The glass-like crystal walls had quickly grown opaque as they were further into the cave, and soon, even the faint light from the entrance was now gone. Any comment Oskar might have had about the beauty of the lights flickering in the cave died the first time they were truly in pitch blackness when the blue light waned again. It was difficult to give power to the wariness he should have felt in the dark, though.
Oskar had to override that foreign feeling of peace to make sure he was still alert to threats, but the only moving thing they’d seen in the cave were the cats and the lights cascading through the glass from their glowing forms.
The cats were loosely following the calico in a wildly undisciplined procession, and therefore Oskar and his group. The cats would stretch out and lay down when they’d slowed and then get back up when the calico got too far ahead.
Most of them.
Oskar smiled, watching a few of the stragglers reach out a paw or stare longingly in their direction as if they seriously considered getting up, but just couldn’t quite muster up the “want to.”
The light refracted through the glass cave as new cats darted through the cave playfully, their footsteps leaving blue footprints on the floor that faded after a few seconds. It was distracting enough to make the group momentarily forget the chill. The cave’s temperature wasn’t dropping noticeably, but the eerie atmosphere around them served as a perfect escape from the persistent physical discomfort they felt.
A few minutes into the walk, the smell of grass wafted through the cavern. The wind was still not at all warm, but nothing like the icy gale that had buffeted them at the entrance. Unsurprisingly, Kobold noses were more sensitive than his own. They’d been walking with their noses upturned, sniffing the air for over a minute before Oskar had even noticed the smell. Unfortunately, fur or not, the Kobolds had likely never been in double digit weather before, and Oskar’s PUB had them at a nice, brisk 69 degrees Fahrenheit inside the cave, and it was getting colder as they descended.
It’s chilly in here, but especially when it was over 120 outside and everyone is drenched in sweat.
The cave felt like holy ground, repressing Oskar’s strong desire to stop, ignore Bastet’s Gambit to enter the cave, and just talk with his brother.
Long minutes passed, and even though the temperature was dropping, the slightly warmer breeze helped some. A shiver ran down Oskar’s body every time the breeze blew through the cavern. Oskar noticed the breeze was also in sync with the glowing blue light and didn’t know what to do with that information. He also noticed Fox had drawn closer to them as they walked, either for safety or warmth. For a moment, Oskar considered asking Touwon if he’d give him the leather riding jacket out of his bag he’d worn upon his arrival but decided it wouldn’t be worth stopping.
If the Kobolds, who’d grown up in this desert and its two suns could handle it, so can Erik and me.
He was worried about being separated from Penny, but Oskar could feel his companion was still at the entrance of the cave darting back and forth in irritation.
I hope she’s alright alone up there, but she can take care of herself. I guess it would be scary to be in a place where she can’t just disappear by diving into the sand when she wanted, but it still feels weird without her here.
Ahead, the calico’s bobtail now had a shimmering blue magic tail that had appeared over the last minute or so as they walked behind her. Unlike Erik’s glowing tongue and eye, perfectly synchronized with the surrounding magic, the tail was almost invisible.
I hope Erik’s tongue and eye aren’t permanent…
// Oh, boy, I do. //
Oskar smirked, trying not to laugh in the serene silence of the cave. Nearby, though, he saw Touwon looking down and staring cross-eyed at his puffs of frosty breath rising into the air as if it was magic all its own, and Oskar’s resulting chuckle sounded uncomfortably loud in the silence. Erik’s own breaths were more audible, though, as he tired from bearing some of Oskar’s weight, but waved Fox away when she offered to trade spots.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Oskar felt terrible, but Erik was stubborn, obviously tapping into whatever was inside him that gave him the strength to walk as long and as hard as he did, despite his weakened condition.
Fox was plenty strong enough for her size but was easily twenty pounds lighter than Touwon. Erik seemed to be barely keeping upright, even after the healing magic had thickened him up some, but continued to soldier on.
After another few minutes of walking, the calico, walking slowly before them, glanced back and dipped her head at them. She watched them as if to make sure they understood, maintaining fierce eye contact. Her new ethereal tail swayed dangerously like she was on the verge of attacking someone, but then she blinked slowly, her face calm. She turned around and walked around a sharper curve to the right, disappearing into a portion of the cave that looked to be much brighter than what they’d walked through so far.
A warning, then?
He shared a glance with the others and then they followed, unsure of what to expect.
Fox was the first around the corner, and Oskar leaned to see what had frozen her in her tracks but still couldn’t see into the next section of the tunnel. Touwon almost walked into her and stopped staring at her in confusion, oblivious to Fox’s tense body language.
Oskar had grown to love these guys like family, but he never knew what to expect from Touwon. The Kobold was either all there, picking up every detail, or way off in Touwonland.
// Touwonland. There is literally no one worse than you at naming. Anyway, would you please go see what Fox is staring at, the anticipation is killing me! //
Awkwardly, and with the sloped floor or not, Oskar let go of Touwon and Erik, and hopped forward and to his left, using his spear for balance to see for himself. He felt his brother come up behind him, his grip stronger than Oskar expected, helping keep him upright. Oskar’s breath caught in his throat as he stared into a luminous cavern.
That’s the largest cat I’ve ever seen in my life…
// Would you look at that? Just look at it. //
In an entrance that opened into a brilliant, spacious chamber in front of them, a gray figure with distinct, dark stripes like an African Wildcat stood on a natural platform in the center of the room. The cat was colossal, making the tiger he had seen at the San Diego Zoo with Erik back when they were kids seem insignificant in comparison.
A subtle blue light shimmered like a kaleidoscope from the massive animal, releasing red and purple lights that danced beneath and around them in the cave. The magic obviously found its home here, and seemed to flow from, and to, the platform and the cat standing nobly upon it.
Instead of the lights simply expanding and contracting slowly, the new colors flickered and danced like a fire, playful and chaotic, but always, the blue light was slow and breathing. It again solidified that feeling of being inside the lungs of some great, magical beast. A mild claustrophobia he didn’t realize he’d been fighting melted away, and the fact it was mild enough sneak under his proverbial radar bothered him.
I feel like I should have noticed that. But you know… cats playing everywhere is an oddly effective therapy.
He heard his brother behind him whisper, “Jesus,” and the massive cat tilted its head in response, eyes squinting in amusement. It must have found that comment amusing, and it let out a rumbling sound that lilted into a soft vibrato that sounded like music to Oskar’s ears.
The sound resonated through the cavern, a melodic fusion of Sora, Talau, and something else. It evoked a feeling of being embraced. It also served as an introduction of sorts.
So, she sent the calico in the motel. I didn’t know what it was back then, but I recognize this feeling now.
Oskar had a smile on his face even before he realized it.
He understood the cat’s expression as if she were human, and questioned after the extended silence if this was the only way they could communicate, through feeling and magic. There was no doubt, though, that this kitty was the boss. A few of her whiskers were just like the calico’s tail and Erik’s eye; purely magic in nature.
Ahead, an angry howl started low in the calico’s throat, but didn’t quite materialize. Oskar bowed his head respectfully to the huge cat, seeing the rest of the group follow suit. The calico cat relaxed, let out a yawn, and settled down, tucking her glowing tail beneath her head. She looked relaxed, but her eyes still bored into them.
Totally confused, Oskar looked back over at the huge gray cat in the center of the room. The massive cat watched the calico settling, eyes twinkling in amusement and fondness.
Oskar was not sure how to proceed, but he was more than willing to be patient.
I have absolutely no desire to fight a thousand cats, especially with the He-Man’s Battle Cat sized kitty over there eyeballing me.
// That’s an old reference. Also, what’s a cartoon? //