OUTCAST : THE PATH OF A WARRIOR

20. RED EYES OF A WARRIOR

CHAPTER 20

The midday sun shone radiantly on Sheanna's silky skin, on this warmer than usual day, as we discussed some more about the deal we both just made.

"So how far away is this entrance from here?" I asked.

" It's behind me..." She said giving me a smile, and tilting her head over her right shoulder.

I looked over to the corner, and after a quick inspection i saw no door or any other form of entrance, other than bare rock-wall.

Sheanna noticed my confusion, and walked over to the wall.

I followed her to the wall, placing my hand over the rock. It was damp. I moved my hands, slowly, tapping the wall from right to left until I reached a point where the rock suddenly felt wooden.

I looked at Sheanna, giving her a big smile. "Very clever, a hidden door! But how?"

"My people are part Zonian, and the forest was once our home too, a place of wonder and power. The ancient one, 'The Tree of Life', helped in nourishing our existence. Food from land, fruit  and nuts from the trees, a wonder from Gods themselves." She said proudly

"It gave us magic, such as this wood, giving it the power to change its appearance, like you see here." Said Sheanna, opening the door on its hinges, and revealing the entrance to a dark entrance.

"These were once, in ancient times, tunnels created by miners, who connected hundreds of routes in many different directions. Many drifters had lost their lives, trying to find their way back out of these, almost never ending tunnels."

As I watched her reveal the secret door to me, I couldn't help but wonder why she trusted me so , an outsider, foreign to her own people, and species.

"Why do you trust me so?" I asked candidly.

She turned towards me, hesitating before she answered. "Well....If i may be honest with you.... I've been watching you, and your friends, from a slight distance of course, and..." She said hesitating, gazing at me, and wanting to tell me something.

I noticed a small change in her face, an emotion, it was similar to the one Nara gave me when thanking me for saving her father, Robert's life.

" I stayed hidden, waiting to see if you can be approached, and if so, to task you to come to our cause.... where others have failed!"

" And, are we approachable?" I asked, smiling at her.

" Yes, I...I hope so." She said returning the smile.

"But I also know that without my guidance, you will not make it out alive, from this vast dark labyrinth!"

"Oh, I guess not!" I said.

"So that will be my insurance, and besides...." She said, as her facial expression mellowed even more.

"You remind me of someone that I greatly admire!"

"Oh... well then, Its settled, i will tell the rest of my team, the news." I said, then turned my head up towards where the rest my companions were resting.

" Hey Brother!" I called . " Throw the rope down, we have another way to get to the other side of the mountain.

Robert attempted to silence his pain, grunting, as his feet hit the ground. We all bundled together giving him space to join us on the rock ledge.

He was the last one to lower himself down the side of the mountain wall, and his gaze fell upon the female stranger.

"You are Zonian...Yes!" Said Robert, sniffing." I have met your kind before.... many years in the past."