(I'm sorry I am so late, but life happens. Let's hope I do my inspiration proud when she sees this.)
Beverly has been running around the desert for weeks. Apparently putting her hand on the ground only brought food and water, and she couldn't survive long carrying her personal treasures. She couldn't stand it any longer and placed her favorite before her. "I leave my sanctuary to enter this desert and find a way to my father. And now I die in the desert?" she began with anger. But seeing the young girl who's statue was before her made her feel more melancholy. "We've been together 8 long years. At least I know my last view is of my personal treas..." Her sentence was never completed because of a huge upheaval of sand. A huge lion had risen before her. "A child of the Rich One," it bellows. "Centuries have passed since the last of that pantheon's children have been near my domain. A child of the thief caused much mischief then. Can I trust you?" the beast seemed confused. Almost like it had been centuries since his last awakening.
"Are you the next diamond in the rough? Are you able to enter and follow the directions given to you?" the animal was quizzical. Almost like it had already been telling this for eons.
Then Beverly realized what was before her. "You are the Cave of Wonders? The tale I was told as a child is true?" she asked. Her disbelief becoming apparent to the giant beast before her.
"Yes. A single treasure I can supply. Like the previous child required the lamp, you require your own type of assistance. Though you must find it under the same circumstances. Do not tempt fate by attempting to retrieve anything other than what you need. You will find the spirit of your guide within. Do you agree to the terms?" the last line was followed by a raised eyebrow.
"I'm not a gold loving person, but I am glad for your help," Beverly answers. The lion still had done nothing. "Ok," Beverly answered, "I agree to the terms."
Slowly the mouth began to open, allowing enough space for her to walk through.
"Why me?" she thought to herself. Knowing that her entering here would be a possibility of a one way trip.
As she descended the stairs there was a massive difference from the tales she was told. Among the walls were many of her favorite characters from every show she had grown to love. It took all her willpower to simply survive and not take anything. Her spirit guardian would be waiting her, and she had a feeling her father was part of this. She couldn't place it, but there was an easier feeling within the earth than without. Upon reaching the final step she had become so tuned into her own thoughts that she didn't notice she was in near darkness. Her guardian nowhere to be found.
"So he lied? Why am I not surprised?" a motherly voice said from within the darkness. "Yet another child of Pluto to send to safety, but why must they be so colorful?"
"Who is there?" Beverly asked. Not knowing how to find the voice within the darkness, she reached out and couldn't feel anything but the dark in front of her. Ominous, foreboding, but almost like it was human.
The being laughed. Knowing full well the child's intent. "I am Nyx, Goddess of Night. Your father wants you to be safe like the others and asked me to help you get to a place where you are safe. I'll be sending you on your way now. Let's hope America learned some manners since September."
Beverly felt her entire body melt into the darkness before appearing once more in the sun. Only this time she was standing on a table in front of hundreds of kids. Not knowing how or what was happening and suddenly being drained of energy, she fell face first into a bowl of ramen not realizing that the table she landed on was in a panic and calling officers to her location.
As she comes to, there are two people standing before her. A young blonde man and a young raven haired girl were watching her intently. Neither could be more than twelve or thirteen.
"I need something to eat," Beverly said breathlessly. She had become accustomed to he randomness after the Cave, so she knew full well these kids wanted an explanation and she needed the energy to tell them everything. Hopefully they were well acquainted with weird, Saudi Arabia, and Roman stuff.