Page 28 of Trapped By Claws
Basically, an enemy.
So why did some part of me want to stay close to him? There was actually an ache inside me that intensified like a tender bruise when I focused on it.
No!
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away.
I needed to focus. There were other far more important questions. Like which way to go?
The only sound was the echo of dripping water somewhere ahead. It was so dark, my eyes couldn't adjust to it.
I stepped forward, examining each of the different passages. The faint glow of the orb lit my way. Two of the paths angled upward. One smelled fresher than the other.
I unfastened a bit of thread from the ripped sock, fastened it securely around a stalagmite and started forward.
The cold air bit at my cheeks as I walked, and I tucked my free hand into a pocket for warmth. The orb cast dancing shadows against the rough stone walls as I went. The green thread that ran along behind me now was the one tether I had in case I got lost or needed to backtrack. Or, even worse, abandon my attempt to escape and return and hope Corvin didn't notice what I'd attempted…although explaining the broken stone and the twisted lock might be hard to pass off as anything other than an escape attempt.
The tunnel twisted and turned, sometimes sloping up or down but mostly moving up. Often it branched, and I had to choose.
Each time, I relied on my nose.
More than once, I had to squeeze through narrow gaps between boulders or step carefully over treacherous piles of loose stone. My shoes squelched unpleasantly with every step.The steady dripping of water remained constant.
So strange to be down here.
My heart still hammered, the shadows twitching and snagging my attention.
It wasn't my first time navigating an unknown cave, but it was the first time I'd had to start within its depths. Hosvir had told me a few things about navigating the caves in these parts, as had Mik and a few of the others. Mostly summaries of their own exploits and explorations when their vessel docked and they continued their research. But some of their tidbits helped.
I was violating a crucial one in that I didn't have two separate types of light sources and no real knowledge of how to operate these orbs. But it was better than nothing.
On I went.
I half expected Corvin to come racing after me. Every shadow reminded me of him. And then—well, who knew what he woulddo? Probably nothing good. He wasn't going to be happy about me running off like this.
Based on the intensity of the water pressure, I didn't think I was more than a couple hundred feet underground. If I could find a way, I'd be out of here fast. And he'd be angry.
But…I wasn't afraid of him hurting me.
I couldn't even imagine him hurting me. Not even after all I'd seen him do.
He'd probably just look at me with those bright-green eyes and…be all hurt. But that was his problem. Not mine. I had to get back and rescue Mama. And then?—
Soft footsteps pattered up behind me.
I spun around in time to see a pair of glittering eyes.
I lifted the crowbar. "Stay away," I said grimly.
The fearless creature bounded into the light, rearing up on its hind legs.
"Tagger?" I lowered the orb, blinking. Where had he come from? I peered into the darkness behind him, the thread twitching with my movement.
Tagger squeaked and then let out a series of trills. He tilted his head in a manner similar to Corvin.
"Did you come here to betray me?" I asked dryly, resting the hand with the crowbar against my hip.
He chirped and dropped on all fours. His long whiskers brushed the floor as he padded closer. His purple-black eyes sparkled.
