I exhaustively awoke, brought my hand up, and stretched, alleviating the aches and pains from my night's slumber in the cave. I carefully exited the cave while holding on to the harness. I sighed with relief, having not seen or heard any monsters in the immediate vicinity.
"I'm starving; Let's get something to eat," I said to the horse with my hands on my grumbling stomach.
As we ventured further away from the cave, the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers filled the air, signaling the arrival of a new day. I scanned the surroundings, searching for a suitable spot to rest and forage for food, hoping to find some berries or edible plants along the way.
We strolled deeper into the forest in search of a place to eat. The horse's hooves crunched softly on the forest floor, blending with the gentle rustling of leaves overhead. The sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground, creating a serene atmosphere for our search.
Glancing around, a sense of anxiety began to grow. As I was lost in thoughts of my worries, the horse suddenly picked up pace.
"Hey! What's wrong?" I asked as I tried to pull on the harness.
The sounds of the stream finally reached my ears. My eyes widen with the joy of finding water. We quickly head towards the sound, hoping to quench our thirst and find some relief from the growing anxiety. The anticipation of reaching the stream filled me with a renewed sense of hope as I imagined the cool, refreshing water flowing through my fingers.
I dismounted the horse and ran towards the stream. I knelt and grabbed the water in the palms of my hands. I brought it to my mouth and quenched my thirst. The feeling of cool yet refreshing water went down my throat like a soothing balm, providing much-needed relief to my parched body. I could not have survived on my own. I was filled with a sense of gratitude, thanking the horse that had led me this way.
I turn around to find the horse nibbling berries under a tree. I approach it and pat its side.
"We've gone through so much, and yet I haven't a clue what your name is. So why don't I give you a name?" I told the horse.
It neighed in response. I chuckled at the horse's reaction, taking it as a sign of approval.
"How about Pony?" I asked, looking excited.
It looked at me questionably, then shook its head side to side.
"Alright, I know I don't have the best naming sense, but you don't have to look at me like that," I tell the horse, placing my hands on my hips.
The color of this horse's coat is similar to the color of my eyes. A shade so beautiful in the sun and under the moon. As I gazed at the horse, a sudden thought struck me.
"How about Orphnaeus?" I suggested, my voice filled with anticipation.
The horse's ears perked up, and it seemed to consider the name for a moment before nodding its head in agreement. A smile spread across my face as I realized that Orphnaeus was the perfect name for this majestic creature.
I gathered as many berries as I could and followed the flow of the stream. The stream led me deeper into the forest, where the foliage grew denser and the air felt cooler. Strangely enough, we have not come across another monster yet. Keeping this thought in mind, we traveled until noon. We reached a tunnel where this stream passes through. The tunnel was dark and mysterious. Orphnaeus seemed just as curious as me. His eyes gleamed with anticipation, and with a deep breath, we stepped into the tunnel. Ready to discover what lay on the other side.
Following the sound of the stream became difficult in the dark as it echoed. In the distance, I saw something glow for a moment, then disappear. I spotted it again, then it disappeared.
"Strange," I whispered.
The glow keeps recurring at the same spot as if I was supposed to go there. As we continued further into the tunnel, the glow became more frequent. Its ethereal light cast eerie shadows on the damp walls, yet it beckoned me. We finally reached the glow. I reached out, carefully touching the light. It wrapped around me, casting a glow that emitted from the side of my shoulder. I placed the palm of my hand on the site of the glow on my shoulder, confused about what had just happened.
"The flower!" I recalled.
Although I can't see the flower at the moment, I can feel a strange source flowing through my body.
The ethereal light had infused me with newfound power. I could sense a small amount of energy coursing through me. I could almost hear a faint hum, as if the energy was whispering to me, calling me.
"Orphnaeus, let us continue," I tell him as I mount.
We continued on our way to what we thought was our exit. We were mistaken, and it seems the stream appears to have split in two directions. As we stood there, deciding which path to take, sounds of hissing could be heard behind us. Not wanting to turn around to look at what was making that sound, we hurriedly decided to take the path in front of us. Orphnaeus galloped through the darkness as his hooves splashed through the shallow water. The hissing grew louder and more persistent, echoing off the cavern walls. We went as fast as we could with Orphnaeus's powerful strides. Despite his efforts, the hissing sound seemed to follow us, growing closer with each passing moment.
We came to a dead end where the water pooled and there was no way out. The hissing had become the loudest it had ever been. We turned around to see its glowing eyes. It was a giant spider monster. I pulled out my dagger, determined to leave this tunnel alive.
"It's alright; When I say run, be ready to take off Orphnaeus," I told him.
"YOU NASTY PIECE OF SHIT! COME HERE!" I yelled at the monster.
I waited for an opening—a moment for the monster to make a move. As soon as I saw it jump, I yelled,
"RUN BOY!"
Orphnaeus ran as fast as he could back down the path. All in vain, he came to a sudden stop. The monster was smart. It had trapped us with webs blocking our path out. I determined the situation, realizing that our only chance of survival was to fight back. I dismount, getting myself ready, as I see the spider walking towards us. With a surge of adrenaline, I lunged at the monster, slashing at its legs with my dagger. However, it proved to be a formidable opponent, swatting me away effortlessly.
Orphnaeus neighed, pounding his hooves. I was not going to die again just to return to that shitty house. Assessing the area, I quickly strategized. I noticed a large, unstable stalactite. I waited for the monster to move. A small opening was all I would need. I evaded the attacks and sprinted forward with a burst of speed. I aimed for its vulnerable underbelly with my dagger. I struck the monster, but my dagger was stuck. I screamed as I pulled my dagger forward, creating a split.
The monster was screeching. As Orphnaeus created distractions, it gave me opportunities to strike it from beneath. With each strike, the monster's screeches grew louder, and its movements became more frantic. I continued to attack each of its legs creating small incisions. I could sense its strength waning. The monster finally fell to the ground, and I knew victory was within reach.
The beast writhed desperately from side to side. I moved out of the way as the stalactite plunged and delivered the killing blow.