Abruptly, the cave walls began to rumble even louder than the growling noise ahead of them. Feginn and Mercury lifted their lamps to see loose gravel tumbling down the sides, scattering in all directions upon hitting the ground. Mercury's gaze shifted back to the concealed, dark spaces within the cave.
The growl was muted, and the darkness appeared to intensify as something approached. Mercury cautiously retreated, gesturing for Feginn to do the same. The moose's legs trembled as he inched backward. Suddenly, the menacing figure emerged right in front of them. It craved attention, wanting to instill fear in them. The monster fed off the terror they emitted. Startled, Mercury accidentally dropped the lamp, which burst into flames, illuminating the monstrous form in front of them. They stood frozen in its presence, as all else disappeared into nothing.
Zarda continued along the trail of dusty prints, venturing further inside. The ground beneath his feet began to slope slightly as they progressed. He couldn't help but wonder if the path led to a cliff, especially with the cool air and sudden incline. It was definitely cause for concern.
"Hemming, have you and your rams ever been down here before?" Zarda asked.
The big horn responded by saying, "We usually take the path of least resistance and stay above ground, preferably on top of the mountain. Going underground is simply crazy."
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet trembled and the walls reverberated with a deafening rumble. Zarda instinctively extended his arms to shield and prevent anyone from advancing. He quickly glanced upwards, wary of falling stalactites, but thankfully none were directly above them. However, several had broken off to their right and now plummeted towards the ground. Zarda observed as the pointed rocks effortlessly pierced the earth below.
Taka asked in a panic, "What was that?"
That was precisely why Hemming never journeyed beneath the mountain. He wasn't designed for those adrenaline-fueled escapades.
Hemming replied nervously, turning to Taka. "The mountain seems to be unhappy."
"More than just an angry mountain, it sounded like an explosion, but thankfully it wasn't near us. I hope Osborn and his gang are okay. Let's keep going," ordered Zarda.
Following Zarda's orders, the small group moved forward. After traveling only a short distance, they came across two guards who appeared frightened and unable to move. They found themselves stuck between Zarda and a blazing fire ahead.
Inside the creepy cave, on the opposite side of the flames, stood a huge, dark creature resembling a big foot. The creature's glowing red eyes ominously pulsated as it stared at them menacingly, revealing its large, yellowing fangs clenched in a snarl.
His growl reverberated within their chests, causing fear to grip them. The oversized hairy creature was entirely coated in tangled fur, towering at a staggering height of 8 feet, almost reaching the cave's ceiling. Zarda observed as it slunk back into the darkness beyond the fire, vanishing from sight.
As the beast departed, it let out a spine-chilling howl that sent shivers down them all. Zarda swiftly approached the guards, startling them even further. They were left in disbelief, unaware of the group sneaking up behind them. With so much commotion unfolding simultaneously, their movements went unnoticed.
"Everything is fine now, you can relax. Are you both okay? What just happened here? What was that creature?" Zarda inquired with his usual curiosity.
Once they found their voice again, they turned to face Zarda. It took them a moment to respond, still feeling a bit shaken from all that had just happened.
"We were en route to locate Lady Sindri when we unexpectedly encountered that creature. As it started approaching us, the cave rumbled and I panicked, causing me to drop my lamp. The lamp ignited and created a barrier between us. Luckily, whatever the reason behind it, it saved us just in the nick of time," Mercury recounted.
Feginn agreed with everything his comrade said, nodding his head in approval. He witnessed the monstrosity firsthand.
"I've never seen a being like that. I don't even know if Hellir knows it exists." replied Feginn.
Out of nowhere, one of the rams abruptly interrupted the moose mid-sentence.
"Sorry for the interruption, but we need to leave before the fire burns out. I don't want to find out what that thing is, just like everyone else here," Hemming said urgently.
Feginn glanced at the nervous ram, feeling puzzled about why they had to abandon the mission. The moose's thoughts were filled with growing worry.
Feginn was utterly drained, anxious, and downright scared, but he remained committed to his oath and mission.
"We must continue in the direction of the lord and lady. There is no time to rest," he declared.
The ram shook his head in disagreement to the Moose.
"No! You both went the wrong way. Their tracks went right, and you went left at the fork. We need to quickly return and investigate the cause of the explosion," Hemming responded.
Feginn and Mercury were flabbergasted by the news, believing they had been on the right path. Zarda then approached and indicated the tracks they had been following, using his staff to show them that the prints did not resemble those of lynxes. He revealed that they appeared to be from a different animal that had sought shelter inside. If this animal had wandered in the direction of the monster, it would likely have become its next meal.
"You can clearly see these are not your majesties tracks. No wonder you went wrong. Your lamps are awful light sources." said Zarda.
He gazed at the dimly lit lamp he held in his trembling hands. The guards, although ashamed, agreed with Zarda. They envied his superior staff. The vibrant purple amethyst illuminated their path, casting a bright glow throughout the room. Hemming and Zarda wasted no time in leading the group down the rocky hallway of the long caves. The fire behind them was dwindling, with only dirt and rocks to sustain it. There was nothing substantial for the flames to consume in order to continue burning.
Meanwhile, Osborn and the other four companions felt the same rumble as they approached the entrance of Hellir. The explosion originated further down the tunnel they were traveling through. On the right side, they noticed the gate to the city, which was intricately carved into the cave walls and adorned with gold leaf. The runes engraved into the trim of the gate made it even more striking. As guests approached, the runes would illuminate in a bright, blue light, casting a welcoming spell over the entrance. Osborn paused, gazing in awe at the sight before him. This was unlike any city he had ever seen, as his eyes were more familiar with metal bars and cement floors.
"Would you look at that!" He said, out loud for everyone to hear.
The rams stood behind Vidar, captivated by the beauty of the runes dancing in front of them. They were in a trance, completely mesmerized. Meanwhile, Vidar the bear stood, intensely focused on the intricate details of the carved rock face.
"Never have I seen such a beautiful gate underground. The runes shine so bright up against the gold. Wonder what the city looks like beyond the gate?" said Vidar, curiously.
The intense radiance streaming out beyond the gateway was dazzling, capturing their attention on the mystical symbols of the entrance. Intrigued and captivated, Osborn inched towards the gate.
"Let's find out, mate." replied Osborn.
The pair walked confidently through the grand gateway, their demeanor instantly lifted as they crossed the threshold. It was as if they had just smoked a strong cannabis pipe, feeling euphoric and carefree. As they entered the city beyond the gate, their eyes widened at the sight of the majestic structures. The sanctuary was illuminated by glowing gemstones, casting a dazzling light throughout. The roadways were lined with tall, hand-crafted lamp posts adorned with the same precious jewels. The castle, built of sparkling white marble, gleamed like the sun and shimmered like the stars.
Only the inhabitants of Hellir could have envisioned the city as it appeared. The small group was incredibly impressed, with the rams behaving strangely after being affected by the runes. Osborn observed animals filling the streets, from puma couples walking hand in hand to bear families strolling carefreely and teenager bats skateboarding. Some even flew through the air with wings outspread. Vidar noticed a rattlesnake man wearing a tunic and scarf heading towards the temple. The city was teeming with life and noise, as all cave-dwelling animals had comfortably settled under the mountain. Surrounding the castle where the board ruled were tall wooden skyscrapers and stone apartments, creating a city within a city. Despite their search, Osborn and Vidar were unable to locate the high majesties amidst the bustling activity.
"Wonder where lady and lord are? All I see are the residence walking about." said Vidar.
Osborn agreed with a nod. All he could see was a sea of animals, none of them appearing to be the high lord or lady. However, he did notice three animals approaching them, dressed in a way that suggested they were the leaders of Hellir. As they neared, they slowed down and greeted them with smiles.
"Welcome to Hellir. What brings you beneath the mountain?" inquired the first creature.
The first creature to speak was a light beige puma with bright yellow eyes, exuding an inviting and calm smile. Standing next to him was a tall gray bear, with a snake man on the other side. The snake man had a head shaped like a timber rattler, adorned in diamond patterned scales on his bare chest, and wearing white tunic pants to cover his thin legs. Despite his intimidating appearance, he too seemed to smile friendly and welcoming. The bear, however, appeared reserved with a stern look, not showing any signs of friendliness or hostility towards the new visitors. Osborn understood his cautiousness completely.
"Hello there mate, we are on a mission to locate Lady and Lord Asger, who were last seen heading in this direction. There is another large group searching for their guards. Have they arrived safely?" inquired Osborn. The puma looked at both of his companions oddly.
"I regret to inform you that as far as we know, they haven't come here today. They typically only visit during the solstice, which occurs every nine years. During these rare visits, they only come to collect ransoms for the high holy sacrifice," he explained.
Osborn pursed his lips tightly together while contemplating the puma's reaction.
Osborn turned to his gang with worry etched on his face. "It's possible that the explosion we heard was them. If they're in trouble, we need to find them before it's too late," he said.
The puma's gaze narrowed, fixating on the bear's face as though delving into the depths of his mind beyond what his eyes revealed.
Feeling a mix of alarm and curiosity, the puma questioned the strangers who had unexpectedly appeared in Hellir.
"You don't seem to be from around here. What are your names?"
"Sorry mate, my name is osborn, this is vidar, and these three rams are the high ladies slaves, brusi, foerr, and hrutr." Replied the bear.
The puma glanced curiously at his companions once more. In his thoughts, he was devising a plan to capture them and keep them locked up. Without raising any suspicion, he replied calmly to the strangers.
"I am Monarch Erling the puma, this is Grand Duke Haldor the bear, and Marquis brynjar the rattlesnake. The high lady and lord oversee Hellir, while we three lead the board below them. They have entrusted us to govern in an organized manner." Erling Announced.
The five individuals showed their respect for Hellir's authority by bowing their heads, oblivious to any potential danger.
"I speak on behalf of all of us when I say that we are delighted to meet you three. Please, we require assistance in locating Lady Sindri and Lord Asger. Will you help Havardr?" inquired Vidar.
"Whatever Havardr needs we will do. If they are not safe , then that leads our very own community and the others open for danger." replied Erling.
"Do you know what the exssss•plosion noi•ssss•e was?" asked Brynjar, the snake as his words hissed out slowly.
Osborn shook his head, indicating that they were hoping Hellir had the answer to their question. It seemed like they were all embarking on a new mission to uncover the truth. While they stood and conversed with each other, Zarda and his group appeared from around the bend. They moved closer to the city gate, where the runes once again glowed. However, this time, their power was manipulated by Zarda's staff, causing them to emit a vibrant violet hue instead of the usual pretty blue. Like Osborn, Vidar, and the rams, Zarda stood in awe. His companions were entranced by the staff's energy, deflecting the peaceful aura it usually emitted. Zarda and his group did not have the same experience as Osborn and his friends.
However, the beauty remained magnificent. Much to the board members' surprise, even more guests had unexpectedly arrived.