The Cave

JP with Largehobbit, Winteroak and Cindy

Islana stood with her feet slightly apart, which helped with balancing on the rocking vessel. She managed to stay upright as the ship lurched forward but even more surprisingly so did Madaya.

Silina wasn't so lucky and was knocked off her feet. The young boy really didn't need to ask that question. As the the answer was clear, after all she was still Islana.

Madaya, on the other hand, seemed almost scared to move.

"Of course," Islana responded because no other answer would have crossed her mind.

Moving towards Silina, she put her right hand out and waited for the teenager to accept it before helping her back to her feet and making sure she was alright.

Once Silina was standing, Islana turned back to the young boy.

The ship lurch violently and the sound of splitting timbers was followed by that of fast running water. The lad looked down with concern as water began to pool about their feet. He looked at each penitent in turn before speaking,

"We need to leave this place. Follow me."

He was moving then past the three and deeper into the hold of the ship.

"Quickly!" he called back as he broke into a run.

The lurch made Islana lean suddenly forward but she remained upright. Her feet felt wet, which meant trouble.

"Run! Follow him!" Islana said that mostly for Madaya's sake as the girl looked like she didn't know what to do, but if Silina needed a boost it was there for her as well.

Three of them took off, following the young boy. Madaya's was first, followed by Silina, as Islana brought up the rear. Soon the water was ankle deep and the wet splash of their running became yet another sound adding to the cacophony of the raging storm and sinking ship. It was not lost on Islana that they had been running far too long for this to be any ordinary ship and she noticed, as did the other girls that the wooden hull around them had given way to a surface of jagged stone. The only light now came from the boys lamp as moved ahead of them into the darkness.

Soon the water began to recede and the ground could be seen once more, though it too was now slick black rock. Behind them the distant sound of the storm continued unabated but muffled now by the density of the stone that now surrounded them. The boy turned briefly and gave a relieved sigh to see them following.

"We are close now," he assured them. His pace slowed to a walk as they continued.

The ship seemed to go on go forever, until it was no more. Islana could feel the cool, slippery black, jagged rocks under her feet. It would be incredibly easy to slip and fall here.

When Toman slowed his walk, so did the three girls. Islana felt relieved at having to not run on such a slippery surface. Eventually, a second light appeared ahead of them, a twin to the one that Toman carried. The ground began to slope upward as the penitents followed and soon the strange stone passage began to open out into wide dimly lit cavern. Stalactites reached down from the ceiling above dripping icy cold water onto their heads. Around them stalagmites reached upward like rocky fangs, their surfaces wet and glistening, reflecting the light on the lamp light.

Around the tunnel dark passages stretched off in every direction and in the centre of the cavern sat a man. He had his back to the newcomers as he appeared to be scribbling notes in a small leather bound book. Around him a strange array of tables and apparatus were set out to form some kind of makeshift laboratory. Flaskes of bright liquid bubbled over open flames and small cauldrons spewed billowing fumes into the air about them.

The boy Toman backed away and ushered the pentitants forward toward the man.

"Well. Do not just stand there gawping, we have work to do." the man spoke, and Islana knew that voice... Could it be?