Zarda made his way up the narrow path inside the cave, eventually standing next to Hemming. The air grew colder as they ventured deeper, making Zarda uneasy since he never liked cold weather. He was grateful for his hoodie, which helped shield him from the cold. Zarda's eyes scanned the dark, stone walls, noticing splintered cracks running from the floor to the ceiling. The sound of a snake's tail rattling and movements of insects caught his attention intermittently.
He observed the dirt flooring and felt the soft texture beneath his feet. Some parts of the wall were adorned with beautiful gemstones of bright colors that sparkled in the light. When his staff's glow hit the crystals just right, they created rainbow prisms on the opposite wall, giving the cave a dreamlike quality. Stalactites hung from clusters on the ceiling, while stalagmites grew from the ground at the edges of the walls. The sound of bats chattering in the distance echoed through the hallway, accompanied by the slow dripping of water that filled Zarda's ears. He reached out to cup some of the ice-cold water trickling down the sides, finding it refreshing and delicious. The others followed suit, enjoying the cool liquid of the water.
"Let's go right," Hemming directed, pointing towards several tracks.
Zarda glanced down at the ground, then quickly halted as he realized there was an issue.
"Wait, why are there two other tracks going the opposite way?" asked Zarda.
The ram shrugged, then recalled that mercury the bison and feginn the moose had gone in after the high masters.
Hemming replied with great concern, "Oh no, It must be the two guards from earlier, they are heading in the wrong direction."
Everyone's minds were filled with fear of the unknown. Osborn suggested, "We should try calling out to them, maybe they'll hear us."
Hemming shook his head rapidly in denial, glancing up at the sharp stalactites suspended above them. Osborn's gaze traveled upwards as well. Upon recognizing the object of the ram's attention, he swallowed nervously.
"Oy, mate, I guess not." He said, a bit embarrassed for the poor suggestion.
Dane too, had looked up to spy the danger looming above.
"What do we do, zarda?" asked Dane.
Zarda had one or two options to respond with.He responded quickly.
Zarda had a couple of options to consider. He made a fast response.
"We can either leave the lord and lady to continue on their path and search for the missing guards, or we can take the risk of splitting up. If we split, one group will stick with me in the light, while the other will follow the lamps of the rams. Dangerous I know, but in order to safe both groups it must be done," explained Zarda.
Zarda suggested, "The guards may be in trouble, and it's not necessary for all of us to go after them. My suggestion would be to split up. If anyone else has a better idea, please speak up quickly."
With no one else offering alternative suggestions, Zarda took the lead once more. "Why don't my two bears and three of your rams approach the lady and lord, while Dane, Draugr, and Oridian accompany me? You and two of your rams can join us, just in case," proposed Zarda. Hemming agreed with the idea.
Impressed by Zarda's leadership, he responded accordingly. "I will send Hrutr, he knows the way to Hellir the best. He will ensure your company arrives safely. When they reach there, they should be welcomed by friendly faces, and hopefully the lord and lady," Hemming answered.
The decision was made to split the large company into two groups, each going in opposite directions. Hrutr, Osborn, Vidar, Brusi, and Fœrr went right, while Zarda, Hemming, Dane, Búinn, Taka, Draugr, and Oridian went left. There was no going back on the plan now. It was up to both groups to rescue the missing.
Meanwhile, the oil in Mercury and Feginn's lamp was running low. Feginn had enough oil for just one more hour. Mercury also had a lamp, but he decided to save it for the journey back. The darkness was starting to make Mercury anxious, despite his typically strong and fearless demeanor. His muscles tensed as he gripped his club tightly, feeling vulnerable in the blackness. Feginn refilled the lamp, casting a brighter light that illuminated their surroundings. However, they soon realized they had lost the footprints they had been following and were now venturing into unknown territory. A distant rumble could be heard up ahead.
"Mercury, was that your stomach growling, or am I hearing things?" inquired feginn.
"Mercury snorted. 'I thought it was your stomach, not mine,' he replied."
Their eyes widened with fear as they strained to see deeper into the darkness. They longed for better visibility, but it was out of reach. The lamp only illuminated a small circle around them, offering some comfort in the all-encompassing darkness. Suddenly, they heard the rumbling sound once more, even louder than before. It resembled a bear's growl, but they knew it couldn't be. What lurked in the shadows remained a mystery as they cautiously inched closer.
Their minds were flooded with numerous thoughts, but they lacked the courage to delve further into their hidden fears.
"Maybe Lord Asger is mirroring Lady Sindri's behavior from earlier. It was quite peculiar," Mercury commented.
They had never encountered their high lady or lord in a wild state before. When they all converged after the metamorphosis, each animal had transformed into a peaceful hybrid form. Had they encountered them before the change, the lynxes would have tried to attack them as prey. The growling escalated into a fierce roar. Mercury and feginn were paralyzed with fear, their hearts beating rapidly. It wasn't just the noise that terrified them, but the fact that they couldn't see what was making the dreadful sound.
Sindri wandered through the dark caverns with her feline-like night vision. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness as she caught the scent of her lover in the air. Following the same path as Lord Asger, Sindri turned right at the fork, heading towards Hellir, the beautiful underground city. As she searched for her lord, her feral instincts began to fade. Her eyes returned to normal and her calm demeanor returned as she wondered how she ended up in Hellir instead of with Lord Asger.
He suddenly appeared, waiting for her. By his side stood the peculiar raven Visindi and his eccentric brother Zandy. The raven was always acting strange, sometimes even speaking in rhymes. His movements were erratic, the result of a Tourette syndrome caused by an injury years ago when a hunter shot an arrow through his head, leaving him for dead.
Fortunately, Zandy survived with an arrow lodged in his skull. He had consulted a seer for guidance on removing the arrow permanently. However, after the procedure, he was never the same. Despite this, he entertained others with his unique quirks. At that moment, Sindri was puzzled. She wondered why Lord Asger had brought her there and why they were meeting with two ravens.
"Your highness, may I inquire about the purpose of your actions? I have been following you tirelessly, akin to a wild animal on all fours. Your high Lady is feeling fatigued and irritated. I implore you to share any encouraging tidings you may have." Lady Sindri expressed.
Asger was filled with regret over the expedition he had taken his lady on. His heart broke as he observed her demeanor. "I apologize, my love. After lunch today, Visindi approached me with an intriguing discovery. What he revealed sparked my curiosity, and I knew it would do the same for you. I couldn't wait to share his news with you. So, I sent someone to find you. Visindi claimed it would grant us great power, and he was willing to reveal it to us first. The only downside is that we must venture further into the cave, with him as our guide," he explained.
Sindri was in disbelief as she listened with astonishment. Her Lord had brought her here on some pointless exploration by a raven. What could he possibly have discovered to gain such immense power, she wondered. Could this be a scheme to assassinate the royal figures in a vulnerable location? Overwhelmed with anger, all Sindri could do was laugh at the absurd notion. She wrinkled her nose in disgust as Zandy began to sing loudly.
"My name is zandy,
Oh, Zandy, the raven of the night,
Guiding you through shadows, with grace and all my might,
Fly high, Zandy, across the moonlit sky,
A symbol of freedom, soaring way up high.
Oh, Zandy, the raven of the night."
Sindri stared blankly at the peculiar raven, then she began to blink rapidly at him with a small chuckle stuck in her throat.
"What's wrong with this one? " asked Sindri.
Visindi apologized for his younger brothers' outburst in front of Lord Asger. While Lord Asger was already informed about Zandy's situation, the queen was not. Visindi proceeded to explain the accident to the king, and Lady Sindri gained a better understanding after the explanation. Upon learning the full story, Lady Sindri found it quite amusing whenever Zandy had musical outbursts.
"Lady Sindri, I would be delighted to escort you to the mysterious discovery hidden deep beneath the caves of Hellir. I stumbled upon the room by accident while following my brother. Upon entering, I felt a tingling sensation and soon experienced a rush of power. Allow me to demonstrate. Watch," Visindi said, holding up his hands with palms flat.
He shifted his attention to a boulder in the wall directly across from them. A lime-colored, watery substance materialized in his hands. He hurled it towards the cave wall, creating a powerful explosion that reverberated throughout the cavern below the mountain. Sindri jumped in shock.
"Don't do that, you'll bring the mountain down on us." She replied.
Visindi chuckled at her. Having lived under the mountain for so long, he was confident that the cave would not collapse. The force he used to hit the wall was distinct from natural shifting. Despite her racing heart and fearful eyes, Sindri was convinced. The moment she saw the lime green substance take shape, she knew she had to have it. She believed it could be the key to controlling zarda and his company. Glancing at Lord Asger and then back at Visindi, she made up her mind.
"We will follow you now." She replied.
Turning to leave, Sindri glanced back and called out to the raven.
"Please bring your brother, he can at least keep us entertained. Zandy, could you sing us a song?" Lady Sindri requested.
Zandy was delighted to receive a request. He searched his mind for the perfect song for their journey. After much contemplation, he finally found the ideal tune that captured the essence of their adventure. With that, he started singing a beautiful, lengthy melody.
"Deep within the earth, where secrets lie untold,
A hidden world of wonders, where mysteries unfold,
In the darkness of the night, where shadows dance and play, There's a melody that echoes, in a cave so far away.
This is a song about caves, where dreams come alive, Where stalactites glisten, and stalagmites thrive,
In the depths of the unknown, where adventure awaits, Let's dive into the darkness, and explore these ancient gates.
The walls are painted with stories, etched in ancient stone, Whispers of the past, where ancient spirits have flown,
With every step we take, the echoes guide our way, Through winding tunnels, where the sunlight can't betray.
This is a song about caves, where dreams come alive, Where stalactites glisten, and stalagmites thrive,
In the depths of the unknown, where adventure awaits, Let's dive into the darkness, and explore these ancient gates.
In the heart of the cave, a symphony of silence plays, As we wander deeper, lost in its
enchanting maze, The air is filled with magic, as we breathe in the unknown,
In this hidden sanctuary, we find a place to call our own
This is a song about caves, where dreams come alive, Where stalactites glisten, and stalagmites thrive,
In the depths of the unknown, where adventure awaits, Let's dive into the darkness, and explore these ancient gates.
So let's embrace the darkness, and let our spirits soar,
In this song about caves, where legends are reborn, For within these hallowed halls, we'll find our truest selves,
In the depths of the earth, where the magic never delves."