An Unexpected Adventure

Deeper and deeper the Traveler went. The farther into the cave, the hotter it got. Sweat began to bead on his brow as he crept on, caution coursing through every inch of his body. The strong sulfuric odor filling the chambers of the cave making it difficult to breathe. Pulling a piece of cloth from a pocket, he folded it and began tying it around his face, providing him with a filter.

He rounded another bend, stopping abruptly when he came upon a wide cavern buried within the heated belly. He must be at the very center of the mountain now. A stronger wave of the gut-wrenching stench rolled over him, almost knocking him to the ground as nausea ran through him. He gagged, his hand clamping tight to his mouth to keep sound and the contents of his stomach at bay. Suddenly glad that he had decided to pass on breaking his fast that morning.

A deep rumble filled the cave walls and tunnels, followed by the briefest hint of a whimper. He paused as a wave of relief filled his being. The girl was still alive! With a renewed sense of determination, the Traveler pushed his back against the wall in an attempt to blend in with the hard rock walls and stalagmites that littered the surrounding area. He inched closer to the massive opening. Caution was of the utmost importance.  A brief shudder coursed through his body as he mentally recounted all he had learned of these creatures; high intelligence, keen eyesight, uncanny hearing, and an unimaginable ability to discern and understand the spoken word.

He closed his eyes. Don't think. Just go in, get the girl, and get out.

Pushing back the fear that was threatening to overcome him, the Traveler steeled himself for what needed to be done and crept forward a few more feet.

He could see into the entrance now. There lay the beast, half sprawled over its vast treasure as though it were protecting it. Its tail wrapped loosely around its body with its meaty legs folded contently under its head. The treasure covered almost the entire floor; coins of all kinds (need to stay away from those), jewels, and baubles of all sorts (should stay away from those as well). And not far from the entrance, behind one of the remaining stalagmites, was the girl he had come after. Curled up in a tight ball with her arms wrapped around her knees and her head resting on top of her arms. Her clothing was ripped in a few places and her hair had a matted, wild look to it. Considering her circumstances, her appearance was better than he could have hoped.

Why hadn't she tried to escape? She was close enough to the entrance. He watched and waited. Then the molten eye cracked open, peering over at the girl. Understanding dawned on him, this was why she had not tried to leave. The beast was keeping a close eye on the girl. He would have to move quickly and quietly if he had any hope of getting them both out of there alive.  A quick weapons check as he counted between the increments of the monster's eye-opening and closing to discern a pattern. He was ready.

With a grin, the Traveler sprang into action picking his way across the space on the balls of his feet, never making a sound. Reaching the young girl, he blew lightly across her cheek. The girl's empty eyes opened but she made no move. He smiled at her to offer her some encouragement and pressed a finger to his lips praying she wasn't too far gone to understand that he was here to help her.

Bending, he threw her over his shoulder and turned to leave, but came to an abrupt halt when his eyes made contact with the molten black ones of the monster staring maliciously at him. Fear, unlike anything he had ever felt before, cascaded over the Traveler. For the second time during this rescue, he had to push that overwhelming fear to the far recesses of his mind. Ever so slowly, he lowered the girl back to the spot where she had been. Without taking his gaze from that of the beast, he tried to give the girl a reassuring smile while trying to mentally come up with a way to keep them both alive.

Neither one moved for the longest moment, each sizing up the other determining how big a threat there was. He caught a movement in his peripheral vision. Letting instinct take over, he rolled to the left just as the monster’s spike-tipped tail came hurtling through the air almost clipping him in the shoulder. Knowing his sword would be useless against the beast’s tough scales shielding its body, the Traveler didn't bother to draw it. He rolled again as the tail came crashing down where he had been standing moments before. Jumping to his feet, the Traveler sprang back to the right landing smoothly on a small mound of coins and jewels only to be attacked again. This time he went flying through the air, the tail scattering the treasure he had been standing on.

He landed hard, the air forced from his lungs, leaving him breathless and a bit dazed. There had to be some way out of this mess! Creator, help us! His mind screamed.

His eyes rolled, barely taking note of his surroundings as he tried frantically to get his breath back and shake off this hit. Something caught his eye. Something he had missed on his first inspection. A small hole in the far wall that had been covered by the mound of treasure he had just been standing on. The Creator had just given him his way out! The tail came at him again. The Traveler rolled quickly out of the way. He turned his gaze to the creature who was playfully swinging its tail in the air.

The beast is toying with me! He realized. Perhaps there is a way to use its complacency against it.

With quick scans of his surroundings, the Traveler smiled as a plan began to form in his mind. Then he was running, his feet taking him up the nearest mound of the beast’s treasure. As he anticipated, the tail came at him again crashing into the coins as he threw his weight into a backflip that landed him closer to the girl. With each lazy swipe of the tail, he was able to get closer and closer. Finally, he reached her side but the girl didn't bother him with a glance. This lack of hope disturbed him but not having the time to dwell on it, he grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder as he would a sack of flour. He winced when he felt her head hit his back and wished he could be gentler but there was no time.

"Hold on!" he cried as he dashed for the hole, hoping and praying that it hadn't deceived him and that it did indeed provide a way out.

Furious at this new outcome, but its movements severely impeded by the close quarters of the cave, the beast lashed out at them with its tail, bringing it down hard with a loud crash, effectively closing the opening with rock. The creature roared in outrage as it realized that the thief had not been smashed under its mighty tail. Breathing a sigh of relief, the Traveler used his empty shoulder to help guide him along the dark corridor. The monster's roars of outrage followed close behind.

He followed the tunnels far longer than he wanted. Soon the walls began to feel familiar and there was a dim glow coming around one bend. Breathing a sigh of relief he rounded the bend that took him to the main entrance. As they exited the cave a deafening roar billowed out behind them followed by a fresh wave of the sulfuric odor in its wake and a rumbling sound that shook him to the core.

The Traveler didn't stop to look over his shoulder. Tightening his grip on the girl, he ran directly for the hidden rock alcove covered in thick dark green vegetation, consisting of vines, ferns, and thorn bushes. Loose soil and massive root balls helped to provide the perfect hole to hide in. He was thankful he had taken the precaution of searching out this spot in case things had not gone smoothly. 'Luck favors the prepared', as his mother used to say. Today, he had needed all the luck he could get.

Taking care not to cause the girl to fear him, he laid her in the crevice at the base of the rock. "Be very still and quiet." He told her in a breathless whisper as he went to work camouflaging them; pulling the coverings he had made from the surrounding brush. Climbing in next to the girl, the Traveler yanked the makeshift door over the entrance to their hiding place. Now blocked from view, he went to work covering their bodies with as much dirt, rock, and loose leaves as he could, lending them the ability to blend in perfectly with their surroundings. Only then did he notice the girl shaking like a leaf against his side.

"Shh..." he breathed into her ear in an effort to comfort and reassure her.

Another gust of sulfur-laced air shot out of the cave. A furious roar filled the area as the ground rumbled under the weight of the beast. It tore out of the cave and shot up into the sky. They lay still, neither daring to move. Both barely breathing.

Many moments passed before the Traveler felt secure enough to venture from their hiding place. Cautiously, he peered past their makeshift door and searched the skies. Certain now that the beast was out searching for them, he pushed their camouflage off, before climbing out. Keeping an eye on the sky, he reached down and helped the girl out. When he brought his gaze back to her, he could see fear still lurking in the shadows of her eyes.

He gave her a soft gentle smile. Raising a dirty hand, he smoothed back the matted hair from her face. "You do not need to be afraid. We are safe for now. Are you hungry?" There was no answer and the fear did not leave her gaze as he had hoped it would. He lifted his eyes to scan the skies again before turning them back to her.

Uncertain how to proceed, he stared intently into her fearful hopeless eyes. They had to get moving if they were to put a significant amount of distance between them and the beast. Did she have the strength and will to make a run for it? He took in her weakened appearance. No, definitely not. But perhaps they could walk if he stuck to hiding amongst the trees.

"Do you think you can walk?" he asked, a plan beginning to form.

She eyed him wearily but gave a slight nod, and took a few steps to show him that she could indeed walk. He smiled when those steps took her away from him and not closer. Perhaps she had a bit more spirit left in her after all.

"Good. We must be away from here before the monster returns. If you have any problem keeping up, tell me."

She nodded again letting him know she understood. Taking a deep breath and giving the skies one more quick glance he took hold of her hand, setting a swift pace away from the monster's lair.

"Of all the dumb..." a bundle of hay hit the manger in the clean stall with more force than necessary for the small chore, "rotten..." Katina punctuated her anger with another toss of hay at the milk cow she had just moved before turning to attack the soiled stall.

"What are you mumbling about now?" a voice called from just outside the barn door.

She ignored it, attacking the soiled straw with a vengeance. She should be getting ready to go into town with her father, just as her brother and sister were allowed to do on their sixteenth birthday. But instead here she was, stuck mucking out stalls so she could get out of helping her mother in the house. Some birthday this was.

Angry tears flooded Katina's eyes. Her brother stepped around the corner. She turned her head away from him so that he could not see. She hated crying. Unfortunately, her tear ducts didn't listen to her logical side. Angry, sad, happy it didn't matter. Tears always seemed to seep out and her brot