x
Parcival woke up inside a strange chamber. The chamber was covered in vines, water dripping from the ceiling. His nose wrinkled. Ugg, what is that? The smell was so thick it was hard to breathe.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAlabOHOgywq
He turned toward the vines nearest him on the weeping stone walls. They continued to grow grasping for any empty space. First rule of staying alive survey your surroundings. Well, besides finding water. Wished I hadn't thought of that. He rolled his dry tongue around in his mouth.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAWUohwXhPpv
Han was slumped over in a corner to the right. Merryn isn't here, that's worrisome. How'd things become so complicated? He rubbed his forehead. Have to get out first.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAt12eMWKWus
"Han you need to wake up now!" He went over, bending down on his knees, the wet cold earth soaked the jerkens. He shook Han's shoulder with every word.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA8rRXB0xiX9
Han sprung up, jumping on the pads of his feet, his fur puffing out while hissing and sputtering at him.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAzm4hSZ8UfP
His forehead furrowed with hooded brows over blazing eyes that flashed as his lips parted. He zipped towards him, fangs in full view.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAr07JvG42Ip
"It's me calm down!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAEaTbOvXxPo
He held his hands out; palms first. It must be a spell, or he's just disoriented?
698Please respect copyright.PENANA1INzcvHNii
Han cocked his head and blinked rapidly; his body relaxed.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAtjhkB5LpKF
"I'm sorry," said Han.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAGlIoXL4yYT
Parcival ran his hands over the clammy vines. There had to be a way out.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAnpXtP0kNmD
Han did the same, then sat on a bench at the end of the room.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAsjoCxFSNs9
"What are we going to do?" He held his head in his hands.
698Please respect copyright.PENANACzAlGTDYEy
"I don't know. I don't know."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAYPhvImtvTD
####698Please respect copyright.PENANA7HRjGHkXvn
698Please respect copyright.PENANAirTfvwFola
Sometime later, the north-side wall faded out, becoming transparent, a man's silhouette behind it. In the middle it split apart like a wet scroll, the man's hand pushed it apart and Maxwell passed through.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAjSWjoijdBs
"Having a fun time in the box, are we? Give up on the woman, she's not ment to live much longer anyway. Why cause yourselves the pain of developing any bonds?"
698Please respect copyright.PENANASnfU9ghby6
"Where is she?" Parcival said.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAUxHogM1vfH
"That's not for you to worry about. You have a choice leave now, forget abut her and go free. Or stay here and rot."
698Please respect copyright.PENANADcGvz51Mpq
Parcival moved forward. "Let us out of here now."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAWUTmH0R2qQ
"You are in no position to be making demands!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAyHvcJ9laV2
"I won't leave her with you." He clenched his jaw.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAsFw3GoEG7i
Maxwell pointed at him. "Ignorant fool! You're on the wrong side. The darkness seeps through her. She belongs here."
698Please respect copyright.PENANABBMS8Lg3jZ
"Just what have you been smoking? The poor woman-"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAy1EQHYbeu3
Maxwell shook his head. "I see. You're too far gone. Then you'll die here."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAdt2O8pXHlx
He walked back through the hole in the wall, it rebuilt it self and he vanished.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA3KyRBBSgFa
Han wandered around the chamber quiting the third time around then plopped on the bench in the left corner.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA27bvKvrVUl
Parcival slammed his fists on the wall. "I'm not done taking with you!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAkgAjkQ90T0
"He might be right, you know." Han sighed and leaned back.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAbK5zsoIOnQ
"I refuse to believe that. She not that way. I've seen the good there, it's faint but it's there."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAgJhBd9yxBB
Han straightened. "It's no wonder you humans die so early." His tail twitched.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAOOFxN285mn
"No need for insults."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAn9vj6Ck9H0
"Just stating a fact." Han rocked the bench it tilted back tossing him off. "Ouch."
698Please respect copyright.PENANA5LCw35Hifd
"Ha. That's what you get." He chuckled, went over helping him up.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAJAJVuRnigV
"look at this." Han pointed to the broken legs. Inside the benches legs were a set of cables running down into the ground.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAF2dFdxq4yS
"Oh ho, do you know-"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAkqKl4zXWkA
"This seems to be a hidden emergency exit?" Han pushed at it the bench tilted back all the way onto the floor. Gears under creaked, groaned, then a loud thunp. A faint thin rectangular slab was under it.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAHkBbaWlzSi
"Good job!" Parcival patted his back.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAFISwuNU35L
The slab slid back opening, the dust around it fell into the depths, and the rest ballooned up as a cloud.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA6gLAIaVmZk
They both scrambled out of the way.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAsoeyuMo4Ei
"She owes me two ales now." He kneeled taking a peak inside. Mostly dark, a mustyness of old earth, perhaps?
698Please respect copyright.PENANAxhXff424h5
"Good luck getting them."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAlN5wnUOeeF
"I'll never get them staying here." He winked.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAFbow0i7VVQ
Han rolled his eyes. "Should've taken a second opal."
698Please respect copyright.PENANA6Oc1QXpeLv
He laughed. "Let's go. And, be careful where you step there could be traps."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAyHFobuC68H
He took off running down the steps into the dark depths two steps at a time. He stopped in the middle. This was too easy.
698Please respect copyright.PENANABHrQOkmRPF
"What is it?" Han bumped into his thigh.
698Please respect copyright.PENANASbHpEvNZb1
"Not sure. But-it seems strange that that hidden door was so easy to find. Why would Maxwell leave it there?"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAIZqEJ6JQVT
"Hum ... he didn't know? Or has a trap laid out down here, like you said?"
698Please respect copyright.PENANApF3qHUTPEp
"In that case-" He paused. "Going straight forward would be folly." He rubbed the back of his neck. "
698Please respect copyright.PENANAph2Muc4Gjw
Then, let's avoid going straight ahead, take a side path?"
698Please respect copyright.PENANA5fNBHa9W1F
Han went down a few steps, turning his head. "Any traps could also be there too."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAMsQjjHLyWS
"Yes."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAyYlAH5i0fh
About a flight down the area spread out. The few light globes along the walls did little to brighten the area. Her luminous spell would come in handy now. An ill sensation started and spread to his core. He shivered.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAY2LvUdYIDL
"You ill?" Han stopped, cat ears raised up.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAD0f1YfsEcO
"No. There's-I-don't know." He shrugged.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAGlY0oF79KR
Han's whiskers flattened against his cheeks and he frowned. "Now is not the time to waver."
698Please respect copyright.PENANArMK7NAv90k
"Right." He straightend and nodded curtly. She wouldn't, she'd charge right in. Hea. Probably be sliced to bits and be even more pissed off.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAbNis7eUvtX
"Looks like a labyrinth or a maze. Wish there was time to map it. Let's get through here first and worry about the rest later."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAR7y7WAZHDn
He followed the right wall.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAO0ZmSFoDL9
"Let's follow the right wall, should lead us out."
698Please respect copyright.PENANA1vYuZbDyEk
Several twists and turns later around yet another right corner, towered an old archway carved into the rockface. Above this birds glided on the drafts and called out. Just who made this, and when? Past the arch the rockface was carved out to an enlarged tunnel, the light streamed in, his eyes watered he squinted.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAhKSpXahENl
"The Ancients." Han pointed to faint runes carved in the stone supports. On both sides were broken statues of Eleven men, the faces gone, the right one still had faint traces of rich cobalt paint on its carved robe.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAqLhfwWRZif
As his eyes adjusted there on the ground sat a tiny furry red panda. He rubbed his eyes. Yep. A tiny red panda.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAii7FT64Ak4
"Han?"
698Please respect copyright.PENANA5vYfNI0UvO
Its large fluffy ears turned as he walked under the archway.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAHs34soTIeR
"Urr?" Han shrugged. "I'd say the trap? Yet it's so small ..."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAZDti7tzyDe
It hunched forward its haunches and tail raised. It sprinted the distance, a cloud of dust behind it. The Panda growled unusually deep for something so small and cute.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAB0IcXE7T47
Before his sword, even left its scabbard the panda had closed the distance, about 10 feet between now.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAIOmMsOrOqd
On better inspection the pandas hair is missing in large chunks and there is a putrid smell wafting from it. Must be out of my mind thinking it was cute.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAdtFsNfy56p
It stopped in front of them looking at each of them in turn. Then vanished from where it stood a moment before.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAVoXhg86rje
He spun around. Cripe! On the statue robed statues head sat the panda. It lept off straight at him.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAjSuWV5l91o
"Watch it!" Han searched in his vest, frantically. "It's gone!" He dropped onto his stomach as the panda darted over.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA0koasimhlV
It landed on Parcival's right arm, its legs wrapping around with claws digging into his skin.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAocYfO6aUQj
"Get it off!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANACk8YiPKXs5
He pushed on the decaying pandas moldy shoulders, flakes of gag worthy fur and rotted skin crumbled off.
698Please respect copyright.PENANASBe7Iy7bbG
"Damn the gods! Han do something!" Did he leave?
698Please respect copyright.PENANAhvIpWA11hA
It opened its mouth, an off white cloud of gas puffed out, the stench was putrid.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAJfrhiU9tu6
He gagged while straining his neck back as far as possible.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAt4AAxVq8SA
The creature parted its maw, fine threads of revolting mucus dangled between to both halfs.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAFHOBCw1Mw3
"What depths of hell did this claw up from?"
698Please respect copyright.PENANASRYvDMOwPz
It snapped at him with its blackened cracked fangs.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAsD5r16q2UF
He pushed on its back, it dug its claws dug in, blood squirted from the puncture wounds splashing on his cheek.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0BOMgQxJi
The more he pushed on it the longer its neck became. It twisted around his arm and growled an inch before his nose. Then bent back down above his hand and snipped his thumb off.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA6mH79QrHXZ
"Au-ahh!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANA9ybSpyMRer
He a howled and flailed around the room, shaking his arm screaming. Pain! His body shook as he beat back a rising gorge. Pain!
698Please respect copyright.PENANAfbSf78N7fC
Pulling on it only enraged it further, it bit ragged chunks out of his arm. More pain radiated throughout his arm.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAMW7PSNarIi
"Han, help! Where are you, damn it!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAjaGAUTt3kU
He smashed his arm into the labyrinth's stone walls, but the abomination clung even tighter. All thoughts became a red line; incoherent and thin.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAuuU20EQOSo
He stopped pushing with his left hand and let go of the creature. Muscle memory took over he shouted out a spell. It need a rune to be stronger, but should still work.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAG280RJOl05
"Inferno!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAmslF3uJMWi
The horrifying creature rumbled and shook. On its body deep fissures cracked they branched out over it. In seconds a bright light flared from within.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAJABilAWCds
It let out a sharp high-pitched yowl just before its sickly flesh exploded. Gleaming bones clattered on the floor.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAnrOniMaJ2L
He backed up and leaning against the wall. The right hand throbbed at the now stump of a thumb dividing his thoughts. His arm was scorched the burnt hair reaked.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAKUWLBuUQlA
Han rushed back to him. "The whole place lit up, what happened?"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAVsfBo1U97K
"Han–my—my hand."
698Please respect copyright.PENANA55M95LHakv
The pain flooded through. He kneeled down, clenching his teeth and sucked on in a shaky breath.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAGsDRositpZ
Han ripped through his sleeve with his claws. Out of this he made several bandages. He wrapped his hand and arm.
698Please respect copyright.PENANARqiJLF956r
"Thanks."
698Please respect copyright.PENANArSH74d9mdl
My thumb, where was it? It was too dark to see much of anything, and there were many cracks in the old stone tiles. Might be able to reattach it.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAq1pjJDKYni
The pain changed to a throbbing numbness. He breathed in deep though his nose. There by the panda's bones, a small thumb bone. No point taking it then. The pain dulled to a tolerable level, he got up.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA3XSmAa8dla
The dead did not animate on their own. It was too early to worry excessively about this. Maxwell obviously didn't want us to escape.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAa8SSYC0qzH
Near the archway were two piles of shiny skulls in each, a spear embedded in the middle. A warning? Wrenching the right one out with his left hand it popped free.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAIfnAOsV49F
"It's old, but at least I'm armed again. let's get out of here!"
698Please respect copyright.PENANAfPh5ua8MR0
"I'd put it back, could be cursed. The bugbears usually looted such things left out."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAFvCTrm9D8d
"Worry later, need a weapon more at the moment."
698Please respect copyright.PENANAnrzsdncCUr
He ran off through the exit outside. Anything had to be better then staying in there.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAGVWnEIEmxY
Back outside, he shaded his eyes. It was almost noon as the suns position was in the eastern sky.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAIVlX6uDcx0
The tunnel opened right behind the mansion that the abductors passed by before.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA72CY9MFloz
Hair whipped around in front his eyes, fishing out a leather tie out of a trouser pouch he put it in a low hanging ponytail, before moving forward. She had to be in here, there wasn't much else for buildings about.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAiLde2ZaXTs
Placing a finger over his lips, he pointed at the side of the wall. Han nodded, following on padded feet.
ns 172.69.58.119da2