Meanwhile, Ryu and the others were unaware of what was happening in the Oasis. They made their way deeper down in the ruins, and the group tried hard not to sneeze. A thick layer of dust coated everything with a pale haze, and piles of pale stone dirt lay slumped in the corner.
A patch of dampness gave rise to the musty odor of mildew. The clammy, humid air is heavy with the funk of spores.
Apart from their movement, this place was silent as the grave. Even holding their breath and straining to listen to their surroundings, they hear absolutely nothing.
The silence was deafening.
Then they stopped when they heard scrabbling noises of something small scurrying into a hole in the wall. As they approached, they heard the sounds of many small vermin scurrying out of their way.
"I don't know if I'm glad or not to find it so empty," sighed Marcus.
Halfjack nodded his bear head.
