Page 64 of Queen's Griffon

Ron peered over the edge. “Maybe I should keep watch.”

“Go ahead. You can keep the dragon distracted.” A reminder that galvanized Ron into gripping the rope and beginning his descent. Soon he, too, stood at the bottom of the chasm which ran far enough in both directions Avera couldn’t see an end.

The ground they stood on wasn’t dirt or stone as it had appeared to be from the top, but rather solidified lava, the porous texture of it quite distinctive. Magma had once run through here, maybe still did further down given the heat radiating underfoot.

“Okay, now for the harder part.” Lenno grimaced at the opposite wall they’d now have to ascend. “Who’s going up to tie off the rope?”

Munro shook his head. “I already know I can’t without something to hold on to.”

“I’ll go,” Avera volunteered.

“Like fuck. You’ll just take off,” Lenno spat.

“I’ll do it,” Frisk volunteered. “Used to rock climb all the time when I was young, looking for roc eggs in the canyon.”

Lenno loaded him with a coil of rope, and then Frisk set off, the man nimble, his hands and feet finding nooks and crannies to ascend.

As he neared the top, Ron said, “What’s that noise?”

“I don’t hear nothing,” Lenno stated, keeping his gaze on Frisk who’d almost reached the edge.

Avera frowned. “Are you sure? I hear it too.” Almost like a scratching sound, but not. She couldn’t describe it.

Munro pulled his axe. “Boy’s right. Something’s coming.”

“Is it the dragon?” Ron squeaked.

“Does this gap look big enough for a dragon?” scoffed Lenno.

It didn’t, but Avera also didn’t want to see what kind of beast lived in this crevice. When the rope got dropped over the edge, she didn’t wait or ask permission. She grabbed hold and began to climb.

“Hey, what are you doing?” yelled Lenno.

“Getting to the other side.”

“Hold on, Queenie. I’ll pull you up,” Frisk stated as he began hauling on the rope. Avera didn’t argue because her arms remained weak from her descent and the noise had gotten louder.

Soon Frisk had her beside him and dropped the rope for the next person. Lenno came huffing and red face up it, glaring at them both as he heaved over the side.

“Munro, grab hold, and we’ll yank you,” Lenno shouted.

He and Frisk grabbed the rope and began hauling. Avera could have stood by, but instead, she added her strength to their pulling. As Munro crowned the edge, they could hear Ron panicking.

“Shit. Shit. What is that? Oh fuck. Get me out of here,” the young man blubbered, scrabbling at the wall.

“Hold on, I’m tossing down the rope.” Lenno dropped it so that it dangled by Ron’s face.

The man grabbed it and squealed. “Pull. Pull. It’s coming.”

What was coming? Avera could see nothing in the chasm, not even the bottom as the sun had begun to dip in the sky, lengthening shadows.

The men hauled, and since there were three, Avera kept watch, Ron’s face the most prominent thing in the gap until…

She gasped. “Faster. There’s something below him.” She couldn’t see it clearly. Whatever climbed after Ron blended with the encroaching gloom.

The men heaved but the thing that climbed proved quicker. Ron shrieked and his body went taut as something grabbed hold of his lower legs.

“Argh!” He kept screaming and wiggling, swaying the rope until?—

---