I kept a hold of my spear through pure luck as I slammed into the ground several feet away. Blood, guts, and all sorts of things from the monster went everywhere as my surroundings continued to shake. Rocks fell from the ceiling, and I stumbled for a moment as my ears rang. Half of the red lights in the cavern went out. I got my feet under me and tried to figure out what had happened. My eyes landed on the smoking carcass of the cephalopod. Half of it was blown away. My stomach growled and I dashed closer, trying to see if the heart was still intact.
"Alex!" The call came from the far side of the cavern, where more of the red lights still glowed. I ignored it as I searched the gore for the heart. It didn't take much cutting to find half of it, though the rest was gone. I stuffed my mouth full, swallowing massive bites as everything continued to shake.
[You have devoured Deep Rock Cephalopod and gained major insight into Stealth Camouflage.]
The notification made me smile, a smile which vanished as a rock from the roof slammed down right next to me. I fled toward the exit tunnel, as more of the ceiling crashed down. Another explosive rocked the air behind me, and I sprinted faster.
Doc had vanished while Hawk peered out of the tunnel toward the cavern. He spotted me, nodded, then turned and fled.
I darted down the tunnel, wanting to race ahead, but I kept pace with Hawk. Everything around us stopped shaking. We passed the branch that led off to the right and loud banging from behind the metal door filled the air. I glanced back in time to see something punch through the center of it.
Still, we kept going, not even pausing our movement. Suddenly, we were out of the tunnel and in the meeting room. It only had two people in it.
Mars, and the stoneweaver.
The tunnel behind us rumbled again, as the stoveweaver stepped forward. Hawk slowed down, stopped and turned to face the open tunnel, his bow ready even as his chest heaved.
My breathing quickly came under control as I turned to face the opening as well. More rocks trembled from the ceiling, quickly filling the hole.
“Something breached the metal gate,” I explained.
Mars frowned. “This might not hold, then. Plan B!”
The stoneweaver and Mars then turned and ran. I blinked and followed as Hawk did as well.
“Plan B?” I asked, loudly.
“Gather at the shuttle, close as many gates as possible behind us!” called back the stoneweaver.
The next broken gate we passed had the metal worker next to it. The stoneweaver slowed down and waited for us to pass. Then, more rocks crashed from the ceiling. The metal mage then stepped forward. The metal gate rose into the air on its own, then rods stretched out, hammering into the rock on either side.
Then more stone almost flowed up to cover the edges.
“I don’t have much more,” whispered the stoneweaver.
Mars placed a hand on his shoulder. “It will be good enough, go ahead, get to the shuttle. Everyone should be there already.”
Mars glanced at the woman and then the rest of us. “I think we can slow down from here and make sure there haven’t been any more breaches. There aren’t many more openings from here that lead to the ship cavern.”
Hawk nodded, but gave me a look as soon as Mars started walking down the tunnel. It didn’t reassure me.
“So, was that C4?” I asked Hawk.
“Something like it. The first batch didn't go off, but then Doc got anxious and tossed another bomb. We at least got the big monster.”
“But not the level 18 one…” I didn't comment on the fact that the monster was already dead, that I’d killed it by the time Doc’d tossed the second batch and almost killed me.
“There were two?”
I nodded. “Yeah, but I didn’t do any damage to the lower level one, so I don’t know if it’s alive.” I thought back to the lighter stripes. “It was smaller than the other as well. Like, half the size.”
“I hope it goes back into the deep,” muttered Hawk. “I didn’t like how the thing could hide.” His gaze stayed focused on our surroundings.
“Only the big one could hide in the shadows.”
Hawk shrugged. “I hope you’re right.”
We came to an open doorway with no one inside, and we kept going. Some of the tension left my shoulders the farther we got from the last gate. I strained my ears to hear anything behind us, but heard nothing.
Maybe we were clear of this mess for now.
Yet, all of a sudden Mars darted ahead and picked up speed. In the far distance, I could hear faint yelling.
I dashed forward.
Three miners fought with spiders pouring out of a branch that led to the left. Swords and pickaxes tore them to pieces, given the low levels of the creatures, but there were a lot of them.
Mars hopped into the frey while the metal mage yanked a nearby metal door off its hinges.
“Move!”
The three miners stepped back, letting the spiders spill forward. The metal door plastered itself to the opening in the rock, though several spiders still crawled on our side. I quickly cut into one near me.
[You have gained no experience from combat.]
I pushed the notification away, along with the next two from spider kills. Then the tunnel was empty of the creatures.
“This won’t hold anything bigger,” said the woman. “We need to retreat.”
Mars led the way again with the miners, while we came in the rear.
“Anyone else notice the pattern? Spiders first, then horrible tentacle monsters?” I asked.
Hawk nodded, which I caught out of the corner of my eye. Mars sped up.
The light increased in the tunnel, then it opened up to pure chaos. The shuttle sat in the middle of the cavern and the cloth blocking the opening was still up.
Miners argued with John, but he ignored them. John touched a large crate and it vanished, making more room along the bottom of the ramp. The large cart with the crystal in it sat near the bottom of the ramp. Matt leaned up against it. David knelt next to Sang, who lay on the cot in the back of the shuttle. Jimmy and Doc were in the front, standing near the controls of the ship with grim looks.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
John noticed us and relaxed. “You took your time,” he said looking at me.
“Just had to kill a squid thing,” I said with a grin.
“Level freaking eighteen.” John shook his head and moved faster toward the crates all over the area. He motioned to the miners. “Get that crystal loaded into the right side. Near the end of the cot.”
Matt yanked the cart up the ramp, and got to work getting it out. Mars went to go talk to the miners that were hovering, not doing anything. I counted ten people, including David and Sang. That was one less than before. I didn’t mention it.
John moved more quickly around the area and a few more crates vanished, making more room. He walked closer to me with a frown. “You okay? You’ve got blood all over your face.”
I yanked out a cloth from my inventory and scrubbed at my face. “Yeah, ready to leave the red lights behind.”
He nodded and glanced back at the miners talking with Mars. “Keep an eye on them. They’ve been giving me trouble.”
“I see Jimmy and Doc.”
He nodded sharply as Hawk moved closer to us.
“Things should be good now,” said Hawk. “We blocked off the tunnels leading in this direction. How long until we can leave?”
John let out a sigh. “It’s only mid afternoon, we still have maybe 2 hours at minimum, more like 3 to 4 to be safe.”
Hawk frowned. “That’s not good.”
“No, and the miners are on edge. They don’t know what things are like out there in the skies.”
“I’ll go talk to Mars,” said Hawk, as he moved toward the large group.
“Is everything going to fit?” I asked, looking around at the ore still sitting in piles.
“If it isn’t in a crate, it’s not going.” John shrugged. “David’s inventory is stuffed full of food stuff and Sang… isn’t in great shape.” He scratched the back of his head.
My head tilted to one side. “David can’t fix her leg?”
“The problem is the poison,” explained John. “Or at least, that’s what David said. You go talk to them, I’m almost done here.”
I walked up the ramp and pulled Sang’s knife out of my belt loop. I’d snagged it from the floor of the cavern, and now I could return it.
David glanced up at me with a tight smile. “Heard you're one of the heroes of the hour.”
“I don’t know about that. How is she?”
He shook his head. “I fixed the shattered bone, but I can’t get all of the tiny barbs out. She needs a real healer. Someone who can fix the poison.”
“What about Doc?”
“He said the same thing.”
I nodded softly and tucked the knife into her belt holder. “Well, we have two days until we can get to the settlement.”
“I hope she has that long,” mumbled David.
Sang stirred and opened her dark eyes. “Alex,” her voice was soft. “You saved me from being eaten.”
I smiled at her. “Just returning your knife, I found it on the floor of all places.”
She chuckled, but then grimaced, pain shaking her body. “You should…” she paused, then tried again. “Take my knife and stone.” She pulled the inventory crystal out of her pocket. “I can make… new ones…” Her eyes stared up at me.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. She knew she probably wouldn’t make it. “Thank you, I’ll make sure they are put to good use.” I took the inventory crystal and put it in my pocket, and pulled the knife I tucked into her belt back out. “Get some rest, we’ll get you to a healer.” I patted her shoulder as her eyelids fluttered closed again.
I swallowed and looked at David. “Do you need water for her or something?”
“I have some, but thanks.” He shook his head.
I turned and headed toward the front where Doc and Jimmy stood menacingly. They blocked off the narrow doorway toward the seats. Denver sat in one of them, his eyes closed.
“Is she gonna make it?” I asked Doc, trying to be as quiet as possible. The inventory stone felt heavy in my pocket. The same went for the knife in my hand.
He shrugged. “Not without real medical care.”
“What about the other miner who was snagged?”
He shook his head sharply, giving me the answer. “Lost too much blood from shattered bones, then the barbs. That poison is a bitch.”
“And she got wrapped twice in the thing…” I added, letting out a sigh. Somehow we needed a healer yet again. We’d come here for one, found one, and now we needed a better one. Becoming numb to losing people was a skill all of us had acquired after the crash. So many had died. I hated it. We couldn’t keep losing people like this. A healer could fix her within minutes.
Yet, the only ones with an actual healer were the scientists. The settlement had someone like David, but with more first aid training. Last I knew, everyone on the leadership council had tried to find more learning materials about healing for the person to study, with the hope they could evolve their class, but so far hadn’t had much luck.
At least one person was doing better, Denver.
I turned to look at him and found him staring back at me. I gave him a nod. “At least you’re doing better.”
“Small miracles,” mumbled Doc.
“I don’t think we’ve met yet,” said Denver, holding out his hand.
I moved closer and shook it. “Not yet. I’m Alex.”
“Another one of Hellion’s kids.”
I snorted. “Are there any kids anymore?” I asked with a sarcastic grin. Somehow, people still considered me a kid when I was twenty. Not to mention level eighteen, which was higher than everyone else in the ship. I sat down next to him.
“That’s true.” He stared at me and I could feel him trying to get information on me. I didn’t care if he knew my level. “Damn, what’ve you been doing?”
“Fighting things that attack me, mostly.” There were only a few exceptions, but then again, even the Carnitor had attacked me first.
“So, basically being related to Hellion. He must be proud.”
“The last time he saw me I didn’t even have a class.”
“How is that possible?” he asked.
It didn’t take long for me to explain the shuttle crashing and the journey through the jungle. Then getting here.
“Now, that’s a story,” mumbled Denver.
I only nodded. My fingers tapped on my knee and after a moment I stood up, making my way toward the back ramp. Sitting still wasn’t my strong suit, and just waiting inside the shuttle made time slow down even more.
Most of the miners sat near the far wall with Mars. Hawk kept near the only tunnel entrance leading away from the cavern. He paced back and forth. I joined him.
“Anything?”
“No.” He shook his head, but looked confused as he gazed into the tunnel. “I wouldn’t think that the monsters would just stop. It feels off.”
I nodded slowly. If the pattern held, we should be seeing the squid make an appearance. Yet, these tunnels were much smaller than the big one that it had come from before. Then again, this one was smaller than the other one. If there weren’t more than two of them.
“It’s only been an hour or so,” I whispered. “We only need to wait another two, per John.”
“Even that’s cutting it close with dusk.” Hawk frowned. “Realistically we need three or four hours to safely fly out.”
“We haven’t been that lucky, yet.”
“I know.”
We both paced back and forth, until my stomach growled. “Well, that sucks.” The piece of the heart I’d gotten hadn't been enough to regain the energy I’d lost in the fight.
He chuckled at the sound. “David should have some food.”
The thought of more of the mushroom stuff made me frown, but something was better than nothing. I headed back up the ramp and found him sitting on the floor next to Sang’s cot. “Hey, David, do you have anything to eat?” Matt leaned against the crystal on the other side of the cargo hold.
His head jerked up. “I didn’t even think about that. Everyone is probably hungry after all of this.”
John strode up the ramp and headed toward the front. “I’ve got everything I can carry at this point.”
David pulled out a bowl of the mushroom mash. “I have a large stockpile of this that I can slowly pass out to people.”
I took the bowl with a nod and scarfed it down. It settled my stomach, but I wanted some real food.
Matt chuckled. “Fighting will make anyone hungry.”
“That’s for sure,” I said, finishing off the bowl and handing it back. “I’m gonna go keep watch with Hawk.” With a grin I hurried back down the ramp, pulling out my canteen. The water helped wash away the taste of the mushroom. I only had a little bit of the meat left, and there wasn’t a chance I’d be able to sneak it while on the shuttle back to the compound.
I headed toward the tunnel opening and motioned forward. “I’m gonna go peek.”
Hawk shrugged at me without saying anything.
Slowly, I entered the tunnel, letting my eyes adjust back to the red light. I didn’t go far, but stayed facing the depths and pulled out something to eat. Very slowly, I ate chunks of meat. It was definitely drier than earlier, but it still tasted better than the mushrooms. I needed to hunt something soon and stockpile more food. Maybe I could cook it and store it longer that way.
Once we got back to the compound, I’d offer to go hunting in the jungle. It’d give me an excuse to stock up, and with my level, plus the inventory crystal, I wouldn’t even need help. It was a plan. Sometimes, that was the best you could do.
I stared into the shadows, keeping up my guard.