THE MAZE OF LIVING STONE
1075 Words
Chapter 39
The last echoes of battle faded into silence.
Four smaller cave beasts lay motionless across the rocky chamber, their thick gray hides already being inspected by Tarlok and Korin.
Tarlok nudged one with his boot.
“Not nearly as ugly as their mother.”
Korin chuckled.
“They were faster.”
“They were.”
Gorak rested his shortened hammer across his shoulder.
“But not fast enough.”
He looked around the chamber one final time.
“No symbols.”
“No hidden passages.”
“Nothing connected to the Tide Stone.”
Tarlok sighed.
“So this was just their den.”
“It appears so.”
Gorak turned toward the tunnel.
“Then we head back.”
The three warriors began retracing their steps toward the great chamber where the expedition had first divided.
The cave was once again filled with only the sounds of dripping water.
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
Then—
Rapid footsteps echoed through the passage.
THUD… THUD… THUD…
Everyone immediately raised their weapons.
A figure burst from the darkness.
The Panther warrior assigned to Zahren’s group nearly stumbled to a stop.
He was breathing heavily.
“Gorak!”
Gorak lowered his hammer.
“What happened?”
“We found something.”
The Panther warrior caught his breath.
“A hidden chamber.”
“A trial.”
“It opened another passage.”
Gorak’s eyes narrowed.
“Zahren?”
“He’s waiting.”
Gorak nodded immediately.
“Take us.”
The Panther warrior shook his head.
“I must inform Leader Kaela first.”
Gorak smiled.
“Go.”
“We’ll meet you there.”
Without another word, the Panther warrior sprinted past them, disappearing down the opposite tunnel.
⸻
The Underground Pond
The giant fish circled once more beneath the crystal-clear water.
Its dark scales shimmered beneath the glow worms overhead.
The enormous spikes lining its back broke the surface as it swam.
Kaela remained perfectly still.
The woven vine net rested beneath the water.
Only one more pass…
“Wait…”
She whispered.
Rhea tightened her grip on the ropes.
Sena crouched silently upon a rock overlooking the pond.
The fish turned.
Closer.
Closer.
Kaela slowly raised one hand.
“Now…”
Before she could give the signal—
Running footsteps echoed through the tunnel.
THUD… THUD… THUD…
Kaela spun toward the sound.
The Panther warrior emerged from the darkness.
“Leader Kaela!”
She immediately knew something important had happened.
“What is it?”
“We found another chamber.”
“Hidden behind a trial.”
“Zahren requests everyone return immediately.”
Kaela looked once toward the enormous fish.
The creature disappeared beneath the surface.
For a brief moment…
She almost smiled.
“We’ll have to catch you another day.”
She turned to her team.
“We move.”
Within seconds, the ropes were abandoned.
The giant fish vanished into the depths once again.
⸻
The Hidden Passage
Only a short time later…
All three teams reunited.
Gorak clasped Zahren’s shoulder.
“You found it.”
Zahren nodded.
“The chamber tested knowledge of the Three Gods.”
The Gorilla warrior who had solved the riddle stood quietly nearby.
“It wasn’t me alone.”
He smiled modestly.
“My grandfather deserves most of the credit.”
Kaela looked at the newly opened doorway.
“What lies beyond?”
Zahren slowly shook his head.
“We haven’t entered.”
“We waited.”
Gorak looked around the group.
“Good.”
He rested his hammer upon his shoulder.
“We face whatever comes…”
“Together.”
The warriors answered with determined nods.
⸻
The expedition crossed the hidden doorway.
Immediately…
The air changed.
The strange chemical smell became much stronger.
The walls became smoother.
Older.
Covered with carvings almost worn away by countless centuries.
Then the passage widened.
Everyone stopped.
Before them stretched an enormous maze.
Stone walls nearly thirty feet high twisted in every direction.
Countless pathways disappeared into darkness.
Far above…
A single beam of sunlight pierced a crack in the cave ceiling.
It shone directly upon the center of the maze.
Like a beacon.
Like a destination.
Kaela followed the light with her eyes.
“There.”
Zahren nodded.
“The center.”
“The builders wanted whoever entered to know where they were trying to reach.”
Tarlok scratched his head.
“They also made sure getting there wouldn’t be easy.”
No one disagreed.
⸻
The warriors stepped carefully into the maze.
Every sound echoed strangely.
Even their breathing seemed louder.
Then…
A low growl rolled through the corridors.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr…
Everyone froze.
Another answered somewhere else.
Rrrrrrrrrrrr…
Then another.
Different.
Deeper.
The sounds came from every direction.
Kaela slowly drew her blade.
“We’re not alone.”
Sena disappeared into the shadows between the stone walls.
“I’ll scout ahead.”
Gorak nodded.
“Don’t go far.”
⸻
The group continued deeper.
The maze twisted constantly.
Left.
Right.
Dead ends.
Narrow passages.
Open chambers.
Ancient symbols appeared upon many walls, though none matched those on the Tide Stone.
Then Korin suddenly raised a hand.
“Stop.”
Everyone froze.
Ahead…
Something enormous moved.
At first, it appeared to be an ordinary plant.
Its thick green stem rose nearly fifteen feet from the cave floor.
Broad leaves spread outward like giant shields.
Then…
Its mouth opened.
Massive jaws lined with thorn-like teeth slowly unfolded.
Sticky vines dangled from within.
The entire plant was easily large enough to swallow a full-grown warrior whole.
A sweet scent drifted through the corridor.
Almost pleasant.
Almost inviting.
Rhea whispered,
“What… is that?”
Zahren stared in disbelief.
“I’ve read legends…”
“…but I never believed them.”
The monstrous plant slowly turned toward the expedition.
Its jaws opened wider.
SSSSSHHHHHKKK…
Sticky saliva dripped onto the stone floor.
Then…
Another opened farther down the corridor.
Then another.
Entire sections of the maze were filled with gigantic carnivorous plants.
Tarlok slowly backed away.
“I suddenly miss the giant cat.”
A nervous laugh escaped several warriors.
Then…
Another growl echoed through the maze.
Closer this time.
Much closer.
The expedition now understood the terrible truth.
The maze itself was alive.
Its twisting passages hid predators.
Its corridors were guarded by monstrous plants.
And somewhere beyond both…
The light at the center continued to shine, waiting for whoever proved worthy enough—or fortunate enough—to reach it.
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