You cry out at the lizard as it crouches and prepares to lunge. The man whips around, grabbing his spear as he does so. He's quick, but the lizard is quicker. It flies through the air and cuts at the man, producing a long cut down his thigh. He ignores the pain and follows through with a motion of the spear that drives the point through the creature's neck. The creature gurgles and flops around for a moment before becoming very still.
You expect the girl to scream, but she maintains a very stern look. You listen for any more hissing sounds, expecting more lizards to appear at any moment, but aside from the man panting, the tunnel remains silent.
After a few minutes, the man, lacking any first aid, stands and gestures for you to pick up the girl. He then leads the way with a limp deeper into the cavern. You try to suggest going back to entrance, where you have a first aid kit, but they do not understand. You hesitate for a moment, then lift the girl up and follow the man deeper into the cave.
After a half hour's walk, you arrive at a giant stone gate. You start to wonder how they can move it, but as it slides out of the way, you see it rolling on lots of small hard rocks that have been ground smooth, like marbles. Beyond the gates is a small town carved out of the sidewalls and the large, stone columns that support the chamber, easily the size of several football fields. The ceiling is sixty to seventy feet up and covered in the luminescent moss and supported primarily by a massive natural stone column at the center.
Ropes woven out of a mossy substance that dangles down from the ceiling provides access to higher chambers, and even a few bridges between larger structures. You can see dozens of people crisscrossing over the ropes, going about their lives, all living in the dimly lit caverns.
After a few moments of staring in wonder, you realize that the girl is staring at you with your mouth agape. Feeling a little foolish, you continue deeper into the city. Several guards come running up and begin to help the injured man, take the girl from you, and a few raise their weapons cautiously in your direction. The young girl shouts a few commands and the weapons lower, but they continue to watch you. . Your group now continues deeper into the underground city.
The streets vary widely, from big enough to fit five people side by side, to narrow enough that one person has to squeeze through. You can see that the narrow places have been worn down some by people passing through, so there are no sharp spots to cut yourself on.
Near what is the center of the city, you arrive at the local approximation of a hospital. The group carries in the injured two, and you are gestured to sit on a bench. Several of the guards remain to keep an eye on you, but the rest follow the others in. All except one man, who dashes down the lane after receiving instructions from the young girl. A few minutes later, he returns with an elderly gentleman in tow who, to your amazement, speaks some Spanish.
Neither of your Spanish speaking is that good, but you're able to surmise that at a young age, he wandered from the cave and was found, and taken to an orphanage, where he stayed for several years and learned Spanish. Everyone assumed he was blind because his eyes could not handle natural sunlight, even the moon was too bright to look at. However, one night a new moon was out and it was dim enough for him to see and sneak away, plus dark enough that others could not chase him in the dark. That's how he found his way back to the cave.
He goes on to explain that the girl you found is nothing short of a princess. Her parents ruled over this city and the others like it, as had previous generations of her family. The parents had been killed during an attack from the lizards, but there is a prophecy of her bringing and end to the Big One, and ending the war for good.
Before you can ask many questions, a man comes out of the hospital and speaks to the translator. He indicates that you both are to go and see the Princess. Once there, the young girl, speaking directly to you and the old man translating as fast as he can, states that you are to stay by her side for now, as she has chosen you to protect her. Several guards start to protest, but before anyone can say anything of consequence, you all begin to hear yelling outside. You watch as everyone's faces twist with horror. The city is under attack!
The guards race outside leaving you with the girl and the translator. Before they go, the elder guard and one most upset at you becoming her protector orders you to keep her here and keep her safe. After they are gone, she instructs the translator to leave and find safety while gesturing for you to help her to the roof of the building.