Shimmying down the rope, Norbert stopped as his feet reached the bottom. Tugging twice on the rope to notify those above him that he was off, Norbert looked up, seeing a torch dropped from above. Catching it in his arms, stopping it from clattering to the ground, Norbert took a step away from the rope, wondering what the place they would be spending the next several days would look like.

Holding the torch as high as he could, Norbert saw out of the corner of his eye as the rope wiggled in the air, waiting in tense silence as Norbert scanned the cave before him. Looking around, Norbert saw he was inside a dome, with the floor meeting up to its highest point where he was.

Covering the walls was holes throughout, small ones that Norbert could not fit through, nor could he see any of the insects fit through them either. Looking farther across, Norbert only saw darkness; scanning his eyes around, Norbert realised it was a massive tunnel, at least four meters in diameter, a circle coming out of the ground. Norbert gulped, knowing that this would be an extreme amount. Looking around, Norbert confirmed there was no life within the chamber they currently resided in.

Turning back to the party, Norbert saw another scout, the mage and Dousan down with them. Pointing out to the group the tunnel that led further in, receiving a further nod from the group as they went down the hill they were on. Being careful on the path taken not to disturb any of the soil they were standing on.

At the bottom, Norbert looked around the dome, not believing the depth that he was at, now deep within the earth and looking at the path ahead, seeing that it was even further. Walking up to the tunnel, Norbert held his torch outside the wall to avoid leaking any light.

Poking his head around the corner, he looked forward, seeing that once again it was empty, the tunnel just going down and having a slight right bend. Standing up, Norbert placed the torch in the entrance, trying to see as far down as he could.

The others coming down, Norbert looked behind him, a small trail of lights heading in his direction. Norbert saw the last person already down and making their way to his location. Standing and looking forward, Norbert took his first step inside the tunnel.

The others still stayed behind him; Norbert looking, assuming he was now taking the lead, or at least the first scout for all of this, not knowing what caused him to have such luck, made his way down the tunnel. Happy that Optimus wasn't down here, not knowing what could be around any corner.

Following right around the corner, going deeper, Norbert slowly walked so as not to disturb anything; ears peeled for any sound or disturbance coming his way. Hearing each step crunch on the ground, Norbert looked around, seeing the shadows flicker ahead of him. Looking like an army of dead men wading towards them.

Rounding the edge, the group went lower and lower into the ground, now well and truly underneath the earth. As Norbert continued walking at the edge of the light, Norbert saw a drop. Stopping, Norbert looked forward, craning his eyes in the dark to see what was ahead. Not seeing anything, Norbert heard the group behind him stop, remembering him having the best night vision out of the scouts. Norbert continued walking again.

Feet on the edge, Norbert looked down, not believing what he saw. A cavern was open as they had entered before, but this one was much larger. Staring down at them, Norbert opened his eyes wide.

He instantly threw a hand up to stop anyone else from coming fearing what the light would bring. When Norbert looked down, he did not see the ground, only the planetoids he had seen before. Norbert just saw a sea before him, slightly wriggling as Norbert assumed they slept.

Walking backwards, not taking his eye from the sight until the edge took it, Norbert moved over to Dousan, grabbing his shoulder and moving him forward. Showing a hand for nobody else to come.

Together the two walked to the edge as Norbert pointed down, the only one holding a torch. Norbert examined Dousan's face, seeing the expecting eye bulge at the surprise at what was shown underneath. Returning, he walked past the group and around the bend, the rest following in silence, knowing that whatever they had seen had shocked their leader.

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Around the bend, they went until Dousan felt it was far enough away in a whisper, saying, "We now have a change of plans. There are way more than anticipated, and if this is just the first chamber, there will be many more left." He looked around, judging the faces of everyone there, all gulping as well.

"It will change from an obliterate to a stealth; we will all go to find their queen and end it. After the noise we make, the others will also be on the move; that's when we will run for all our worth. Our timeframe isn't what it was before; if this nest wakes up with us still inside, we are all gonners."

Receiving nods in reply, the atmosphere so thick you could cut it with a butter knife, Dousan asked, "Any questions?" receiving no response, he stood up again and headed off, the group packing up and going with him.

The group now all looked together again, seeing the expanse below them. Norbert looked to the other side, seeing where the tunnel continued. Someone else is also pointing it out to him. Dousan gave some hand signals, and five individuals, wearing the same robes as the mage from before, came forward.

Norbert saw five magic circles appear at the five points, lines joining them to make a pentagon. Norbert felt rumblings underneath his feet; suddenly, a vine burst from the ground where they were from, and then several more followed.

Norbert saw with his own eyes as a bridge formed over the passage. Rubbing his eyes to make sure he didn't see things, only to confirm it. As the vines continued to grow, Norbert not understanding how they didn't just fall, after a minute or so, the vines stopped moving further, having struck the other side.

Everyone looked towards him to take the lead; Norbert tested it with a foot, taking a hesitant step. Both feet left the solid earth. Now fully supported by the vine bridge Norbert turned back and jumped. When landing, not feeling any tremors, Norbert walked across the bridge, careful not to fall.

On the other side, Norbert looked, the tunnel continuing further down, this one just straight without any bends. Squinting, Norbert tried to see the end but could not do so.

Walking again, Norbert took the lead, going further into the nest. The same holes appeared less and less in the wall; for other parts, Norbert was still curious where they went or what their purpose was. Through several more chambers, varying in size, some of them empty, others only mostly full, only needing to create a bridge to the other side a couple of times.

After the last bridge was crossed and they were securely in the tunnel, another curve one where they could not see the next chamber. Everyone went for their packs and retrieved their water. Norbert just stood without moving and waited.

Whispers came around the group as they looked at each other. Ask about what they are doing there, where they come from and how many more. Norbert looked around, seeing the other scouts only taking a small sip and holding their water skins. Walking forward and taking part, Norbert took out his water skin.

Pressing it to his lips, Norbert let it dribble down, not entirely thirsty at all, just not wanting to seem out of the group. Standing beside Dobert, whispering not to wake any residents, "Are these the issues you normally see?"

Dobert looked back at him, having a scrunched face like he was telling a bad joke before nodding in understanding. "This is not normal at all. A normal-size one would have a maximum of about two or three chambers. Not whatever this is." He ends with his arms waved up in the air.

Norbert nodded before looking guilty, asking, "Are we going to make it out of here?" Norbert looked at Dobert, trying to judge his reaction. Dobert smiled in response, "Of course we are; just trust in Dousan and trust in each other, and we will all make it out."

Norbert nodded in response as the conversation continued around them. When Norbert was getting comfortable, the break was called to an end, so they continued to march.

Norbert taking the lead, went around the tunnel only to see it curving more to the left. Walking further, Norbert realised they were in a spiral going down. Down and down they went, Norbert seeing other paths going out, not the small ones of before but something the group would still be able to fit easily inside.

Not getting distracted and wanting to see where it went, Norbert continued following, hearing the sound of scuttling around them. Norbert stopped, and the rest of the group did as well. Tilting his head around, Norbert tried to get the best angle and locate where the sound was coming from. His fears were answered as he approached the tunnel's other end.

Holding the torch, Norbert quietly continued down; further and further, the group went, spinning around and around and around until Norbert saw some light up ahead. Shielding his torch within his jacket, thankful there was no heat in case he needed to hide the torch within his coat, Norbert looked at what they would deal with.