Durgan took the lead, his grip firm on his axe. "Stay close, and keep your weapons ready. These caves have their own guardians, and they don't take kindly to visitors."
They entered the cave, the flickering light of their torches casting long shadows on the rough walls. The air was thick with the smell of damp stone and ancient decay. As they moved deeper, the silence grew oppressive, and Jezz could almost feel the weight of the rock pressing down on them from above.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the cave. The warriors froze, their hands tightening around their weapons.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything Jezz had seen. It was massive, with a body like a panther but covered in scales that shimmered in the dim torchlight. Its eyes were a sickly yellow, filled with a malevolent intelligence.
