define('WP_CACHE', true); Chapter 9: The Mine – Crossed Paths – Logs

Mar 10

Chapter 9: The Mine

Chapter 9: The Mine

In Which The Companions Reach The Entrance to Their Destination.

———————————————————————————————

Arrin says: Days later Soquan pushes at the sheet of ice that has formed at the entrance of the cave. He laughs as he breaks through. “I got through! We’re outta here!”

Catamount says: Jozra gives a whoop. “Wonderful!” She hastily packs together their supplies and pushes them up to Soquan, squirming up the tunnel behind them.

Arrin says: He takes the supplies and puts them outside of the cave before crawling out.

Catamount says: Jozra soon reaches the exit and pops her head out of the hole.  She shuts her eyes quickly and backs down a bit. “Ouch. I need a second for my eyes to adjust…”

Arrin says: He nods and sits, waiting. “Take your time.”

Catamount says: After a bit, Jozra ventures back out into the open, blinking against the brightness of reflected snow. “Ah… the fresh air is good!”

Arrin says: He nods, taking a lungful of air. “Aye, it is.”

Catamount says: Now Jozra takes her time repacking the supplies, checking on the food situation at the same time. “Looks like we have another four or five day’s worth of food, if we conserve a bit.”

Arrin says: He nods. “So which way do you want to go?”

Catamount says: The ferret closes the packs and hefts one onto her shoulder. “I suppose that depends on how much farther we have to go.”

Arrin says: He raises his head, thinking. “Not much longer, maybe an hour, then half a day back home…”

Catamount says: The ferret blinks in surprise. “I hadn’t realized it was that close! All right, to the gold I suppose.”

Arrin says: He grins and hefts his pack. “All right!” He heads off along the mountainside.

Catamount says: Jozra follows closely, ready to lend a hand if needed.

Arrin says: An hour later or so, he looks towards Jozra. “Do you see a cave mouth anywhere?”

Catamount says: The ferret peers at the rock carefully. “Not really…  Am I looking for something big or small?”

Arrin says: He grunts. “Big if I recall, it was a mine entrance…”

Catamount says: Jozra nods thoughtfully. “I don’t see anything here but the rock seems to bend around a little further ahead.  Perhaps it’s over there?”

Arrin says: He nods. “Alright let’s go.” He continues walking.

Catamount says: Soon they walk around the bend and Jozra grins. “Yep, there’s big hole just up ahead.  That must be it.”

Arrin says: He grins as well. “Good.”

Catamount says: Jozra pauses at the entrance and sniffs the damp, cold air breezing up out of the mine.

Arrin says: He looks towards her. “What do you see?”

Catamount says: She squints in the gloom. “Pretty dark; though not quite as much as our little cave. So, where do we go from here?  It looks like the tunnel branches just ahead…”

Arrin says: He thinks. “We go into the right branch.”

Catamount says: The ferret nods. “All right.” She walks in and takes the right fork.  “Seems pretty straight forward for right now. It’s getting dimmer though. I won’t be able to navigate soon.”

Arrin says: He chuckles. “I guess then it’s my turn to lead, eh?”

Catamount says: Jozra grins. “Yep!”

 

Jozra

2 comments

  1. Ooh, now I’m all aflutter. Are they going to find the gold just like that? If so, who just leaves gold lying around? And why hasn’t anyone else taken it? Ohdearohdear, the questions! I guess I’ll just have to read the next chapter.

    Gads, I don’t know what I’ll do when I reach the most recent chapter and have to stop reading. XD

    1. Never fear! There is PLENTY more where it came from (last unofficial count was about 80 chapters and the last bit hasn’t been edited into nice chapter chunks in a while so possibly more!)
      I just need to get to posting them all. :o I plan on getting back to uploading after a little trip I’m taking this week. Hopefully I’ll get it all up before the end of April!

Leave a Reply