"Joey, I think we should try to catch some fish from the stream, see if there are any salamanders along the way," James suggested, his voice a mixture of determination and wariness.

“Yeah, that sounds like a good plan,” Joey replied, his tone laced with eagerness. He looked over his shoulder, a sly grin forming on his face. “It’d be nice to have a change from the mushrooms, you know? They’re kind of bland.”

James rolled his eyes, his tone exasperated. “Just keep your eyes open for anything that moves, okay?” He didn’t need Joey getting distracted again.

They started moving cautiously down the dim cavern passage. They didn’t follow any sort of official formation—James knew from all the games he played and books he read that there were better ways to do things. Formations, coordinated tactics... things real adventurers would use. But there was a vast difference between video games and real life, and James felt that difference acutely now. The truth was, he was doing his best just not to get overwhelmed. One foot in front of the other—that was how he kept himself from spiraling into fear. The dark, damp air of the cavern felt oppressive, and each step echoed slightly, reminding him just how isolated they were from the world outside.

Joey spoke up, his voice soft so it wouldn't echo off the stone walls. “I noticed something while you were asleep. The fish, they seem to move on a kind of rotation. When the island appears in the middle of the lake, the fish gather around it. But then, they disappear somewhere upstream when the island sinks back under the water. I wanted to wait for you before we explored more. Not because I was scared or anything,” he added quickly, “but because... well, we’re in this together, right?”

James glanced at Joey, catching the honesty in his words. He gave a small smile, knowing that Joey’s reason wasn’t entirely bravery. There was a certain vulnerability in Joey’s voice that told James his friend had been just as scared as he had. The fear of being alone in a place like this was real, and it bound them together, creating a stronger bond than they had before. “Right,” James nodded, letting the subject drop. He could hardly blame Joey. He wanted to be stronger before they went further, too.

“We’re coming up on the stream,” James whispered, gesturing with his hand for Joey to duck down. “Careful now.” They huddled behind some jagged rocks that jutted up along the cavern floor. The walls around them were lined with glowing mushrooms, giving off an eerie bioluminescence that cast flickering shadows across the rocky surface. The dampness of the cave made everything glisten, as if the walls were coated in sweat. Peeking around the corner, they saw the stream flowing steadily, its waters glinting faintly in the dim light. A few fish swam lazily in the shallows, their silvery bodies reflecting the mushroom's glow. Up ahead, a salamander was lapping at the water's edge. The sound of the stream was calming, and for a moment, James wished they could just sit and rest, listen to the water, and forget about everything else.

Joey leaned closer to James and whispered, “I think it’s a small one. We can take it!”

James squinted at the creature. It wasn’t one of the bigger salamanders they’d encountered before. This one looked younger, its scales duller, and its movements a bit less aggressive. It seemed smaller, with shorter limbs and a less defined jaw. “I agree. What's the plan?”

Joey blinked at him, a sheepish look crossing his face. “Uh, I dunno. I usually just run at them and hit them.”

James gave him a sidelong look, his face deadpan. “Really? That’s your whole strategy?”

Joey shrugged defensively, his voice dropping to an almost embarrassed mumble. “Hey, it works!”

James sighed, shaking his head. “Maybe there’s a better way to do it,” he replied, biting his lip as he thought. “How about we try sneaking up on it, get a good hit in before it knows we’re here?”

Joey perked up, his eyes wide with sudden enthusiasm. “Like when we sneak into Mrs. Smith’s kitchen during pie night?” His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, his tongue poking out as if he could almost taste the pie. “For the strawberry rhubarb?”

James had to suppress a smile as his stomach rumbled slightly at the thought. “For the pie,” he confirmed, his own mouth watering. The memory of Mrs. Smith's pies was a comforting one—a reminder of home and simpler times. “Just pretend that salamander is Mrs. Smith’s prize pie. Focus, and move like you’re trying to get a slice before anyone else does.”

Joey nodded, a look of determination settling over his features. “For the pie,” he whispered again, as if it was a solemn promise.

The two boys began to sneak closer, their movements slow and deliberate. The one good thing about not having armor, James thought, was that they didn’t make any noise while sneaking. He recalled how the salamander’s teeth had torn into him before, and he promised himself that as soon as they could, he was getting armor. Something to keep those sharp teeth away from his skin. The helmet they’d found might help, but the confusion effect still made him wary. {Identify}—that was definitely a skill James needed to learn, as soon as possible. It frustrated him not knowing what was safe to use and what wasn’t.

The uneven ground beneath them was covered in a mix of pebbles and moss that made every step uncertain. James focused on each movement, avoiding any loose stones that could give away their position. He could hear his heart thumping, the tension making every noise louder in his mind. A single misplaced footstep, and everything could go wrong.

His mind began to wander, and he realized, belatedly, that he wasn’t staying focused like he’d told Joey to do. He tried to push the thoughts of home and safety out of his mind, but they clung to him like cobwebs. He was jolted back to the present by the distinct sound of hissing—coming from behind them.

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“Uh, James...” Joey whispered, tension clear in his voice.

James turned his head slowly, his heart sinking as he spotted another salamander about twenty feet behind them, its eyes locked onto them. Its presence set off the salamander by the stream, which also began to hiss, its head snapping up in alarm. The echo of the hissing reverberated off the cavern walls, making the space feel smaller, more claustrophobic. The walls seemed to close in around them, shadows growing deeper, the humid air suddenly feeling heavier.

“I got the one in front! You get the one behind!” Joey shouted, abandoning all pretense of stealth as he charged forward, fists swinging.

James turned back to face the salamander behind them, his heart pounding in his ears. This one was different—larger, with a gleam in its eyes that James hadn’t seen before. It was almost like there was intelligence there, a calculating awareness. The salamander’s dark scales glistened, its eyes reflecting the eerie light of the glowing mushrooms. It moved with an unnerving grace, its muscular body rippling under its leathery skin. James’s hands tightened around the trident. He didn’t like the way this one looked at him. It felt more deliberate, almost as if the salamander was sizing him up.

He spared a glance back at Joey, just in time to see his friend’s skin take on a metallic sheen, the effect of {Bronze Skin} making him look almost statuesque in the dim cavern light. Joey’s fists were raised, his whole body exuding determination. James took a deep breath and turned back to face his own enemy, trusting Joey to handle his end of things.

The big salamander began to stalk forward, its tongue flicking out to taste the air. James kept the trident angled between them, trying to steady his shaking hands. The cavern around him felt too quiet, the hissing of the salamander echoing, mixing with the faint trickle of water from the stream behind him. He heard a muffled shout from Joey—something about donuts—but he couldn’t afford to look. He had to trust Joey. The salamander saw its opening and lunged, closing the distance in a heartbeat.

The trident jerked in James’s hands, almost like it had a will of its own, trying to guide him, but his body wasn’t fast enough. The salamander’s weight slammed into him, pain blossoming across his chest as he was thrown backward. He flew through the air, landing hard on his back, the impact forcing the air from his lungs. Everything felt like it was spinning. The damp, cold ground beneath him seemed to swallow him up. His thoughts were jumbled, a mix of fear and determination. He couldn’t let it end like this.

Dazed, James forced himself to look up. Through the chaos, he saw Joey—his friend’s fists glowing faintly as they pounded down on the salamander’s skull, each hit accompanied by a muttered word. James couldn’t make them all out, but he definitely heard the word “donut” more than once. Despite the pain, a small laugh bubbled up inside him. Only Joey could turn a life-or-death fight into a conversation about pastries.

James groaned as he forced himself to roll over, his fingers still clutching the trident. He managed to get to his feet, his vision swimming slightly. The salamander in front of him wasn’t done—it was coming at him again, its eyes locked onto him with a fierce, predatory focus. The creature’s hisses echoed, a chilling reminder of how outmatched he felt. James could feel his heart pounding against his ribs. He needed to end this, and fast.

Suddenly, everything paused. The salamander facing James halted in its tracks, its gaze shifting past him. From behind, James heard a loud splash, followed by an unmistakable, bone-rattling **SNAP**. Even the salamander seemed stunned by the noise. It was like the entire cavern held its breath. The stillness was unnerving, the sense that something significant had just happened hanging heavily in the air.

James turned his head just enough to see Joey standing over a now bisected salamander, its body still twitching as it lay by the stream. The water around it had turned dark, the black blood mixing with the crystal-clear stream. Joey looked momentarily stunned himself, staring at the creature in disbelief, his fists still clenched.

“Joey!” James shouted, snapping his friend out of his daze. “I need you over here!”

Joey’s eyes met James’s, and his expression hardened. With a fierce grin, Joey turned and sprinted towards the bigger salamander, his bronze-coated fists at the ready. “Come on, you overgrown lizard! I want another donut!” he roared, closing the distance quickly.

The salamander hissed, clearly torn between two targets. With Joey approaching fast and James blocking the other path, the creature twisted towards Joey, its instincts opting to face the greater perceived threat. James saw his opportunity—the creature’s attention was no longer on him.

He took a deep breath, gripped the trident, and charged forward. The cavern floor was slick beneath his feet, patches of moss and puddles making his footing treacherous. The salamander was focused on Joey, its jaws snapping at his friend as Joey dodged and swung, his fists connecting solidly with its snout. James aimed for the creature's side, just behind its front leg, and thrust the trident forward with all his strength. He felt the resistance as the weapon pierced scales and muscle, a spray of black ichor splattering across the trident’s shaft and onto his hands.

The salamander let out an ear-splitting screech, its body thrashing in pain. Joey took advantage of the moment, leaping onto its back like it was a mechanical bull. He grabbed hold of the ridges along its spine, his legs clamping tight as he raised one fist, bringing it down repeatedly onto the back of its head.

“NOT—GETTING—AWAY—WITHOUT—MY—DONUT!” Joey shouted, each word punctuated by a powerful blow. The salamander stumbled, its movements growing sluggish as the combined assault overwhelmed it. It buckled, its legs shaking before collapsing under the weight of the attack. The rocky ground beneath it shook slightly with the impact, loose stones scattering around them.

James kept his grip on the trident, twisting it for extra damage, feeling the creature’s life force ebbing away. Its thrashing slowed, its tail twitching weakly. Finally, with a shuddering groan, the creature collapsed completely, its legs giving out beneath it. Joey continued to pound its head, his fists relentless, until James called out to him.

“Joey, stop! It’s dead! Look, the essence—it’s dissipating,” James pointed, his voice breathless.

Joey froze, his fist still raised, his breathing ragged. Slowly, he turned to look at James, then at the shimmering essence that was rising from the salamander’s corpse. He let out a deep breath, rolling off the creature and landing beside it, sitting down heavily on the cavern floor.

Joey looked over at James, his face smeared with black salamander blood, a wide grin spreading across his face. “So... donut time?” he asked, his voice full of hope and exhaustion.

James let out a laugh—part disbelief, part relief. The tension that had built up during the fight finally started to unwind. “Yeah, Joey. Let’s see what we got.”