Rika was now a mile underground. The air was heavy and the stench of fear strong. She had no trouble seeing due to her eyes being able to see in complete darkness like most feline races. The floor and walls of the cave passageways were damp, and her fur was muddy from brushing against the dirty walls.
"This place is miserable" she thought to herself irritably.
She just wanted to turn around and go back to her clearing and sleep. It was too early in the morning to be in the caves. The sun hasn't even come out yet. But she couldn't just abandon farshalla or her cub. If they were still alive that is. The rage that had so suddenly snatched her from her slumber remained a constant worry as she approached the opening to a particularly large cave. It was by far the largest of any in the system. At least the ones she had explored. Its ceiling was 100 feet high and it was at least twice as wide in diameter. It had huge ledges jutting out from the sides starting 10 feet up and 20 feet long then appearing randomly with no set pattern; but it created an intimidating atmosphere. As if this cave was making it clear to all who enter just who was in power by looming over them.
The air here was less dead than the passageways. It was as if this room contained some ancient force that was awake and always watching. When she was younger it had comforted her. That's why she had chosen it for Farshalla. she scanned the room, and was dismayed to find the blood and ashes of her dear friend. She knew it was because the scent of the blood was one she had smelled so many times before on the battlefield. But she took no time to mourn. The fireigh did no such things. Death was natural, and the inevitable end to even the fiercest of creatures.
She dipped her head in respect, then looked around. The birth had killed Farshalla, but where was her cub? Rika could smell no other scent than her friends. She was puzzled. Even if it had died inside her or during the birthing process, its ashes would have a scent. But then Rika remembered there were creatures in the caves who could erase their scent and also the scent of their prey. For stealth was essential in the caves. Endowed with a new sense of urgency, Rika examined the scene again more carefully, then noticed a trail of Farshalla's blood, as if something had dripped it as it walked.
It was taken! The thought struck her like a hammer. She rushed along the trail made by the blood, hoping that she could make it in time to save the bastard cub.