SION
Demetri led the way as we all followed behind him. We all shifted into our feral forms making sure we were ready for anything we may encounter. We were well aware we were entering a nauc nest and they were monsters that were incredibly protective. The tunnel was narrow but tall, the sides were pitted with red carved out stone.
The Serpents path was a labyrinth. One narrow tunnel would lead to a larger cavern with more narrow tunnels branching off of it. I had been in here before back when the nauc hadn’t claimed it as a nest. Judging by Demetri’s confidence, he has also been in here before. Up ahead the path would branch into four different tunnels. The two on the far right will lead to the way out but the one we wanted was the middle, to the right. The tunnel on the far right will lead to a thin shale rock pathway that will open up but would also lead to a treacherous drop off. It’s dangerous, and that is without possibly having to fight. If you fall from there and manage to survive you will end up in a raging underground river. The current and undertow is enhanced by a magical pull. Those who have fallen in… were never seen again.
The path in the middle was very narrow. The sides of the wall had jagged edges that would impale into your skin if you bump into them. The sharp pointed crystal rocks would make fighting in there treacherous. Still, it was the less dangerous path. So I knew this was the one Demetri was planning for.
My eyes scanned over the tunnel walls searching for any sign of life. My nose was picking up the scent of the nauc as I lifted it in the air. My ears would twitch as it picked up sounds in the far distance. Somewhere in the maze of passages there were nauc moving about.
The air was stale in here. We were going deeper into the earth and there wasn’t an air shaft anywhere near this area. I noticed how both Logan and Kai’s ears were moving and lowering. Their wolves could sense the danger ahead. A danger they could not handle. Conner’s ears were alert and focused. Occasionally, tilting to the side to listen behind.
Suddenly, Demetri stopped. We all looked forward anxiously and tried not to make a sound. Beneath my paws I felt the vibrations of something with substantial weight. A hiss echoed off the walls and the vibrations became softer. Slowly we began to move again into the darkness, deeper into the nauc’s nest.
Just in front of us would be the room with the four paths. If we could just manage to get through the next section, we would be back in a more open cavern. I heard a quiet intake of breath. Whatever Demetri was seeing had him upset. I noticed how the sound of his feet changed. What in the world was going on? I lifted my head up and noticed he was no longer shifted as a centaur but was standing there as a human. Why would he unshift right now?!
We began to move again but something was wrong. We weren’t heading towards the middle right tunnel but the far right one. No.. no no no. This was bad. Centaur hooves on shale rock was a death sentence. Our paws would be okay but still this was not ideal. As I finally reached the center, I realized why we were diverting. The path in front of us was covered in rocks. There must have been a cave in. There was no choice. I slowly followed behind the others and watched as a blue glow began to shine ahead.
As we stepped out onto the open cliffside there was blue glowing moss that greeted us down the ravine. In the depths, you could hear the water menacingly racing.
“Shit…”
I heard Demetri mutter in a quiet breath. I could see him looking in the ravine so I glanced down as well. I didn’t notice it at first. Da.mn. If you fell… you were done. Hovering in the lower part of the ravine was a red cloud of miasma. The toxicity created by the nauc all seemed to gather and rest in the bottom of the trench. The air was toxic down there.
Demetri turned his head to look at us. He mouthed the words to us in silence.
“If someone falls… you don’t go after them. Or you are both dead.”
Those are orders. I reiterated to my pack. If anyone falls… there is no surviving that. Don’t go after them. Concentrate. We can make it through this.
Demetri began to slowly make his way again. Logan and then Kai followed behind him. I felt the rock sliding beneath my paws as I tried to keep my balance on the unsteady ground. This is where those da.mn nauc excelled. Their scaley bodies allowed them to climb the walls and the path without falling.
The sound of rocks slipping, a wolf whimpering, and stones clanking down the ravine had me on edge. I noticed Logan’s wolf’s feet scurrying to get back on the ledge. Two large hands grabbed onto his neck and helped him back up. I finally breathed again as I watched them begin to move along the path. We were trying to be as quiet as we could but those sounds probably alerted something. We needed to be cautious but move with haste.
We were only halfway through this path when I heard the sound of rocks crashing down the ravine. I glanced behind me to see what I was hoping we wouldn’t run into. A black nauc was slithering up the trail behind us at a speed we couldn’t outrun.
Keep going! I ordered my pack members as they all froze, hesitating about what to do. I growled and glared at Conner. Go! I listened as he growled as well, but continued on ahead. I would hold this monster off while they reached safety. I slowly maneuvered over the unsteady ground so that I was now facing the nauc.
SKAAAAA
It hissed at me and bared its fangs as it raised its head above me. It clearly had the advantage here, but I was going to stand my ground. I wouldn’t be stopped here. I had to get to Clover. Nothing was going to stand in my way.
It lunged at me, and I leapt in the air landing on the serpent, sinking my fangs into its neck. It began to flail its body and I jumped back to the ground. My feet continued to slide as the rock beneath it tried to pour into the ravine. I frantically ran in place kicking more rocks. Blood dripped from my fangs landing on the falling rocks. I pushed off hard, managing to jump again trying my best not to stir the rocks below me.
SKAAAAA
I was now panting wishing I had a moment to catch my breath. I barely managed to escape falling into the ravine and the serpent was upon me again. This time it began to slide up the side of the wall making rocks trickle down to me. Its body dove towards mine, crashing just in front of me, the ground giving out all around us.
I ran on top of the monstrous serpent using its body to leap to safety. The nauc tried to recoil the body closer to its head but with all the strength I could muster I jumped away. The rocks trembled under my feet as I tried to stop their avalanche into the abyss.
“Sion, RUN!” I heard Demetri’s voice from behind me. I glanced back at him to see they were standing on solid rock successfully reaching the other side. His gaze was above me though. My chest was heaving as I looked up. Another nauc, one much longer, was slithering over the ceiling. Its yellow eyes were locked onto me as the other nauc got in position in front of me.
SKAAAA
It hissed as venom dripped down its fangs. I began to back away. If I engaged, the other nauc would be upon me. My only chance would be running but the serpent on the ceiling was going to catch me. It was traveling much faster than I could over this shale rock surface.
I waited for the nauc to strike at me. As soon as it did, I evaded jumping backwards. Then I turned and tried to run. The rock below me starting to give way. My paws scrambled over the sifting ground. It was taking so much effort just to move.
SKAAAA!
The loud hiss came from above and I knew… this was it. The colossal serpent crashed into me, using its body to knock me over the edge. It was as if everything was in slow motion.
I could hear the panicked cries from my pack. My body was weightless, falling into the darkness. The nauc falling with me.
Clover…
All I could think of was her. I wasn’t afraid. I just hated to leave her. It was as if she was here with me in this moment. She captured my mind, and her face was all I could see. I held it in my heart. Her love, her laughter, her scent… and even though it wasn’t for long… for a moment she was mine.
She would be okay though. I know Conner, Logan and Kai would keep her safe. She also had Demetri and Odell. They would protect her. She would end up taken in by the Diamond pack and would be safe. I just wished I could have told her all the things I have in my heart. I wish I could have left her with something to remember me by.
I hope she will be happy, I thought as I fell through the miasma.
I hope she will find love; I closed my eyes as I felt the icy water greet me. Instantly my body was yanked into its currents, being dragged lower. It was as if I was in a whirlpool. I tried not to think about it though. I kicked my feet, testing out the current, but it was useless. I opened my eyes as I was dragged deeper. I attempted to paddle against the current, but it had a grip on me. I watched as the nauc was swept away disappearing before my eyes. There was no escape. And I knew even if I did somehow get out, the air was toxic.
The pressure of the water pounded against me. It squeezed my lungs. I needed air that wasn’t there...and I had no choice. I inhaled the water, the liquid rushed inside me. It’s amazing how peaceful it all felt. My body felt relaxed and almost soothed. There was no pain… just comfort.
I remembered her face and smiled as my vision began to tunnel. Gods, I wish I could have held her one last time…