Never ending obstacles

Jp with Lorem, Winteroak and Bandorchu

Alexis and Gonyaul arrived at what they hoped was their destination as the sun reaches its highest point in tye sky. Ahead of them was a cave, the only one they could see in the area. They were one day up the mountain face and looking down they could see how impressive the Maru fort once was. They thought they saw the figures of Boyce and Wim exploring the ruins. Looking inside the mouth of the cave they were surprised to see what looked like a makeshift camp. A bed roll was edged against a natural curve inside the rocks, and the ashes of a small fire. It's embers were still warm to the touch.

“Another explorer?”

Alexis took a moment to look for clues to whoever’s camp this might be whereabouts.

“If this is indeed the entrance, then probably no Odonine, given how they feel about that cave system. Let’s be on the lookout while we check.”

She found a plate, a small knife, a black kettle and a bunch of dry twigs and kindle nearby. A water skin was also hanging from a rock nearby. Past the entrance of the moss covered cave she saw that it extends into the darkness, slowly curving down.

Gonyaul was not as carefree and distracted as he had been the first time they went spelunking, he was much more focused. He also looked around the campsite. Initially his Hope meter shot up thinking it may have been them having found a way out; however, that idea was quickly dispelled.

Gonyaul nodded to her warning. “Yes”. He said with a hoarse voice, as if someone recovering from having lost it. It was better than the day it happened. Well at least better in its volume, now able to be more than just a whisper.

He mustered up his courage, doublechecked both their gear on his person, and prepared to follow Alexis down in the darkness again.

Alexis gave the campsite a last glance. Didn’t look like they were planning to stay away for long if they left their waterskin.

Hopefully this wouldn’t turn out to be another problem on their plate.

She secured what she needed at her fingertips on her person, grabbed a torch and with a nod to Gonyaul entered the cave.

The roof of the cave got lower as they walked inside towards the far end, soon even with the sloping of the floor they were forced to bend slightly down. A dozen metres inside the cave they saw a small pool to the left of fresh water. To the right they saw a small roundish opening that appeared to lead forward inside the mountain.

The combination of the low roof with Alexis’s torch added to the increasing congested smells as they continued deeper. The limber Gonyaul found the tighter space to be easily managed, but was concerned for his taller friend should it continue to get narrower.

Gonyaul took note of the pool and gestured towards the opening, even though he was sure Alexis noticed it before he did.

Well, this was promising to be a fun time - not. The again, Alexis hadn’t expected it to be a leisure walk.

At least water wouldn’t be an issue too soon.
With the opening to the right being the sole way forward, she nodded her affirmative to Gonyaul and continued down that lane.

They moved into the furthest cave wondering if they did the right thing, moving on without knowing who was its occupier or if he could have assisted them. The tunnel was small and cramped and water drips down its walls. They walked for what felt like an eternity always down.

“Can I just say I am starting to hate tunnels.”

Alexis growled lowly as she made sure to protect the torch.

Gonyaul wasn’t to the hate tunnels level yet; however, it was difficult riding your hope alone when it was just endless disappointment around every ongoing step. If circumstances were different he would have been enjoying this mysterious descent.

The echoes that fall back out of the blackness sound very sinister although your mind knows it's only your footsteps.
 
The tunnel they walked in suddenly widened out of nowhere but a great slope of debris appeared in the middle of it forcing them to a halt. The cave they were in appeared to be much wider than the one above. Because of the dark, it was impossible to determine the scale of the obstruction.

“Diahs dhamh.”

Alexis sighed. Couldn’t something work out for a change?

“Now what? Didn’t see any other tunnels yet…”

She walked around the accessible part of the tunnel, hoping against hope there was some way around it.

Gonyaul growled for the first time. Which sounded like a cat purr rumbling from his hurt voice. He was struggling to not lose his calm.

He had not seen any other ways as of yet. He shook his head no and then gripped his fist in frustrations.

He stepped forward and grabbed some debris and tried throwing it off to the side. “Maybe we make a way?” Could they clear it he wondered?

“I do this and you look for other way?”