.
Silence returned.
Tarlok wiped blood from his armor.
“I liked the big one better.”
Gorak chuckled.
“I didn’t.”
⸻
The Right Chamber
Kaela’s tunnel became colder.
The air grew damp.
Soon…
The sound of rushing water filled the cave.
The passage opened into an enormous underground pond.
Crystal-clear water reflected the glow worms above.
The chamber was beautiful.
Until something moved beneath the surface.
A massive fish slowly emerged.
Nearly ten feet long.
Its dark scales shimmered beneath the water.
Rows of jagged spikes covered its back.
Its mouth was filled with needle-like teeth.
Rhea whispered,
“That’s no ordinary fish.”
Kaela watched it carefully.
“It could feed us for weeks.”
Sena smiled.
“If we catch it.”
The fish circled the pond.
Slow.
Watching them.
Kaela crouched.
“No unnecessary risks.”
She pointed toward several thick vines hanging from the cave ceiling.
“We make a net.”
Within minutes, the warriors began weaving an enormous trap.
Patiently…
They waited for the creature to swim closer.
⸻
The Center Passage
Zahren’s group walked in silence.
The tunnel seemed older than the others.
Ancient carvings covered every wall.
Eventually…
They reached a perfectly circular stone chamber.
At its center stood a pedestal.
Upon it rested a smooth stone tablet.
Ancient symbols glowed faintly across its surface.
Zahren stepped forward.
He immediately recognized the writing.
“It’s another test.”
The Gorilla warrior beside him examined the carvings.
Above the tablet were three symbols.
The fist of Mbaga.
The eye of Kal’Zar.
The coiled serpent of Zahkul.
Beneath them appeared a single question written in the ancient language.
Zahren quietly translated.
“What binds the Three when strength, shadow, and wisdom become one?”
The chamber fell silent.
The Panther warrior looked puzzled.
“I don’t know.”
Zahren studied the words.
“So many possible answers…”
Before he could continue…
The Gorilla warrior spoke.
“My grandfather told us stories.”
Everyone looked toward him.
“He always said the Three Gods created different peoples…”
He smiled.
“…but one jungle.”
He stepped toward the pedestal.
Then spoke clearly.
“Unity.”
Nothing happened.
The room remained silent.
He frowned.
Then he remembered the full saying.
He placed one hand over his chest.
“The answer is…”
“Balance through Unity.”
For several heartbeats…
Nothing happened.
Then—
RUMMMMMMMBLE…
The chamber shook.
Ancient gears hidden within the stone began turning.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
A section of the far wall slowly slid open.
Behind it…
A hidden passage stretched into complete darkness.
Zahren’s eyes widened.
“It worked.”
The Gorilla warrior smiled proudly.
“My grandfather would have enjoyed that.”
Zahren immediately turned toward the Panther warrior.
“Go.”
The warrior nodded.
“Find Gorak and Kaela.”
“Tell them we’ve discovered another hidden chamber.”
Without hesitation, the Panther warrior sprinted back through the tunnel, disappearing into the darkness as Zahren and the remaining Gorilla warrior stared into the newly revealed passage.
Somewhere beyond that hidden doorway…
Another piece of the mystery of the Tide Stone was waiting.
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