The growl echoed through the cavern, sending chills down their spines. Elias, Mei, and Tomas froze, their lanterns casting flickering shadows on the damp stone walls. The golden eyes on the far side of the chasm narrowed, reflecting the dim light like twin flames.
"What… what is that?" Tomas whispered, gripping his pickaxe tightly.
Before anyone could answer, the creature stepped forward. It was unlike anything they had ever seen—a massive feline beast, its fur streaked with gold, its claws gleaming like polished metal. It moved with the grace of a panther but had the bulk of a lion, its tail swaying like a whip.
Mei exhaled slowly. "It's a guardian."
Elias tightened his grip on his lantern. "A guardian of what, exactly? The treasure?"
The beast let out a low, rumbling growl, as if understanding their words. Then, it lifted a massive paw and swiped at the air—its claws scraped against stone, leaving deep gouges. It wasn't just warning them. It was testing them.
"The bridge is the only way across," Mei said, her voice steady. "And we can't run. If we do, it'll chase us down before we make it halfway."
Tomas looked down at the bridge. The wood was cracked, the rope frayed. One wrong step and it would collapse into the abyss.
Elias squared his shoulders. "Then we go carefully."
He took the first step. The wood groaned beneath his weight, but it held. Another step. And another. His heart pounded, but he forced himself to move slowly. The beast watched him intently, its golden eyes unblinking.
Mei followed next, moving with careful precision. Tomas hesitated before stepping onto the bridge, sweat beading on his forehead. "If I fall, tell my mother I—"
A sudden snap rang out as one of the ropes frayed even more, and the bridge lurched.
Tomas let out a yell as he lost his footing.
Mei reacted instantly, grabbing his arm before he could tumble into the darkness. "Hold on!"
The guardian let out a deep snarl, stepping closer to the edge of the chasm. It wasn't attacking. It was watching. Testing.
With Elias's help, they pulled Tomas back onto the bridge. "Move!" Elias urged.
They scrambled across the remaining steps and stumbled onto solid ground just as the bridge gave one final groan—then snapped, crashing into the abyss below.
They turned to face the beast. It stood on the other side, still as stone. Then, slowly, it lowered its head and sat down, as if acknowledging their passage.
Mei exhaled. "We passed."
Elias turned toward the tunnel ahead. "Then let's go claim our treasure."
And with that, they stepped forward into the heart of the mountain, where the gold of legends awaited them.