'' I can already tell this mountain won't be an easy one to traverse and since this is our first time here that we'll need to be careful climbing. We don't want to get lost, right? ''
Seiya's words were for the two others in the group which of course was common knowledge to them but he still wanted to get those words out. This mountain was daunting to stare at but they couldn't just stand there looking up at the mountain after taking their brief break to prepare for the climb.
The three of them followed a trail that lead up the left side of the mountain and it seemed like it was hopefully going to bring them all the way up the mountain but their expectations were put in their place once the trail stopped short before they reached the top or even the middle of the mountain itself. The trail had a small cave entrance to the right side which was too dark to see what laid within.
'' One of you two should go first. ''
Sakura quickly told the two of them as she looked at the entrance with some reluctance to enter. She didn't want to be the one to go first and it'd be better if any of the other two had been the one to do so.
Hakai didn't respond but he offered to lead them into the cave as this didn't scare him.
Seiya followed not long after and Sakura behind him. The cavern trail was filled with a dreadful silence but that aching feeling that there was surely something within these dark tunnels.
Eventually a sound broke through the silence.
The sound felt like a roar and a screech blended together and it made the three of them stand still trying to process what they just heard. What was the nature of that noise? What could it have been?
The sound stopped eventually, giving them the impression that maybe the being behind the noise moved further away for one reason or another.
'' What was that? ''
Sakura asked the two of them but they both had no answer to give. They had no idea what they heard either but they hoped that they wouldn't have to deal with whatever it was that they heard.
The only thing that would make that difficult would be if this cave was merely a linear path which would make an encounter inevitable.
It was difficult to ascertain the cavern's layout with this being their first time as well as the visibility within the tunnel being minimal at best.
'' We're going to have to hope for the best, there's no way we're going to reach the end of this tunnel if we keep hesitating and getting spooked by every single little thing we hear or see. ''
Hakai continued leading them after giving his brief speech about their odds in this cavern in regards to their responses so far.
If they had a run-in with the maker of the sound then they'll deal with it when the time had come but this was no time to be getting cold feet.
Several minutes passed by and their journey through the cavern continued without any problems although they did spot various ponds filled with liquids that were not water but some other strange substance.
It was best not to touch it and find out. The same went for the strange flora that was within the cave as well, this didn't seem like anything they've seen elsewhere so it was best not to interact with anything they've seen that they don't have pre-existing knowledge of.
'' Some of these ponds have quite a glow to them, helping with seeing within the cavern itself. ''
Seiya commented as they continued walking on through but there was something he wanted to say regarding how long this trek through the cavern has been thus far but he didn't want to sound impatient.
'' Should we take a small break in the cave? It feels like we've been walking for a bit now. ''
Sakura made her intentions clear with her suggestion, she was tired and hoped they were in the mood to take a few minutes to rest.
Hakai and Seiya nodded in agreement as the three of them sat down near the side of the cavern to rest their legs a bit. There was no telling how much further the cavern's exit was from their position but since there was no light at the end of the tunnel, it gave them only the information that they weren't there just yet.
'' I almost feel like sleeping here. ''
Seiya's comment about being tired had made Hakai shake his head. Resting here for a second was fine but sleeping in a clearly dangerous terrain was another.
'' Not a smart idea, I wouldn't purposely want us to rest in a dangerous place. You heard the noise from before, there's no telling when we'll put a face to the sound we heard. ''
The three of them continued resting but this did not stop them from asking questions to one another about whatever it had been that was on their mind.
'' Seiya, I wanted to ask you if we could spar together one day? Ever since that tournament I wanted to see whether or not I'm falling behind you. ''
Sakura's spontaneous question caught Seiya by surprise but he didn't think of himself as stronger than Sakura. It still felt like yesterday that he was but a hopeless boy who couldn't help but be amazed at Sakura's power over nature.
'' Sure Sakura, I don't mind helping you out with a sparring match. ''
Seiya agreed with a competitive tone in his voice, unaware of the beast lurking several feet away from the three.