Chapter three - Fangs

Korrin struggled against the heavy weight of crushing stone. His heart thundered in his ears as he spat out rain water and gravel, trying to find open space. Eyes straining to see in the pitch black, he began to think that his efforts were fruitless as his limbs ached in protest. 

Eventually, Korrin’s efforts ceased as he let his muscles relax for a moment to breathe. As he assessed his situation, Korrin poked one of his hind legs around the cramped space, trying to find even just a bit more space to stretch out. His paw scratched across the cold stone behind him until he found a loose stone. Korrin collected all of his might and kicked the stone, bracing his body to push the loose rock as far away from him as he could.

A rush of sound flooded back into the small pocket of air Korrin was wedged into, the sound of the stone clattering away drowned out by the roar of a waterfall. The rainwater pooling around Korrin sloshed out from around him, draining out of the newly created hole in the wall. Korrin’s eyes adjusted to the new dim light streaming from the direction of the sound of the waterfall. He could see the faint outline of his damp fur and make out a few of the pebbles that tumbled around him with every movement.

One last time, Korrin strained his ears to hear anything more than the distant rush, but his shivering body forced him to press on once he had taken a few deep breaths.

Backing up, out through the hole, Korrin felt the ground drop away from his feet. Eventually, Korrin found himself hanging by his fingertips, legs swimming below him as he casted a glance down into the large cave below him. The ground looked slippery below his feet, but nonetheless his tired hands gave out and he fell ten feet to the cold stone below.

Korrin collected himself and stood up, trying to brush off a coating of clay that had formed over his fur in the hopes to warm himself up. The cave that he found himself in was massive, illuminated by bioluminescent fungi and leeches that clung to the walls and bottom of the crystal clear river that cut through the cavern. On the southern side a waterfall burst from an old brick pipe, feeding into the river and spraying the cave with ice cold water. The only way out seemed to be an old mossy bridge made of stone bricks leading into the mouth of a pitch black tunnel.

Cautiously, the small lynx crept forward, careful not to slip on the slick cave floor. He reached up to grab the railing of the bridge and pulled himself up and across. At the top he paused, wondering if he should go on. Here, at least he could see where he was going, though he was sure that he might freeze. On the other hand, Korrin could go on, but that passage seemed so dark and he had no idea what was beyond it.

By some sort of luck, Korrin wouldn’t have to decide. Footsteps were fast approaching. He crouched low, pressing his body against the bridge, hoping to sink into the shadows though his pale fur would easily give him away.

“Who’s there?” A voice called out. It sounded young, about Korrin’s age, but not inviting. “I can smell you, show yourself, overdweller!”

Preparing to stay put and hold his breath in case the stranger left him alone, Korrin realized that there was no use in sitting and hiding. It wasn’t like he could run, anyway. Fists clenched, Korrin rose, fixing the source of the voice with a firm glare.

The figure, upon making eye contact with Korrin, lifted their staff so the red gem embedded in it glowed and illuminated both of them. “What are you doing here? Declare yourself!” The other feline commanded, his red eyes shining the light. He was of a kind that Korrin had never seen before. The feline had two large fangs protruding from his mouth, a large tail, and very long hair tuft on his head. Not to mention, Korrin had never seen such a brightly colored creature before, as he found the feline’s red and green pelt very intriguing.

“I am Korrin from the village of Hillcross. On my way to Wyrmforth I was ambushed and got lost- do you know the way back to the surface?” Korrin asked, hoping that the stranger was not too hostile and would let him pass through and get back to the surface.

“But how did you get down here? Don’t you know that surface dwellers are unwelcome here? We do not take guests nor have resources to spare,” The other feline growled, his ears flat against his head and teeth bared.

“I didn’t mean to- I promise. I was just trying to get shelter from the storm when there was an earthquake and I found myself here,” Korrin said, taking a step back, hands pressed against the lip of the bridge. He flattered his ears back, wondering if the stranger would try to strike him. Where could he go? Korrin couldn’t swim, so the river was out of the question, and there was no way he was climbing back up to the small air pocket he had been trapped in. Korrin could try running past the other feline into the passage leading out of the cave, but that seemed just as dangerous as staying put.

The other feline took a step forward, hissing, “Then why don’t you go back the way you came?”

“It’s blocked off; the cave collapsed,” Korrin explained, tensing his muscles in preparation to run. Push come to shove, Korrin could probably outrun the other feline, though he knew nothing about where they were.

Narrowing his fiery eyes, the other feline asked, “So, Korrin, you would be more than happy to leave at this very moment?”

“Yes,” Korrin gulped, not wanting to get on the wrong end of those fangs as he tucked his tail between his legs. “More than happy.”

Still suspicious, the other feline took one last look over Korrin before relaxing, though his ears were still pulled back and expression firm. “Come with me, I will take you back to the surface, but keep your head low. The adults will not like overdwellers like you. I am Kaelgore, by the way,” Kealgore offered, holding out a paw for Korrin to shake.

Korrin took his hand and shook it. “Thank you. I won’t bring you any more trouble,” he assured Kealgore. “And, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your species? I’ve never heard of or seen anyone like you,” he asked, pricking his ears back up.

“That’s for me to know and you to not find out,” Kealgore responded, his smile a little bitter, but tone playful enough. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

Kealgore lead Korrin off the bridge and down the dark passage, out of the cave. Though the light on his staff stopped shining, Kealgore had no trouble navigating the underground maze, nor did he trip on any of the loose rocks on the floor. Meanwhile, Korrin stumbled after him, his only hope being that Kealgore’s dark outline wouldn’t start blending into the walls and get lost in the blackness.

Kealgore slowed down as the two reached what seemed to be an opening in the passage, though it was so dark Korrin wasn’t sure how large the new cave was. “Think you’ll be able to cross it?” Kealgore asked the lynx.

“Cross what? I can’t see a thing!” Korrin said, his eyes straining to make anything out but to no avail.

They stood in silence, then Kealgore lifted up his staff so it shone bright once more. “Sorry Korrin, I forgot overdwellers had bad eyesight,” he apologized, eyes shining in the red light.

In front of them, bathing in the staff’s light, Korrin could see a large pit. The only thing indicating any way to cross were some stalagmites and stalactites linked by a chain, the rock slick by many years of passage and ground water that seeped in from the mountains above. Korrin couldn’t make out the other end of the cave, though he thought he could hear the distant howl of wind. They couldn’t be too far away from the surface by now, though he had no idea where they were.

Done taking in the view, Korrin shook his head. “I have perfectly good eyesight, better than most. What do you expect me to do? See in the dark?” He asked, rolling his eyes.

“Yep,” Kealgore said bluntly. “Well, this is as far as I can take you. I’m not allowed beyond this point. It’s up to you to get across, there’s a passage on the other side that will lead you out of the side of the mountain. I’m not sure where that is in overdweller terms, but it’s somewhere East of where I found you.”

“I guess this is goodbye, then,” Korrin said, reluctant to leave what seemed to be a new friend behind. “Do you think we’ll see each other again, Kealgore?” he asked, taking one last look at the strange-looking feline.

“Probably not. Maybe when I’m an adult I’ll come find you, but I’m doubtful I’d be able to. So it is goodbye. Goodluck Korrin, I hope you find whatever you’re looking for out there,” Kealgore remarked, patting Korrin on the back. “I’ll stand here with my staff until you get to the other side, then we’ll both be on our ways.”

“Yeah. See you,” Korrin said, smiling back up at Kealgore and patting him on the shoulder.

With that, Korrin began the long climb across the pit. It was a grueling task, having to haul himself along the chain and grip any rock he could reach for dear life, but Korrin’s mind was occupied with other things. One, he had never met a stranger like Kealgore before and for some reason was heartbroken that he wouldn’t see him again. Two, Sir Zyren was still out there, and Korrin had to find him somehow or he was stranded in the mountains.

Once Korrin’s feet touched solid ground at the other side of the pit, he turned to see Kealgore wave and the light of his staff be blotted out by the darkness. Then, his footsteps faded and Korrin was alone again.

A moment of catching his breath and Korrin was back on his feet, stumbling through the darkness until he found the passage. Wet and shivering, he pressed on, upwards as the promise of wind beckoned him.

The sky was grey and cloudy, though the rain had stopped. The horizon was tinged pink by the rising son and the cold air nipped at Korrin’s ears and tail. Standing in the entrance of the passage, Korrin breathed in fresh air, the scent of pines filling his nose. He had never been so grateful for the lack of a roof over his head. All the pressing weight and anxiety of being in the cave was lifted off of Korrin and a new energy filled his tired body.

The sound of hogs squealing slapped Korrin out of his newfound relaxation and he ran to hide behind a nearby boulder, peering around it to see where the sound had come from.

Two boar-riders were making their way down the mountain, past the mouth of the cave that Korrin had just left. One creature carried a large bag that clanged with metal as its beast rocked it up and down. The other creature was laughing, saying, “He’ll be very pleased. Very pleased indeed. It’s not every night we score so well. A knight! By the stars above, we’re rich!”