Chapter 24 - Twenty-Three (1/2)
I went down for, what, thirty minutes, one hour, two hours…? It was difficult to tell down in a totally dark tunnel that kept going and going nonstop without anything changing.
When I reached the end my legs hurt but still I felt relieved, almost kissing the floor; but I wasn't that dramatic yet. I had caught the elves smell long ago, not been too hard in a close in place like this, even more a group of them.
Apparently they were down there for three days already, as it was normal to stay for two to three days in for the young ones, but someone who was responsible to meet them at the entrance notice the cave in and reported immediately.
The hope was that they just happen to notice the cave in yesterday, and would be close to the entrance and unharmed.
But a monster dungeon wouldn't let it go so simply.
For what I could gather it was really like the dungeon itself was a monster, with conscious and hungry for energy; which only the dead could give. He could lock people in, change the level of a floor, and so on.
I walked through a little cave entrance, with uneven stones, and it suddenly opened outwards to an enormous place, with a surprisingly high ceiling and stone bridges. The mushrooms were bigger here, illuminating even more in a blueish light, along with some plants falling from the ceiling like hair, shining too.
I look down beside the bridges only to see a never-ending pit. Wonder where it leads, and how big this dungeon is. It there any limits at all? Hm…
But it is funny, strange even, been alone here, everything was… to quiet. I've been always worried about protecting my brother that I never had time to realize how much his support meant to me.
It was a little scary, I admit, been in a strange and dangerous place alone, totally alone for the first time since I was born.
A noise caught my attention, making me perch my ears up.
”For Nature! Why they don't stop coming? Fall back kids! Stay behind me!”
With the Shadow Veil covering my footsteps I run to were the sound came from, quickly arriving at a group of elves surrounded by big bats and rats. But the problem wasn't there; but in the quantity of them, enough that the walls seemed to move, all covered up by little pairs of green mushy eyes.
Well shit.
I looked to the group once more and counted them; there were supposed to be 12 kids and 2 a.d.u.l.ts, but there were only 10 kids. The elves looked tired, even more the a.d.u.l.t ones, as one of them kept a wind shield around the kids and the other tried to open a path for them to pass.
For how long have they been keeping this up?
I jump in front of them, taking off my Shadow Veil and scaring everybody around; specially the mouse I crushed under my paws; and let a stream of fire cover all the rats and bats around, lighting the cave like little torches.
The creatures were beyond scared by the bright and hot light, and soon enough were fleeing away while I chase them back.
Once I got rid of them I had the full attention of the elves, with their weapons still up. I sigh.
”Hello there, my name is Pallaran Thilgon Minaothon, and I came to rescue you.” I said in Elven Language, and told them my full name since it seems to be a big deal around here.
”Minaothon? The Minaothon?” I raise my eyebrow at that, annoyed, as he coughs and lowers his weapon. With his attention, I quickly explain the situation, distributing the supplies around.
Apparently it would be easy since he already knows here the meeting point is. I was about to escort him, however, when one of the elven girls, a shy and petite one, comes closer to me and says:
”There is one of us missing.” She says, almost whispering. Missing? In not dead state?
”Where?”
”He felt through a hole on the floor, we couldn't get him out…” She looks over my shoulder and stops talking, but when I turn around none of the other elves were looking this way. I narrow my eyes at that.
”Go.” I say to the girl as she quickly joins back with the group. ”I will have another round around this floor, see if I didn't missed anything.” Or anyone, since they didn't mention the loss of two members.
I trotted out before they could protest. Humf, what type of elf would they be if they can even find their way around hey? I'm not a babysitter.
Once out of there I tracked down their last steps, finding soon enough a body half eaten by rats. I would have pitied him if it wasn't so disgusting to see the little creatures and worms all around it, eww.
And soon I found the hole.
It looked like a well, made of stone and going deep, very deep, been the home of some flying buzzing monsters. I take another snif, still strongly feeling the smell.
”Hello? Is there anyone down there?”
I hear some shuffling, rustling, but no answer. Shit, how could they let the kid down there? I jump on the wall and pass to its shadow; one of the perks of all this darkness; and go down avoiding the gigantic wasps.
I touch the ground silently, eyeing a puddle of clothes on the corner. ”Hey.” I said, going closer as the puddle moves, startling me.
”My name is…” I start, but once I get close I see his is not responding, unconscious. Shit. Running up to him I try to turn him, only to almost get stabbed by his quick hands.
And there stood a little devilish angel; He was sweating, sick, but the light coming from the mushrooms above was enough to illuminate his face. He still had a childish face; probably 12 or 13 years old; with dry pink lips, long eyelashes curving up and framing his sharp glimmering golden eyes, his face was as if made of marble, white with an aloof expression, the pain apparent only a little in a slight curve of his eyebrows.
His hair was long and sunshine blond, tamed in a high ponytail, and his ears were shorter than the other elves, been slightly pointy at the end. He brought me back to the present when he tries to move the sword up, but I raise my paw saying:
”Wait, I came to help, my name is Palarran Thilgon Mìnaothon, I brought supplies and…” I explain the situation again, but after that he doesn't even react, fixing his burning gaze at me.
”You are the Hell Hound.”
Well, yeah, I'm a Hell Hound, so what?