Alaisdair comes abruptly awake, instantly knowing he is in an unfamiliar cave that seems unending. After relieving himself, he retraces, hopefully, his steps to his sleep area and lowers himself to the floor.
He thinks he is probably going away from the bear because he cannot smell the horrid stench, and his movement in the darkness is much longer than when illuminated by his torch.
After his fear had abated, he had started to count the openings, so he was almost sure he was going forward, but... he was still sitting in darkness. Darkness was a problem. He knew by his body's restfulness that he had slept the night away, so it must be the day.
He should see some light from a breach if there were openings, no matter how small. He could feel a hint of a breeze, so he knew a gap was near. His eyes have adjusted to the dark, but no light is seen. The dark remains a black blanket. Well, he thinks everything will stay the same unless I move.
He slowly rises, putting out his arms, hoping one will connect with the cave's wall. His left arm does. Again, he goes through the ritual of feeling along the wall until he hits a doorway and enters.
He cannot believe he is still walking along walls, feeling blind. A blossom-scented breeze hits his face, curling around his nostrils. He leans toward the aromatic source, as would a lover seeking the feel of a hand caressing a cheek. He allows his nose to follow the stream from where the breeze beckons.
A light!
A thin shaft of light shone down from a hole above about a hundred feet up, and the sunlight miraculously shone along a footpath, an enticement to climb. It is a relatively smooth rise with natural handholds along the wall and indentations under the foot, almost like steps.
His subconscious takes this in to recall at a later time, but presently, he is intent on reaching that light.
"I feel as if I've been climbing forever. No matter how long I walk upward, the light doesn't get any closer. This is crazy. I should be at the cavity," Alaisdair grumbles.
'Alaisdair closes his eyes, says a prayer, and when opening them, finds he is gazing out the fissure, a relatively small chink in the cliff face.
Different from the one he came in. He peers out. He thinks a ledge is promising until he looks more closely.