Mithrir the hand of his wife in one hand and the hand of his daughter in another. They carried a small luggage with them as they headed towards the caves. Dad will it be alright there? she asked him, his daughter. I don't know, replied Mithrir. She stopped, his daughter. I'm afraid father! she said to him. About what? he asked her. About everything, she replied. As long as we got each other, then there is nothing to be afraid of, he said to her. As he held her hands again more tightly and walked ahead. He did not know, that everything was going to be alright. But he had to keep a straight face. He had to be strong so that his family can be weak. He had to lead the way so that his family can follow him. He had to be firm, so that they are not led astray. His wife looked at him and saw her husbands eyes. It did not deter, there was only determination. She knew that, she could close her eyes to take a rest, as a pair of eyes were always on the watch. " We are not that far away now, from the caves, he said to them".
Vlohrir had a found a place for him as he hid himself most of the time with a blanket. Sometimes the dwarves did not even know he was there and they stamped over him, or brushed past him. They would only become aware that there was a person there, when he would yell in pain. He lurked his eyes out a few times to see what was happening. Usually there were the cavern dwarves who would stare back at him and he would go back into his shell. A few of the cavern dwarves felt sorry for him and would drop pieces of meat for him to gouge on. Vlohrir would take the pieces and take it back into the shell and eat it. There would be sounds of munching and crunching inside the blankets and the dwarves would stare upon it. After eating them, he would again lurk his eyes out from his shell. There would be dwarf children staring upon the man. His eyes would speak of a terrible lie and he would go back into his shell. Some of the children thought it would be wise for them to pull his blanket down from his head and run away. He would always chase after them and turn back to his place after failing to do so. Damn them, these children! he would say.
Months had passed on, and grew weak and frail. There were no more children around him anymore to trouble him nor was there any one to give him food. His eyes grew weary, and when he came out of his shell, his eyes had the look of a soulless man. A man who had given up on life or he had no life left to live. He knew his time was coming to an end and he accepted it. He lay motionless for weeks and they all thought that he was dead. Some one kicked him on his legs. He thought it was food. With all strength he reached his hands out for a handing. There was no food, instead it was a hand that reached out for him. There was silence all around there, as his eyes met hers. It was Akira. She spoke "Your friend saved me when I needed it most" so now I try to give it back to him, by helping you! Vlohrir was confused and for a second he thought that he was dead. "Are you going to kill me?" he asked her. No, I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to save you, she replied to him. Save me? he was shocked. Yes, she said and knelt both her legs on the ground. Get up! she said to him. I can't, replied Vlohrir. I understand, she said to him and carried him out of the caves.