Miraculous meeting

Jp with Lorem, Lucian, Omni and Bandorchu

With the guidance of Tar, Alexis and Gonyaul once again descended towards the depths of the Ypogeos, still not willing to give up on their friends.
Alexis took point, with Tar giving directions from behind her and Gonyaul bringing up the rear.

They had asked their guide about their suspicions about the mould, and he could confirm. Unfortunately, he wasn’t aware of any definite protection against it. However, knowing its effects - hallucinations, paranoia, headaches - was a solid protection in itself.
It made sense.

Hopefully it would be enough.

Trudging along, Voah noticed the change in air as well. Maybe it was the spores or maybe they were getting used to the tunnels so that it was easy to notice a difference in the environment. She picked up the pace behind Tarmen and after a few minutes they started hearing the stirs of movement far ahead.

Cautious, Voah half-readied the spear daggers she still hung onto. After all, it could just be another hallucination. She was weak and weary and her body so close to giving out again.

Alexis frowned, and made a sign to stop, taking a moment to listen.
She wasn’t quite sure, but she thought she heard something further down the way.

She didn’t know if they were deep enough yet to come upon Neph-Kin, but how knew what else stalked these tunnels.

She slowly drew her blade, still listening.

Tarmen hugged the wall as the voices neared them, ready to send more mouldfolk to whatever deity they spat on here. He looked to Voah, signaling to see if she was ready before they sprung a surprise.

Gonyaul’s attention was drawn to Alexis pulling out her sword. Something had her preparing and he did so as well with his resolve, since he had no weapon in hand. He did have Voah’s sword tied to the gear on his back, but it never crossed his mind to actually use it.

He strained looking into the darkness up ahead, as if that would give him night vision or the ability to see further. It wasn’t going to be another Naylmo based on the confining space; however, they had been warned there were all sorts of unknown dangers down here already.

He spoke up to Alexis “What is it? Danger?”

“Possibly. Be on your guard.”

the mercenary softy answered.
Now on high alert she slowly and cautiously continued down the descending tunnel.

Voah looked back to Tarmen, he heard it too. She gave him a look and a nod they said, ‘as ready as I’ll ever be’.

Tarmen readied his aching muscles, trying to steady his shaking arms with deliberate breaths. The voices had stopped, leaving their footsteps to go off of.
He had to shake his head, unsure if they were particularly heavy footed or if it was another trick from the spores, but when they got close he struck out all the same.
A reckless snarl escaped him as he swung wide, accepting his fate as it was easily knocked aside and he was kicked from his lunge.
Collapsing on the ground, he took one last look at the lucky bastard that would finally end him and couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Alexis?!”

When the attack came, Alexis was ready. Crossing her sword with her torch, she caught the weapon swinging at her and directed it to the ground, simultaneously kicking instinctively at her assailant.

Then the torch light illuminated a very familiar face and her eyes widened.

“Tarmen…!”