Zena drew some weird scribbles on a chalkboard and since I already knew the Southern tongue, she helped me get a feel about which character sounded similar to the other.

The languages were quite different, yet the writing style was somehow similar. Kind of like Chinese and Japanese.

“Keep on practicing and you should be fine,” Zena said. “Why bother learning this though? Are you planning on running away?” She spoke, quite suggestive.

I get that she was joking but maybe it wasn’t the best joke because Mom’s stare turned to a glare. Which made Zena shut up but yeah… why was I learning Western Tongue? To read books or to become independent in case…

KNOCK! KNOCK!!!

Someone rammed on the front door.

“What the-” Zena mumbled, slowly reaching for the door. “Who?”

“MOM!” She opened it and a teenager rushed in; panting, wheezing, hair all disheveled. “It’s Dad. He’s-” She was freaking out.

Mom grabbed me firm and with me in toe, she quickly made it past the duo. “Where?”

“West Cave,” Tears welling, she was trying desperately to not break down. “Wild fang.”

“Stay here,” Zena said, grabbing her quiver and bow. “I’ll see.”

The girl sniffled but-

“You stay-” Mom said.

“I wanna go,” I said.

She rolled her eyes and contemplated reality for a good three seconds before agreeing. That was weird. I thought she’d just leave me here and run off on her own.

Yet, Mom just picked me and ran behind Zena.

We ran back into the mountain and since this part wasn’t covered in foliage, we didn’t have to climb the trees. Apparently, most Southerners were faster on the trees. And although Mom was fast on the tree too, she had to carry me, which was why she often chose to run instead. After seeing Den struggle with just carrying me around, I could understand why. But then again, Den was just weak when it came to anything physical.

“What happened?” I mumbled.

“Probably serpents…” Mom murmured. “You have antidotes just in case, right!?” She yelled.

“Yeah!” Zena was already behind us.

We almost stumbled into trees on several occasions, but never quite. Mom was an excellent runner and she ran fast, probably faster than all runners back on earth. Sometimes I wish, I had that kind of stamina and speed. But maybe one day.

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The foliage changed. Trees got denser, and there was an odd smell. Not the usual foresty smell but rather… a bit of rot. A bit of dread. I instinctively covered my face but the others didn’t seem to be bothered by it. I suppose they’d seen this coming.

“It’s really dangerous inside, so you better stay with me,” Mom said. “The terrain often changes inside, so be careful to not get lost either.”

‘It changes?’

“Right-” Before I could finish, she stopped and we were in front of a cave.

Small opening, barely enough to fit two people. And that was all, there was nothing behind it. The cave was underground. Didn’t look the least threatening. However, there was something chilly about the thing. Something… really creepy.

No birds, no animals. Just brown trees and a weird smell. And maybe some distant howling. I didn’t like this place.

Yet, Mom and Zena lit some pyres and we went in. Zena led with a short sword in hand, while Mom followed her, her knife out.

The girl hadn’t said much, yet, these two pretty much understood what happened. So maybe this was typical and happened a lot? And yet... something of course didn’t feel right.

The climb down was gradual and there were steps carved into the earth. But the hole stretched more and more. So far, nothing inside, but the sound dampened, and the smell only got worse.

No monsters, no animals. Just some spiders and centipedes crawling around. With the occasional rat squeaking.

It didn’t take long. It didn’t take long for me to find the source of the smell. Flesh. Dead flesh. People. Bodies. Skeletons. And bugs crawling in those filthy rags….

Death.

My arms shook, as I clutched onto Mom’s leg even tighter, breath spiraling out of control.

“It’s alright,” Mom said. “I’m here…” she ruffled my hair once.

“Not here, yet, he’s alive,” Zena said.

The steps went down and down, and the bodies just kept on piling up behind next to the steps. More and more.

“Huh?” I mumbled.

“The dead gather here….” Mom said.

Wait, so the bodies get mysteriously carried here? That sort of explained the excess skeletons….

I kept my eyes closed for the vast majority of the walk, only focusing on Mom’s warmth. I was never good with cramped places and smell like that. ‘People died here…’

Just the thought alone was starting to make me sick. Death was inevitable. Everyone died. Even your loved ones. Yet, you always stay in the illusion that they won’t die, they won’t one day leave you behind. And when they die, your illusion breaks, and… “Cough!” I almost threw up…

Mom patted on my back.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have brought him here,” Zena said, but she was cautious and the two moved really slowly.

“He has to learn…” Mom didn’t clarify yet just trailed Behind Zena. “Find anything yet?”

“Just steps.”

We came to a fork. One path led deep into the cave, while the other, straight down. The paths were very similar and almost the same size in terms of space.

‘How freaking deep is this thing?’

Mom examined the floor for a couple of seconds. “Right.”

So, we went deeper into the cave. And in about a minute or two, the cramped walls widened and we were in a room of sorts. Given the space… ‘Feels like a boss room…’ The ceiling was lifted, there were three paths on the exact other side and a man on the floor in the middle. The resemblance to a boss room was too uncanny. And what was worse… the boss wasn’t here.

“Derek!” Zena rushed to him, checking his body for signs of wounds. Mom meanwhile stayed calm and observed the room for fiends.

Buff dude, not as buff as typical bodybuilders but the guy was packing some serious stuff. And he was passed out on the floor, and out cold no less. A bit of red near the edge of his pants; rather large holes for a typical snake? Zena examined the wound, gulped down some antidote, or at least I thought she did but instead, she lifted up the cold body, broke one of his fingers with a snap so he screamed in literal pain and then she kissed and fed the antidote directly to the man.

Eyes wide, he panted, coughing a few times. “One hell of a way to wake up,” he chuckled.

‘Now that’s a strong dude!’

But as his laughter echoed. Another sound followed.

Slithers!

‘Here we go!’