[Silver]

“It’s easy,” Ari explained. “Go in and kill the monster.”

Oswald didn’t look to certain. They had very little information to go on, and though he was confident in both his own skills and hers, he still felt a little uneasy about it all. For all they knew, the monster didn’t even necessarily need to be killed.

“What kind of monster do you think it is?” he asked.

“Who cares? Slayed one monster, slayed ‘em all.”

Maybe Oswald was worried because she didn’t usually talk like this. Something was bothering her, and he couldn’t figure out what it was. He wasn’t about to ask directly, either. That would certainly not go well.

[Silver]

He wanted to say something about how he thought they should stay alert or keep an open mind for what might happen once they get there, but he decided to stay quiet instead. He really didn’t think his weird brand of optimistic leadership was really appropriate right now. Besides, he’d probably mess it up as he was saying it anyway. He was good at that.

With the detailed instructions they got from the villagers, they happened upon the old mine shaft in record time. The good news was that they had not yet been attacked by any horrible monsters. Or was that the bad news? It never was entirely clear on missions like this what might lie in wait for them. He’d rather get it over with quickly.

[Silver]

Ari went up to the stone walls of the entrance arc, now covered in moss and weeds growing from the cracks. She inspected the stone closely to see if there were any clues she might need to hold on to while exploring.

“Looks like it hasn’t been touched in forever,” she said. “Not a single scratch.”

She was, of course, also checking the area for traps that might have been laid. It was entirely possible that it was not just a monster here, but instead a clever person with an evil agenda. She considered that Oswald might be right, and they should be careful, but she probably wasn’t actually going to do it.

[Silver]

Ari swooped down to the dirt at the entrance. Like the stone archway, there was little evidence of something living there. Some scratchy paws, perhaps, like those of a rabbit or other small cave dwelling animal, but nothing concrete. Nothing that led her to knowing what kind of monster it might be.

“Looks safe for now, follow closely,” she instructed.

As he always did, Oswald hurried after her and kept close on her heels. Both so he could protect her if a fight broke out, and because he knew that she would be able to find any traps or risky places to travel and let him know. He was not nearly as observant as she was. It was one of the reasons they made such a great team.

[Silver]

“Hold on, let me get a torch,” he said. He rummaged around in his pack for a second before he found one and lit it. It wouldn’t last forever like one of his magical lights, but it was cheap and easy to replace.

Oswald struck his flint and steel and the sparks ignited the ready torch. The light spilled into the cave, coating the walls in a soft orange glow. Just like the opening that led them into the tunnel, it looked old and worn. Like it had seen many seasons, all the while remaining still and empty while the world moved around it.

[Silver]

The light of the fire stirred something in the tunnel. First it came with a feeling of dread, then the flapping of wings. A rush of air blew past the travelers who knew by now how to handle such a feeling. They readied their weapons and took a defensive stance. Whatever this was, they were ready for it.

Much to their surprise, the threat was not a threat at all. It was merely the flapping of many wings, all belonging to small, common bats. After all of the weird magical and twisted versions of things-with-bat-wings they had encountered on their travels, actual, real life fuzzy little bats seemed like the least threatening thing in the world.

[Silver]

Ari and Oswald both erupted into laughter. The tension was gone and they were just standing there, brandishing blades at the darkness. It was a nice relief, though they didn’t expect it to last for long. Whatever really was in there must certainly knew that they were there now. A million bats don’t just fly out of a cave for no good reason, after all.

“I don’t suppose the villagers were talkin’ about a few bats, huh,” Oswald said with a sigh. Wouldn’t it have been nice if that was the end of the dangerous adventure?

[Silver]

“Probably not,” Ari said. “Though that does explain the lack of footprints.”

“Oh yea,” he said. He hadn’t even considered that part. A flying creature wouldn’t leave tracks, which seemed really obvious when she said it.

“We should keep going. Keep your guard up, I think we probably just broadcast ourselves to whatever might be in here.”

“If there is anythin’ in here,” Oswald said, rolling his eyes. He was starting to feel less concerned and more bored already.

“Jeez Oz, what does it take to keep your attention?”

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly.

[Silver]

As could be expected, the path split off into two directions. They could either follow it to the left or the right. It also started to degrade where the already lazy brickwork gave way to chiseled stone walls. The people who made this place, some time ago, were clearly looking for something, and it wasn’t entirely practical to make beautiful, finished tunnels for a mining operation.

“Hey look,” Oswald said, shining his light off toward the left. “There’s some writing here.”

Ari went up to inspect the writing, but found it unreadable. It was written in a language she did not understand.

[Silver]

“I think it’s Dwarvish,” she said with a frown. Neither of them knew it, she was pretty sure.

“Yea probably,” Oswald agreed with a nod.

“You don’t read Dwarvish, do you?”

“No, but I know the word for ‘beer’.”

“Yea I don’t think that’s gonna help, but thanks.”

Now if only either of them was able to read the language on the wall, they might have chosen not to go down the left path. The writing a carefully written warning, suggesting that there is a danger ahead. The travelers, however, did not heed the message and headed on down on the path anyway.

[Wild Pet Found]