I stood alone once again in the endless halls of the dungeon, the stinging scent of decay hung heavy in the dank air. The scaled boar I had slain lay lifeless on the floor, its grotesque form sprawled out across the cold stone. I panted heavily, my breaths ragged and desperate, as I tried to regain some semblance of composure. The fight had been quick but grueling, pushing me to my limits. My fur was soaked with sweat, sticking to my skin like wet leaves on a forest floor. Each minor movement sent sore pains through my body.
The terrain surrounding me was treacherous, jagged rocks jutted out from the ground like gnarled teeth. The crumbling cavern walls offered no comfort, their ancient stones cold and unforgiving. The only sounds were my labored breaths echoing off the stone walls and the occasional drip of water from the stalactites hanging above. As I balanced on my hind legs, the loose stones beneath me crunched and shifted with the movement. As exhaustion seeped into my very bones, the need for rest became as evident as the lingering scent of death. There was a dull ache in my chest and the weight of my eyelids was increasing as I felt the need to search for a safe place to sleep for the night.
"Was it even night?" I though to myself. "How many days had passed since I found myself here? Two or three, perhaps?" I couldn't say for certain.
My vision blurred as I scanned the area, exhaustion threatening to overtake me. My eyes fell on the still unmoving rabbit next to me. The hunger welled up once again and I almost uncontrollably plunged my proboscis into quickly it, draining it of blood and leaving another lifeless husk. Still though that did little to relieve my exhaustion.
Moving on sheer will, I staggered through the gloom, searching for another ledge or outcropping that i could use as a temporary home. Tucked away not far from where I stood, I found a small hole near where the wall met the floor. It was a shallow depression in the cavern wall; its semi-circular entrance partly shielded by a twisted mass of roots and boulders that looked as though they were the skeletal remains of some primordial beast. With trembling limbs and a heavy sigh, I crawled into the alcove, nestling against the cold stone as best I could. The texture of the rock was coarse and unyielding against my fur, It was far from comfortable, but it was safe, at least for now.
The darkness of the cavern enveloped me like a thick cloak as my mind slipped into the realm of dreams. Images flickered and twisted like shadows on a cave wall, a tapestry of nightmares that cemented my unease. With every passing second, the grip of fear tightened around my heart. I found myself standing in a world aflame, the air thick with the acrid scent of smoke and burning flesh. A voice cried out in distress, barely audible above the crackling inferno.
"Help...me..." The words echoed in the raging inferno, a haunting cry that pierced my heart and fueled my frantic search through the hellish flames. My heart raced, an erratic beat that echoed in my ears as I pushed through the sea of flames, determined to find the source of the voice. My claws pounded against the ground as I pushed forward, the heat searing my skin and choking me with smoke.
In the center of the inferno, stood a lone figure shrouded in darkness. Its body engulfed in the hungry fire, yet it did not burn. I watched, unable to move or speak, as the figure raised its hand stretched out towards me, dripping with fresh blood that seemed to glow in the fiery light.
"Who are you?" I wanted to scream, but my voice was little more than a feeble whisper swallowed by the raging firestorm. The figure offered no answer, its bloody hand still outstretched and unrelenting. It remained silent, its burning gaze locking onto mine with a familiarity that filled me with dread. Its eyes locked onto mine, twin orbs of crimson that seemed to pierce my very soul. And as they bore into me, I was struck with the chilling realization that this creature, this monster, knew me.
"What do you want from me?" I pleaded, my body frozen in a fear that threatened to consume me.
As if in response, the ground beneath us began to tremble, the fire roared even louder than before and a cacophony of metal on metal rang out in the distance, like the sound of a thousand blacksmiths. The figure's mouth opened, a gaping maw that seemed to swallow the light itself as it uttered a single, terrible word heard clear through the chaos:
"Blood."
My eyes snapped open, my body jolted awake with a gasp. The dream, the nightmare, faded, but its chilling aftereffects lingered, an icy specter that clinged to my consciousness. I laid there, disoriented and gasping for breath, my entire body still trembling from the terror of the nightmare. As I tried to shake off the lingering effects, the sounds of metal clanging and footsteps echo through the cavern, ripping me back into reality. My instincts screamed at me to remain still, to not draw attention to myself. With each passing second, the footsteps grew louder, the rhythmic tapping against stone sending shivers down my spine. The adrenaline coursing through my veins only heightened my terror as I braced myself for another possible fight.
The clashing of metal rang out once more, followed by hushed voices. My breath came in shallow gasps as the voices grow louder and closer. I strained to make out their words, but they remained unintelligible. The footsteps stopped just outside the cramped cavern, and I could sense the presence of several individuals. Careful not to make a sound, I peered through a small gap in the rocks that formed my makeshift shelter.
A group of four adventurers stood before me, their armor and weapons gleaming even in the dim light of the dungeon. The shortest among them was a broad-shouldered dwarf with a bushy beard, clad in plate armor that bore the insignia of a shield with a staff and sword crossed in front of it. He wielded a massive hammer, its head adorned with intricate engravings. Beside him, a lithe half-elf woman dressed in dark leather armor scanned the area, her silver eyes hiding a hint of greed. She carried a pair of curved daggers at her hip, each bearing the same shield emblem.
Behind them, a hooded robed figure with a staff surveyed the scene, his fingers dancing along the wooden surface as if coaxing forth some hidden power. The final member a beautiful human woman with a cold calculated glare, she carried a bow at the ready scanning the surroundings for threats. These adventurers were clearly part of a well-coordinated group.
Their breath billowed out in synchronized rhythms, puffing out against the cold air like plumes of smoke. The dwarf was the first to break the silence.
"Goblins" He grunted, adjusting the grip on his hammer and stooped low, examining the aftermath of a chaotic skirmish. The moment he spoke, I felt a shock run through me. Not from fear or surprise, but from the sudden realization that I understood the words he had spoken. It was a strange sensation, as if a door had been unlocked within my mind, granting me access to knowledge that had been hidden away. But how? Why could I suddenly understand their speech?
I shifted as quietly as I could to try to catch a glimpse of the scene. The ground was littered with the corpses of a few greenskined humanoids, carcasses eviscerated and reeking of blood and bowel. Bones snapped in gruesome angles and limbs strewn grotesquely apart made for a horrifying display of gore. How had I slept through a fight this close to my resting place?
Despite his imposingly gruff exterior, the dwarf handled each corpse delicately, turning them over with a gentleness that belied his brutish appearance. His gaze was analytical, taking in every detail from the splatters of congealed blood to the tiniest of bite marks. Recognition flickered across his weathered face as he found an unusual wound on one of the goblin bodies.
The half-elf woman joined him in his investigation, her daggers unsheathed and glinting ominously under what little light penetrated this part of the dungeon. Her eyes took on an intense glow as she traced the unfamiliar markings on the slain goblins's body.
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Meanwhile, the robed figure remained aloof, attentively watching from a safe distance even as his accomplices delved deeper into the scene. The soft glow from his staff provided a steady illumination that cast deep shadows onto their activities. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the smooth surface of his staff.
"If goblins have taken root in the dungeon again we need to investigate. We can't let them fester and grow." The elvish woman says, her eyes growing dark while she spins the daggers in her hands. She stared off in the distance as if recalling a past memory.
"Let's just press on," the archer suggested, her tone firm and authoritative. "We have a mission to complete. We can look into the goblins on our way back." Her words only served to heighten my curiosity, and I strained to hear more.
As they began to walk away, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming urge to follow them to learn more about who they were, what they were doing here. It was a dangerous gamble, I knew, but for some odd reason I couldn't quite decern, the sound of their voices brought me a small measure of comfort and familiarity. Resolving to take the risk, I quietly rose from my hiding spot and emerged cautiously into what remained of the chamber. There were obvious signs of a fight in the corridor, the goblins lay strewn about the floor, and gashes from bladed weapons or claws marred the walls and floor. Curiously I saw no signs of the bodies of whatever creatures the goblins were fighting.
The group continued on in the dungeon walking the passageway cautiously but still as if they knew nothing here was truly a threat.
"Between the reports we have about the floor boss, that shadeswood spider, and now goblins. Something strange is definitely going on here. We should hurry with our investigation and report back to the guildmaster." The robed man spoke aloud as they rounded another corner. At the mention of the spider it brought forth an image of four figures standing tall against a behemoth, their faces silhouetted by fire. This must have been the same group that had inadvertently saved him from the webs.
"I..." The dwarf man started but cut himself off as he came across the scene of my fight with the scaled boar. He surveyed the area, scrutinizing the three lifeless husks that lay before him. The rest of the group soon followed behind.
"It wasn't the goblins," The archer woman said suddenly, her voice echoing through the tunnel's expanse. "They would have taken the mana cores."
"Kaen, can you bring your light over here?" the elven figure said, pointing to the boar I had killed. The robed figure quietly responded. Bringing his staff closer and bathing the creature in light. Its body was a withered mass of not much more than skin and bone, evidence of my desperate struggle for survival. The elf woman with the daggers crouched down, examining the corpse in detail.
"Completely drained it of blood," she observed with a shudder, noting the pale pallor of the creature's skin and the dark pool of liquid beneath it. "Just like the others." Her eyes shifted to the second smaller boar, its neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and then to the rabbit, with deep slashes across its body.
"Stirges..." the archer guessed. "let's pray it is not a swarm. Just harvest the cores and let's continue."
The elvish woman got to work, with swift practice movements she sliced open the scaled boar at the belly before reaching and pulling out a small glowing stone. Its blue light pulsed in the dark. She repeated the process twice more for the other boar and horned rabbit. After the stone were removed I watch as I could visibly see the bodies of the monsters dissolve, as if the dungeon itself was reclaiming them.
As they continued deeper into the dungeon, I found myself trying to form words, hoping to communicate with them. Maybe if I could speak, I could learn something about this world and my place in it. But no matter how hard I tried, not even the faintest whisper escaped my throat. I moved carefully as I followed, using my agility to my advantage. I fluttered from one dark corner to another, doing my best to prevent the faint sound of my wings from betraying my presence. My heart pounded with every rapid beat of my wings, the thrill of the chase both exhilarating and terrifying.
I noticed the archer's attention shift ahead as her brows furrowed in concentration. She placed a hand on the dwarfs shoulder, and silently signaled the the group to stop. Ears pricked and alert, she began to examine the floor meticulously. My gaze followed hers as she traced an almost invisible line on the ground. It was a trap, one I hadn't noticed myself. It was some kind of pressure plate hidden in floor, though its function eluded me.
Without hesitation, she knelt before the trap, eyes taking in every minute detail of its construction. The robed figure leaned over her shoulder, a thin rod of silver shimmering in his hand. He offered it to her, but she shook her head, reaching instead into the quiver at her side. Her fingers danced around the edges of the pitfall as she fitted one of her arrows into place. I watched in fascination as she angled it perfectly across the hidden edge of the pressure plate.
She pressed down gently on the arrow shaft, testing for resistance. With surgical precision, she pushed down on certain points while applying tension on others until there was an audible click - the sound of a complex lock snapping into place. A collective sigh of relief silently washed over the group.
"Excellent work as always Sienna." The stocky dwarf spoke out at he took the lead once again. The name sent a small sliver of recognition through me, though I couldn't really pinpoint why.
"Balien you should know better, these traps will only become more plentiful as we near the floor bosses territory." Sienna responded with a stern voice.
I followed the adventurers for what felt like hours as they continued their journey. The dwarf,Balien, led the way. His armor glinting in the dim light as he forged a path through the darkness. I watched from the shadows as they navigated the dungeon. I had noticed it at first the the temperature had grown steadily warmer. While it wasn't uncomfortable, yet it was certainly quite a bit hotter than the hole I woke up in.
They had fought numerous beasts that pervaded the dungeon each time dispatching them with a ruthless efficiency before harvesting the mana stones and moving on. Each time I could only watch it awe as they killed so effortlessly as if this were all nothing more than routine.
Before I even knew they had found a small room and began setting up for camp. They pulled bedrolls and camp supplies out of small bags that would have never been big enough to hold such things. I inched closer trying to listen in on more conversations. But as I landed on top of a stalagmite a rock broke off and clattered down its side creating a rolling echo through the caverns.
"Did you hear that?" the elven woman asked, her eyes scanning the shadows.
"Probably just another rat," the robed figure responded dismissively, but even as he spoke, his gaze darted nervously about.
They might have dismissed the sound, if not for the keen-eyed elf. As her companions turned to continue setting up camp, she lingered for a moment, her sharp gaze piercing the darkness. And then, to my horror, her eyes locked onto me, hidden among the shadows.
"Wait!" she cried, reaching down for something at her belt. "There's something there!"
The rest of the group spun around, weapons at the ready, their eyes searching the darkness as they followed her gaze. Panic welled up within me, a cold knot of fear tightening in my chest as I realized that I had been spotted.
My instincts kicked in, and I launched myself into a desperate flight, my wings beating furiously against the stale air of the dungeon. A flying dagger whistled past me, narrowly missing my fragile body. Desperation surged through me as I weaved around stalactites hanging from the ceiling and dodged between jagged rock formations.
As I darted down a narrow passage that branched off the main path, I could feel the heat of fireballs exploding behind me, their flames licking at my tail. The metallic clang of weapons echoed through the tight space, punctuated by curses and shouts from my pursuers. My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through my veins like wildfire.
In my panic, I didn't notice the low-hanging rock until it was too late. With a sickening crunch, I collided with the hard surface, pain flaring through my body as I tumbled to the ground, dazed and disoriented. I struggled to regain my bearings, my vision swimming with spots of light as I forced myself back into the air.
I could hear my pursuers growing nearer, their footsteps pounding against the stone floor. as I hurtled around another sharp corner I spotted a small crevice in the rock wall, just large enough for me to squeeze through. With the last of my strength, I dove into the narrow gap, my battered body protesting every movement.
"Damn, where the hell did it go?" the elven voice echoed through the passage, her frustration palpable as she halted at the mouth of the tunnel, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of me. But hidden within the confines of my sanctuary, I held my breath and prayed to whatever gods might be listening that they would pass me by.
"Must've...slipped...away," the armored warrior grumbled, his voice broken up by his heavy panting.
"Lyra must you chase down every little pest we come across? We will be down here weeks if not months, there will be plenty for you to loot." Sienna chided.
I heard a deep sign before an elven rogue spoke dejectedly "Yeah, you're right."
The voices slowly faded as they returned back the way we came, I finally allowed myself to exhale, my body trembling with relief and exhaustion. I remained motionless, my senses on high alert, waiting for the sounds of the adventurers to fade completely into the distance. My body felt bruised and battered, and my wings ached from the frantic flight. Once I was certain they were gone, slowly crept out of my hidey hole and fled as fast as I could down the opposite direction.