My right hand reached around on my belt till I found the furthest right pouch that I had. Fumbling at the drawstring, I finally loosened it to reach my fingers in and draw out the red potion that Victoria had gifted me. Holding it up in front of my eyes, I just stared dazedly at it.
"Drink it." The voice of the Vulpine was terse and filled with the tone of command.
Unstopping the cork from the vial, I poured the red contents of it down my throat. Refreshing warmth and energy passed from my stomach to the rest of my body. The miracle of Victoria's potion was performing its duties. Strength returned to my weakened limbs and my vision began to clear.
I had at that point been dragged by the vulpine leader to lean up against a boulder on the shore of the creek. Calling out to him I said. "Steven has a potion as well, in the small bag on his belt." At least that is where I saw him put it before when he was given it by my teacher. If he had switched it with something else after then, I wasn't aware.
Jax went to the prone figure of the previously possessed trainee and withdrew the potion from his pouch. Then with little gentleness to be shown, he slapped him Hard across the face. Stevens eyes fluttered for a moment, as he appeared to fitfully awaken. In that moment, Jax poured the contents of the potion into his mouth, without regard to his semiconscious figure.
*Cough* *Cough* *Aack!* I wasn't sure if more of the potion went in him then was coughed back out, but it seemed to do the job of adequately waking him up. I was certain that if it was anything but a healing potion, that to treat an unconscious or even semiconscious person with such care and then administering a liquid to drink, would far more likely result in aspiration and subsequent drowning or death. But hey, this was a place of fantasy, where more than a few things could break the rules of common sense. I was betting that due to its nature, administration of a healing potion into the lungs, would more likely be absorbed by the body in a unique, if unpleasant way and continue to do its job.
Soon enough, a bedraggled lion-man who had just recovered from his possession now sat upright leaning against the same boulder as me. I honestly didn't have the gumption to move away at this time to find another rock, out of discomfort due to our close proximity.
I continued to lounge there as the patrolmen continued to search the area. I wasn't sure how much time had passed since I had taken the potion, but the claw marks on my left shoulder had fully healed. Blood still stained my clothes, but that was to be expected.
"Lead Jax, Lead Bartholomew! We found something!" The call came from about 20 meters away further down the creek bed. It was the group of patrolmen who had been sent out on the circular sweeps of the area.
Leader Bartholomew came ambling through the underbrush from a place I hadn't seen anyone at before. Seriously, is this magic, or some kind of advanced bush-craft with hiding in plain sight? Both the leaders couldn't have illusion magic, could they?
Both of the leaders quickly arrived at the position they were called to. Struggling to my feet, I was determined at this point to see this through and join them in their venture. Other than some stiffness to my joints from being sedentary, and an odd weakness to the tendrils of energy in my core, I felt pretty much normal. Losing the stiffness along the way, I was able to reach their position with no further trouble.
Seeing what they discovered I had to peer carefully into the deep underbrush that looked like a backpacker's nightmare. Deep within the dense growth, I believe I saw what appeared to be a small cave entrance of sorts.
Leader Bartholomew's deep bear like voice called out. "All Patrolmen! On Me!"
Team 1 which had canvased the area that Steven and I had collapsed at, joined with team 2 with both the leaders. Steven himself even came, being the last of them.
Again, the bear like voice called out. "All who have light creation spells of candlelight or brighter, raise your hands!"
A total of 8 patrolmen raised their hands. The 4 remaining ones appeared a bit sheepish and cast their eyes downward or looked away.
Leader Jax then spoke up. "All those that raised your hands, will be joining us in searching this cave. You 4 who have not yet assimilated a light stone or learned the spell of light, will continue to do circular sweeps at 1 pace intervals with the cave as your center point. I don't care if you have to hack away at all the brush in the area to get the job done. Also, again, you will not split off into smaller groups. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir!" the four cried out.
"One last thing!" The vulpine ordered them. "If any one of you begins to act unusual in any way, the rest of you are to drag them into the direct sunlight, by any means necessary!"
"Yes Sir!" Again the 4 cried out with affirmation, and then set about accomplishing their duty.
"Andrew, Steven!" The Vulpine called out again. "Both of you are with us."
Steven appeared stricken as he stared into the beckoning darkness of the cave "Wait wait, why I have to go? I don't have any light spells or magic yet."
"Your charge was to join in the discovery and subjugation of the individual or group responsible for the abduction and likely deaths of the missing children." Looking at the foreboding cave the Vulpine continued. "We have neither seen any trace yet of the children, not confirmed that this is the cave that they were taken to. Until we have confirmed both, you are stuck with us."
Steven continued to balk. "Lead Jax, I would like to request that I be allowed to join with the group that is performing sweeps of the exterior area."
"Request denied! This is not up for discussion trainee. If you seek to get out of this, one you will not receive the monetary compensation, and two, you will likely receive an official reprimand in your file, likely leading you to either expulsion or forever delegated to trainee work."
Steven's lips trembled as he stared onward at the cave. I kind of felt sorry for the guy, as he had just been released from being possessed. However, I knew that half a gold was quite the reward for a single excursion, for someone at our level of lacking strength and experience. We were to be bait and expendable, and so we needed to play out our part. If we happened to die for such, with a sure promise of return to life and repayment, then I felt it was fair if still very unpleasant.
"I will enter first followed by trainee Steven and apprentice Andrew. At my call the remainder of you will follow. Are there any questions or concerns?" The vulpine said the last part while looking my direction. He appeared to be pointedly not looking at Steven.
"No sir." I replied. "I'm fine with following you in and following your instructions."
With an appreciative nod, he began muttering some words under his breath and soon a ball of light, comparable to that of a torch began to manifest just in front of him. It just hovered there casting a decent circle of light amidst the clearing. Behind me, I saw the other patrolmen also begin chanting. Small balls of light that jointly added a fair bit of light as well sprang up. Only the spell cast by the bear-man leader and one other patrolman appeared comparable to Lead Jax's light spell.
The vulpine then squatted down to ease his way into the cave. Sending the light ahead of him into the cave, he then eased his way through the small opening. From my vantage point, the entryway appeared only big enough for one large adult to fit through at a time. Maybe 2 thin adults could slide through side by side, but that would be it.
I followed closely behind him, so as to benefit from the reflected light out front to better see where I was going.
As I too squatted down on the smooth stones leading into the cave, I heard the other leader speak up.
"Enderson!" The bear-man called out to one of the patrolmen behind me. "Since you also have the torchlight spell, you will follow closely behind trainee Steven."
"Yes Sir!" Was the reply.
That was the last any of us spoke before I pressed forward into the somewhat lit entryway.
I had been spelunking before, or cave diving as others call it. It had been when I was with a youth adventure group when I was about 13 years old. We got to explore a deep somewhat muddy cave with several stalagmites and stalactites scattered about its interior. I always struggle with remembering which is which. I believe it is stalagmites that rise up from the ground as they stand rooted with the might of the earth at their base. Stalactites adhere to the ceiling as they hold tight to not fall.
Unfortunately, regarding the cave that the youth group explored, much of it was vandalized by prior visitors with spray painted graffiti, and shattered stone. But it was still quite the adventure. There was even one part that I as a scrawny boy, was barely able to edge myself into. Beyond it I found a completely untouched and virgin expanse that beckoned me. Unfortunately, in order to reach it, I would have to pass through a part that was somewhat smaller than my already hyperventilating heart wanted to risk. Backtracking the way I had come, I had to regretfully give up on exploring that find. Overall, it was an amazing and beautiful if somewhat claustrophobic experience.
The cave I was in now, following behind the vulpine was markedly different. It was as if something had hollowed it out, without any of the signs of natural mineral formations. Rocks and dirt formed a sure footing without the slippery wetness one would expect this close to a creek.
Several paces further in, I'm guessing to be about 20 meters, the light from the exit could no longer be seen against the closer glare of the several light spells illuminating the interior. I could readily see the benefit of assimilating a light mage stone, as with this, dark caves would prove to be far less of a problem when exploring. A hands-free light, that could be moved about with your mind alone, would be the envy of all professional cavers. Even lighted head gear wouldn't be this efficient.
As we continued though, the texture of the walls began to change, as the dirt gave way to more stone. The darkness appeared to press in more against the many lights of the exploring patrolmen. As I noticed this, so too did it seem the others recognized the cause. I heard whispers and mentions of something called a shade or dark stone among their low-voiced conversations.
Everyone appeared to subconsciously bunch up more together as the stragglers and outliers pressed into the group to avoid the encroaching darkness.
I had honesty lost track of how far we traveled, but the cave had long since become more spacious allowing us to each walk side-by-side if we so desired. We could not see the walls any longer, as darkness itself appeared to resist the light of the candle and torch spells.
A cold stringent smell began to edge its way into my nose as I felt the chill fingers of darkness, beckoning from beyond the reaches of light. I had a strong sense that we were not alone in here, and that the darkness held horrors that I would be better off not knowing about.