Back to the present; I'm not leaving this awful place without her. She's like family now and I refuse to leave my family again.
I finally find her and let her wrap herself around my arm. I walk back over to the spot I first tried to hide Pip in.
A bush grew there and underneath it was the tunnel I created that leads out of there. I lowered Pip down, "Watch the entrance. Only small females and Silver are leaving through here." Pip nodded her head and morphed, camouflaging herself.
I went back to the door and sat down silently waiting for the others to show up and keep watch. No one is allowed back here but the witch doctor and myself so there shouldn't be any patrol around here.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement in the trees again. I get the feeling whoever is watching me isn't a rogue.
I put my hands on the ground and concentrate.
I feel two other beastmen's energy close to the area where the intruder is hiding.
I use two fingers and tap the ground to indicate there are two beastmen close by.
I look back up to see if he got the message, but he was nowhere in sight.
'Odd..'
I put it to the back of my mind. It's almost midnight. I need to reserve my energy and prepare myself.
These past two years I did my best just to survive. Including hiding the better parts of myself. Once I leave here I'll finally be free to be myself again. But what will I do once we're away from here? Who will I be? It's not like I can go home. I have no home. I can go to Feline City but will he want to see me after it's been so long, what if he's moved on?
One thing at a time, let's escape first and I'll worry about the rest later. There's no point in overwhelming myself now.
Not even ten minutes later I hear shuffling by the door. I get up and walk to them.
"Lyria, I'm so glad to see you. I got here and didn't see you. I was worried you weren't coming." Lily whispers, her eyes tearing up.
I go to hug her to give her a little comfort.
"I was keeping watch outside. We're good for now but we need to move quickly and stay quiet." I whisper to the others as well. I see Silver at the back keeping watch but I know he was listening too.
"Lily get in the middle and help keep an eye out on the little ones. Silver watch our back." They both nod their heads and I lead them to the bush with the hole under it.
"When we get underground do not say a word. Try your best to walk as quietly as possible. Any type of noise vibrates through the ground alerting the snake beastmen. So stay quiet and calm and we'll make it through without any problems."
I pet Pip before jumping into the hole.
"Send one down at a time." I whispered a little loudly.
Lily sent them down from youngest to oldest. Sam was very brave, falling down a dark tunnel by herself. She was shaking a little so I gave her a little hug before moving her to the side waiting to catch the next one.
When everyone was down without any problems, I asked Pip to close off the entrance. When the entrance was closed off, I made the sunbeans bloom to give us some light.
The walk down the tunnel seemed to last forever when came to the end. Sacks of the items we'll need for our travels waited for us.
"I need to change real quick. Then I'll go out to see if the cost is clear before coming back for everyone. Wait right here for me." I whispered as quietly as I could.
I changed into darker furs and poured the watered-down coal into my hair so I can blend better into the night. When I'm ready, I open the entrance above ground and use the vines to climb out. I listen to my surroundings before getting completely out and walking to the edge of the forest. Everything was clear. But we'll have to move quickly beyond this point.
I walk back to the hole that looks like it's coming out from under a tree.
"Silver help the girls up one at a time." Slowly the girls made it above ground. Many were shaking. I could see the terror in their eyes.
"Trust us girls. The willpower in our hearts and minds will push us to survive. And it helps if you have a little faith in us as well. We will make it out of here but you have to believe it as well." I smile at them hoping to give them a little courage.
It helps some. Now there looking at me with hopeful eyes. I only pray I don't let them down.
When Silver comes out loaded up with the things I gathered, I look at every one.
"We'll have to run as fast and as hard as we can till we find cover again. I never traveled past this point so I don't know how far we'll have to run. Our best bet is to find a village as soon as possible. Are you all ready?" Thanks to the slight encouragement earlier everyone nodded their heads.