Fin's sword felt good hanging from his belt. He had never owned a real sword before, aside from the one he pilfered from the goblin, but that one was more like a large knife. He rested his left hand on the pommel while he walked, feeling powerful for the first time in his life.

The sword on Brando's back irritated him. He would need to adjust the shoulder straps if he somehow managed to survive the week. He tucked his thumbs into the straps and pressed forward to the mouth of the cave.

"Torches for sale!" A thin merchant called out from just ahead. "Sweet-smelling torches! Each torch burns for over an hour! Gives a sweet-smelling smoke!"

"How much are they?" Fin asked.

"Ten coppers each."

"We'll take ten," Fin said before looking at Dezi. "Will you please pay the man?"

Dezi sighed and then dug through her satchel. She produced a silver coin and held it out. Fin took the coin and gave her as many torches as she could carry.

"Don't worry, you won't need to hold them long," Fin assured her, only carrying two torches himself.

The merchant lit one of Fin's torches and wished him luck.

The mouth of the mine swallowed their group as they passed through thick timber support beams. The solid, dirt-packed ground replaced soft green fields as tufts of grass grew scantily apart.

They turned a corner, and the ceiling shot up as the walls gradually opened. Fin was surprised to find that the torches' smoke did actually smell pleasant. The smell of sweet, burning wood drifted up into the growing cavern like a prayer for more headroom.

Fin picked up Dezi's torches and stowed them one by one. When her arms were empty, he handed her the lit torch and lit another one off of it. Their visibility increased, revealing a clear path forward.

Brando drew his sword, causing a startled gasp to exit Dezi's lips. Brando regarded Dezi, "Sorry, it's just uncomfortable to wear on my back. Also, why are you still here?"

"I'm not waiting outside with all those brutes," Dezi declared. "They're all creepy and weird."

"Careful not to say that too loud," Brando admonished. "One of those creepy brutes is probably your future husband."

A sound like someone clearing their throat resonated through the cavern.

"Did you hear that?" Dezi asked, reluctantly ignoring Brando's comment.

"Yeah," Fin whispered. "Shh."

The group moved forward without incident. Periodically, a gentle crunching sound echoed across the walls causing Fin to test the grip on his sword. Old mining gear sat vacated between rocks and on small mounds of gravel.

Brando leaned down and collected a pickax off the ground. He gave it a look of appreciation and handed it to Fin.

Fin stowed the tool and whispered, "That's nice. Can you find me one too?"

The princess ignored the exchange, opting to locate where the crunching sound was coming from. At times she felt like it was coming from behind her. She banished that terrifying thought and remained vigilant.

Dezi noticed movement from ahead and rapidly tapped Fin's shoulder.

Fin produced a third torch, lit it, and placed it in her free hand. When the extra light revealed a pile of rocks, he moved forward. Just as Fin was about to maneuver past the rocks, they started vibrating under his hand.

The group noticed at once and slowly moved backward. Round arms pushed against the ground as legs formed under the rough shape of a torso. It stood less than shoulder height and moved laconically towards them at a slow, walking pace.

Fin stopped and held his ground. "It's moving kind of slow. I think I can take it."

The others continued moving backward as Fin met the creature. When it was in range, he swung towards its center. The sword struck with a jarring noise and bounced ineffectively off.

The creature swung its arm with an unexpected speed, hitting Fin's arm and dislodging the sword from his grip.

He jumped back, trying to lift his arm. He found that he couldn't. He glanced down and saw that it swung uselessly at his side. He ran back.

"I can't move my right arm," Fin shouted, approaching the two.

Brando grasped Fin's hand, turned it, and rotated his arm about the shoulder. A small popping noise indicated that the arm was back in place. "It's probably going to hurt for a few days."

"It feels fine," Fin said, testing out his arm and running back towards the rock monster. "Thanks!"

The creature continued walking towards Fin, blocking off the path to his sword.

"Plug your ears!" Fin called. He waited a moment and let out a Fearing Howl. When the monster kept moving forward, unaffected, he grew concerned.

The creature stepped into range and swung.

Fin caught the attack to his chest and stumbled back on his feet. He activated Crushing Grip and Strengthened Talons in unison. He stepped forward and stabbed with his hand as fast as he could. The attack slipped between several of the rocks in the creature's arms, dropping inert stones to the ground.

"I think I'm doing it!" Fin called out after dodging the creature's counter strike. He could still hear his own words echo through the chamber when the fallen rocks started reattaching themselves to the creature's body. "Never mind!"

"You've got this!" Dezi's cheerful voice echoed through the dark cave.

A more masculine voice called out, "There are worse things than death if you don't beat this thing!"

Fin acted as quickly as he could with another strike to the creature's body. His glowing fingers ricocheted off, merely scratching one of the many stones that made up its body. He would have to dislodge each rock individually or in groups of rocks if he could. Suddenly an idea struck him, and he called for more light.

A torch bounced and rolled to a stop just behind him. He pulled out two more torches, lit them off of the first, and spread them out.

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He stabbed his hand between the rocks with his claws and activated Greater Stow. Two of the creature's rocks disappeared into his inventory. He moved away too slowly and was struck across the face hard.

Fin wavered on his feet. When his sight steadied, he jumped back in, cautious not to make the same mistake twice. He fell into a rhythm of lunge, attack, stow, and jump back over and over again. The light grew dim by the time the creature was whittled down to nothing more than a helpless pile of rocks.

He walked over to the three remaining pieces of the creature and inspected them. They wormed on the ground, still trying to fight. The rocks piled up into a small mound and then snapped down at Fin, missing his foot by the smallest of margins.

Exhausted, he quickly snatched up the rocks and stowed them. A message popped into view.

* Treasure Quest Complete: Capture an Elemental. +1 Level. +1 Active Ability.

* Active Ability: Sense Treasure.

* Earth Quest Complete: Capture an Earth Plane creature. +1 Passive Ability.

* Passive Ability: Earth Commune – Locked until Earth Affinity is realized.

“I won!” Fin Shouted. He selected his saddle bag from his inventory and started rifling through it. He pulled out a loaf of bread, squeezed it, smelled it, and then took a bite.

Dezi and Brando approached him and crouched down.

“We think someone else is in here,” Brando whispered.

Dezi nodded and pointed in the direction they came. She spoke in a soft voice, “We heard a noise, and a man cursed. I’m concerned.”

Fin dropped his bread and saddle bags into his inventory and looked around for his sword. It was still on the ground where the elemental dislocated his shoulder. He started walking towards it when he heard a terrifying noise. He turned to see two drawn bows step into the light. One of them was pointed directly at him.

“Now!” A voice called out.

Brando saw the threat and moved forward with his sword raised. He was mid-stride when an arrow shot into his gut. He cried out in pain and collapsed on the ground, sliding to a stop.

A second arrow shot towards Fin. The impact pushed the air out of his lungs and doubled him over. He fell to his knees, gasping for air.

A man grabbed Dezi from behind. She thrashed wildly in his arms. He finally turned her around, punched her in the face, and dropped her in a crumpled heap on the ground.

“I thought we would have to wait all night,” A man said from the back.

“By the way, they were spending money out there,” Another voice said, “I would have waited all week if I had to.”

Fin raised his head as a man reached down to pilfer his pockets. He activated Crushing Grip and Strengthen Talons and struck forward.

The man dodged away, landing on his side and taking a scratch across the shoulder. He rolled into a prone position and began to get up.

Fin picked up a large rock with both hands and threw it at the man’s head as hard as he could. It struck with a sickening noise, pinning the man to the ground. The stone did not roll away.

Another arrow struck Fin’s chest, puncturing a hole in his tunic and falling harmlessly to the ground. He glared up and saw one of the men dashing for him with a sword.

Fin quickly let out a Fear Howl and retrieved the arrow. He pierced it through the top of the charging man’s chest. Fin gripped the man’s arm as he fell, taking his sword and falling momentarily off balance.

The third and final man stood motionless, bow in hand. Fin knocked him out and dragged his body towards Brando. He checked to see if Brando was still alive; he was at least still breathing.

Fin activated Violent Healing and rolled Brando over, revealing the arrow shaft protruding from his back. It did not look good. He immediately broke the shaft of the arrow and pulled the rest of it through Brando’s stomach.

The activation time was taking too long. He held the bleeding at bay with his healing hand and gripped the unconscious man’s wrist with his other. Finally, the ability jolted into action. He felt the life force flood into Brando, swiftly stopping the bleeding and closing the wound.

Dezi stood up and drew a discarded weapon. She watched as the bandit’s body slowly shrunk into a lifeless husk of a man. She turned away from the sight to look anywhere else.

Brando coughed and spat blood off to the side. “Did you get them?”

“Yeah,” Fin replied. “How are you feeling?”

“I think I’ll make it.” Brando’s voice cut off. He looked behind Fin and said, “Watch out!”

The bandit with an arrow sticking out of his chest, lifted a large, bloody rock over his head and arched back to throw the stone at Fin and Brando. Dezi’s sword swung through the air and passed through the man’s forearm. The rock fell to the ground, clipping the side of his head.

Fin stood and tackled the man, keeping his right hand around his neck. Brando was too far, so he filled himself with healing energy. When the healing stopped, Fin ended his ability and checked on Brando’s wound.

Brando sat up and pushed Fin away. “I’m fine. We have to check for others.”

Dezi picked up a bow and nocked an arrow. “I’ll go.” She turned and silently disappeared into the darkness.

Fin took a brief moment to look at his notifications. “Brando, you’re never going to believe this.”

Brando was stretching his body, trying to see if he was still injured. “Believe what?”

Fin’s body and clothes turned into a stone sculpture that matched the walls of the cave. He looked at his hands. “I finally got the Earth Affinity.”