Chapter 45 – Creatures outside the cave (2/2)

After feeling a little more warmer and relaxing his nerves, Shao Xuan walked towards the entrance of the cave after adding more firewood to the bonfire.

With previous experiences, he knew that the dream did not came for no reason, he just didn’t know what exactly was on the outside.

The giant stone blocked the entrance of the cave completely, and Shao Xuan would not be able to move it with his own strength. Also, Shao Xuan had no intention of doing so, for there were apparently numerous dangers outside. It was safer to have a giant stone blocking them.

The entrance of the cave was about fifty meters away from where Shao Xuan was sleeping at. As he approached the entrance step by step, Shao Xuan’s heart began to pound madly again.

The nearer he got to the entrance, the more intense the danger he felt. All of Shao Xuan’s hair stood up straight, and he felt like he was in a giant iceberg.

Shao Xuan slowed down his paces, and even his breath grew lighter, for he tried every possible way to hide himself from being sensed.

When he was about ten meters away from the entrance of the cave, Shao Xuan heard small dense clacking sounds. It seemed like an illusion, but also if it was just passing by his ear.

With the newly-added firewood, the fire grew bigger. As the flame danced, Shao Xuan’s shadow danced accordingly, and sometimes there were crackles of burning firewood.

However, Shao Xuan felt no warmth. Instead, he felt constant coldness.

With his mouth wide open, Shao Xuan took a deep silent breath to calm himself down. With taut nerves, Shao Xuan began to go back, quickly, yet with no sound.

When he arrived at Mao’s side, he pushed Mao hard.

Although Mao was soundly asleep, he was still vigilant with his subconscious. With only one push, Mao promptly opened his eyes and posed a posture for self-defense. However, when he came back to his senses and realized it was only Shao Xuan, he did not look good immediately. Before he tried to say anything, Shao Xuan quickly covered up his mouth, and glanced at the entrance of the cave at the same time.

Mao was not the kind of person who did not understand the situation, or else he wouldn’t be allowed to join the hunting mission. Seeing Shao Xuan’s behaviors, he knew there must be something abnormal by the entrance.

Opening his mouth, Mao asked silently, “What happened?”

Shao Xuan had no time to explain. He looked up at the top, for he remembered there were hidden vents up at the cave. He jumped high, and with the help of the wall, Shao Xuan went up to the top and began to search.

The wall was not smooth, and those dents and bumps helped him climb.

There were three vents in all, among which two of them were too small. The only big one was blocked by a stone.

Shao Xuan tried hard to move that stone, and indicated Mao to take it over in silence.

Mao was somehow anxious, for he did not know what was outside the cave, Mai and the others hadn’t returned, yet Shao Xuan did not explain at all what was happening. Normally, he would have shouted out already, however, now…

After picking up that stone, Mao laid that down on the ground carefully to avoid making any sound. Almost at the same time he dropped that stone, he heard an abnormal sound created by the giant stone blocking the entrance. It sounded like something sharp was scratching on the stone.

Mao’s face froze. That scratching was clearly not made by a human…

The giant stone was moving.

Night wind blew in from that newly-made gap.

The flames of the bonfire danced bolder, and Mao saw his own long shadow dancing distortedly on the wall.

For all his life, Mao had never encountered such circumstances. No matter how many hunting stories he had heard before, or how many hunting stories he had told the others, he only knew what danger tasted like when he truly faced with one.

Aside from these two newly-awakened kids, there was nobody else around. No one could help them, while the approaching beast could probably easily tear them apart.

When his grandfather, the Chief, told him hunting stories, he asked Mao once, “Mao, have you ever tasted the feeling of despair?”

Mao had no memories of what he answered back then. All he remembered was that he did not take it seriously, for he did not quite understand it.