"As what I expected, intense rain will fall and we'll be stuck in this forest," a man whispered as he held his hand outside the cave to touch the rain, "if only someone sane enough tried to listen to me."
"Just... shut up, Draven. You're just panicking and it's not helping." another man replied while trying to start a fire using sticks.
"But what I said is correct, Eurython. Just stop defending Silvano." Rodolfo replied and sat down beside a woman who's shivering.
"Come on, don't be so negative Rodolfo. Why not try to explore this cave? We might find a treasure, eh?" a man with a smiling face slowly emerged from the cave's darkness.
"Then why don't you go further the cave, Draven? Since you're acting oh-so mighty. You might find something that can devour you." Rodolfo replied, Draven is about to reply, but decided not to as the woman looked at her, begging not to elevate the tension they're feeling.
Draven sighed and just helped Eurython start a fire.
Everything went silent and only the falling rain can be heard. The silence was just broken when Eurython and Draven finally started a fire. The group immediately went to the fire to relieve their coldness… aside from one who's still sitting in the corner, deeply thinking about the steps that they should do.
"Hey," the melodious voice of the woman echoed the cave, "come here, you'll freeze to death." she continued and tapped the space beside her.
"Don't mind her, Clemente. For sure he's just contemplating his mistakes." Rodolfo snarled as he looked at the man.
"Just calm down, Rodolfo. It's not Silvano's fault. I know that you're worried about your tribe, but so are we.
"As what I expected, intense rain will fall and we'll be stuck in this forest," a man whispered as he held his hand outside the cave to touch the rain, "if only someone sane enough tried to listen to me."
"Just... shut up, Rodolfo. You're just panicking and it's not helping." another man replied while trying to start a fire using sticks.
"But what I said is correct, Eurython. Just stop defending Silvano." Rodolfo replied and sat down beside a woman who's shivering.
"Come on, don't be so negative Rodolfo. Why not try to explore this cave? We might find a treasure, eh?" a man with a smiling face slowly emerged from the cave's darkness.
"Then why don't you go further the cave, Draven? Since you're acting oh-so mighty. You might find something that can devour you." Rodolfo replied, Draven is about to reply, but decided not to as the woman looked at her, begging not to elevate the tension they're feeling.
Draven sighed and just helped Eurython start a fire.
Everything went silent and only the falling rain can be heard. The silence was just broken when Eurython and Draven finally started a fire. The group immediately went to the fire to relieve their coldness… aside from one who's still sitting in the corner, deeply thinking about the steps that they should do.
"Hey," the melodious voice of the woman echoed the cave, "come here, you'll freeze to death." she continued and tapped the space beside her.
"Don't mind her, Clemente. For sure he's just contemplating his mistakes." Rodolfo snarled as he looked at the man.
"It's not Silvano's fault that it rained and we're stuck for now. It's not like we're going to be stuck in here forever. I know that you're worried about your tribe, but so are we. We all agreed to work together and we all chose Silvano to be our leader because he's the strongest tribe leader, right?" with the calm and assuring voice of Clemente, everyone seemed to calm down.
"Since we're already stuck in here, why not check on the rumors about this cave? If the rumors are true, then we don't have to go farther just to find resources for our own tribes." Draven asked and all of them eyed Silvano's decision.
"Fine. But let's have our preparation first."
"Seriously? Then what if the rumors are true? Then we really are going to get ourselves devoured by that unknown beast?" Rodolfo, who's starting to be hysterical again, shouted.
"Then you can stay here. Protect Clemente. If we didn't return then go to our tribes and tell our deaths. This is life, Rodolfo. We live, chained with responsibilities. We die and someone will replace us to continue our legacy." Silvano replied. Trying to keep his composure as he looked down at Rodolfo. Rodolfo scuffed and turned away to avoid Silvano's gaze.
"Are we all ready?" Draven asked as if he's prepared to take the group's lead.
"Are you sure you're coming, Clemente?" Silvano asked as Clemente stood up. Clemente just looked at him and sighed before eyeing Rodolfo.
"What?" he asked and grabbed some of their stuff, "I'm also coming."
"That's my boy!" Draven laughed and patted Rodolfo's head as Rodolfo walked towards him.
Clemente once again sighed and looked at Silvano.
"We'll be fine," Silvano whispered as he patted Clemente's shoulder, "you know these silly children, right?" then he chuckled.
The group walked further into the cave with Draven on the lead. They walked further until the rainfall can't be heard. Only the flickering sound of the fire can be heard together with the group's faint breath.
"Are you all sure that this is a good idea?" Draven asked as he noticed that there's absolutely nothing unusual in the cave.
"Are you going to doubt now? Now that we're deep inside the cave?"
"I do not need your jokes now, Draven. I want answers."
"We'll be there already. Look, this is the final turn that they men—"
The group paused as they saw two different directions.
"Should we… split up?
"Absolutely not."
"Clem—"
"No, Silvano. Wh- What if that unknown creature…"
"It'll be much faster, Clemente."
"B-But…" she stuttered then turned to Silvano as if she's trying to convince him not to agree with Draven's idea.
"Let's just team up for a while to check which direction we should go. One direction is probably a dead end."
"Or a death trap." Draven whispered.
"Eurython, team up with Draven and Rodolfo. Head this direction," then Silvano pointed at the left direction, "Clemente and I will go this way." Then he pointed in the right direction.
"No way."
"Drav—"
"No!" he shouted which made Clemente flinch as his voice echoed throughout the cave.
"Hey… Calm down." Rodolfo whispered.
"This is insane! This is dumb! As I predicted! This is not a good idea!" Draven shouted as he shivered and frantically walked towards the cave's exit and walked back towards the group.
Draven groaned before shoving Rodolfo to the cave walls.
"You're being stubborn, eh? You're really getting on my nerves." He spat while tightly holding Rodolfo's collar. Pinning him more on the wall.
Eurython and Silvano ran towards the two as Rodolfo began to gasp for air. While Clemente just stood at the corner… staring at the left direction of the cave… wondering what is the figure that is slowly walking towards them…
She slowly took a step backwards as the figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
The creature let out a loud roar which made the group froze…
"Everyone… calm down…" Silvano whispered as he slowly reached for his weapon.
Rodolfo seemed to not hear Silvano's warning as he shouted and ran towards the exit of the cave. Making the creature enraged. It let out a loud roar before running towards the group.
With panic in their eyes, the group ran. Silvano pulled Clemente's hand before looking at Eurython. Eurython nodded and turned back at the three-eyed creature. He slowly stopped running and held his weapon tightly, waiting for the creature.
"Eurython!" Clemente shouted. Silvano pulled her as she tried to run back to Eurython.
"He will be fine," Silvano whispered and smiled at her, "I'll catch up with you." then he eyed Draven before running towards where Eurython is.
The loud roar of the three-eyed black bear echoed the cave. Its bloodshot eyes stared at Eurython as his sickle sliced the leg of the bear.
"You should've stayed with Clemente," he whispered as Silvano arrived, "You knew, right? That's why you chose the right direction."
"It doesn't matter now. The beast came for us." Silvano chuckled as he slowly draw his sword.
The two men shouted as they lunge towards the creature. With force, Silvano tried to push the bear backwards, but he failed which caused him to be pounded by the bear's paw. As he fell on the ground, the bear lunged towards him but this gave him an opportunity to cut the bear with his blade. The bear once again roared and stepped backwards before once again leaping towards Silvano.
The echoed roaring of the bearing circulated around the cave which made Clemente slowly stopped running. She sobbed and looked back at the direction where Silvano and Eurython is.
"We need to help them…" she whispered and looked at Draven.
"This is what he ordered me to do once something like this happens. I'm sorry." Drave replied and avoided Clemente's gaze.
"Please… I need him…" Clemente whispered and held Draven's shoulder, "We need him…" Draven sighed and slowly turned to the cave's direction.
"Fine. But I need you to stay far away from the fight." Clemente smiled and wiped her tears before nodding at Draven's request.
Silvano, now wounded by the bear continuously swung his sword as the bear approached the unconscious Eurython. He quickly looked at Eurython before sighing.
"You shouldn't have protected me earlier." He whispered before turning back to the bear.
The bear slowly stood in its hind legs as its eyes glow red.
"What are your intentions? Why are you in my cave?"
Silvano's jaw slightly dropped in amusement and fear.
"Y-You can ta-talk?" He whispered.
"I asked you. What are your intentions, human?" the bear replied with its deep, booming voice.