by Danny
Danny Hearn:
Our motley assortment of heroes is making its way through one of the tunnels, the tunnel that supposedly leads the way to water, and, hopefully, to Sam.
I'm standing near the front, not through any sense of leadership, or bravery, or anything that could be misconstrued as something heroic. I'm just standing here because it's pretty damn dark down here. And owls have excellent night vision.
A few flaming torches line the walls alongside us. They provide some light, but not much. They only light a few meters in every direction. Which is why I'm standing near the front. It's nice to feel useful, but it's even nicer to feel safe. Oh, well. Can't have everything.
Wait... flaming torches lining the cavern walls? I stop.
"Who put those there?" I ask out loud, to nobody in particular.
Marv Velo stops behind me. The others follow suit. "He's got a point," Velo says.
Tobias Christopher looks at him, quizzically.
"The torches. They're not exactly a natural rock formation," Velo explains. The others nod in agreement.
"So... someone is living down here. Most likely several someones," Velo adds, talking more to himself than directly to anyone else, as if working something out in his head as he speaks.
"What, like some sort of underground civilization? MOLE PEOPLE?" Mick Harrison says, laughing softly to himself.
"And that seems far-fetched to you? Man, we just fought giant, robot, man-eating wolves," Tobias replies.
"Point taken," Mick says.
"So, there could very well be someone living in these caverns," Sonja Ljzavet says. "And we don't know if they're hostile or not. And Sam is still missing. I don't like to play the pessimist, but I can think of a worst case scenario or two."
The group is silent for a moment. "Right. So we keep going," I finally say.
"Exactly. See anything up ahead, Danny?" Lance Lorenzo asks me.
"There's a tunnel that branches off to the side here. I'll check it out. It might lead to the river. Someone come with me," I answer.
I step forward into the cavern. It's dark, even with my enhanced eyes. I step forward a little more. Pete Glover follows me, staying close. He probably can't see a thing beyond the few meters allowed by the occasional flame.
"S' bloody dark," Pete says.
"Yup," I reply, nodding my agreement.
I hear a soft meow, then turn to realize that Li'l Jo has followed me and Pete into the cavern. I then hear a loud rumbling. This sound is decidedly non-catlike.
"You hear that, Pete?"
"Yeah. Reckon we oughtta head back to th' group." I nod, although he probably can't see it.
Suddenly, the entrance to the small cave we had just entered... collapses. The roof and the floor decide to become better acquainted amidst a shower of falling rock and dust.
"SHIT!" I yell. Pete grabs me and flings me to the ground. We both take cover behind a nearby crevice, dragging Li'l Jo behind us. The noise is deafening. And it lasts for at least a minute.
When we finally emerge from our hiding spot, it's only to discover that our entrance was entirely sealed. There's no way for us to reach the main cavern that the rest of the team is in. We're completely separated from the group.
"We're completely separated from the group," Hal says.
"Thanks for the exposition, Hal, but that's kind of obvious," I reply.
"Oh, right. Fair enough. Well, shit."
"You're quite the eloquent one, aren't you, Hal?"
"It's all part of my programming."
"You talkin' t'me?" Pete asks.
"No, sorry, Pete. It's my second brain, the one that lives inside my head and makes my powers work. He talks to me."
"Oh... right..."
Okay, Danny. Don't panic. You're trapped in a cave. But those guys outside know you're in here. And they have powers that could probably have you free within moments.
Okay... you're trapped in a cave with a cat, and a guy... an incredibly lucky guy... Well, hell. The cave collapsed. That wasn't so lucky. Where's his trademark luck now?
I suddenly become aware of another sound in our tiny cavern: running water.
I turn around, run a few meters. And there it is, the river. The river we've been searching for. The river that will hopefully lead us to Sam and to escape.
"Pete, you magnificent lucky bastard, we found the river!" I yell behind me.