Ashsib and the Cat Beast

Chapter Five

"Where are weeeee?!?" Ashsib wailed, pulling at his hair. "It's corridors! It's all corridors! Corridors leading to corridors from corridors where doors open into more corridors!!!" He babbled, his mind running the same circles as his words.

"Calm down, Ash." Calder slapped Ashsib hard across the face.

"Ow!" Ashsib held his stinging cheek, "That really hurt, you know!"

"It would not be effective if it didn't." Calder slapped him again, "Stop getting so worked up."

Ashsib cradled his face in his hands, glaring at the red-haired man with tears in his eyes.

"See? Already better." Calder smirked, "We'll be okay. If we keep turning left, we'll eventually get out."

"That's been your strategy?" Ashsib screeched, "This isn't a hedge maze, here. We've probably been going in circles!"

"Well, no one else offered any advice." Calder gave a half shrug.

"Why would we when you so confidently ran ahead?" Ashsib took the opportunity to slap the man back, "If you're lost, just say so!"

"No need for violence." Calder held his own cheek.

"Haven't seen any guards." Vel said, "Suppose that means we're no where near an exit?"

"Oh god, we're going to die in a corridor!" Ashsib realized, panic roaring back through him. Up and down everything looked the same from where they had separated from Namere, polished, cut stone and closed doors.

"Now, now," Calder comforted him, "We have days before dehydration sets in, we're sure to find some guards before then."

Ashsib glared, "I hate you."

"Love you, too, Ashy." Calder said sweetly.

"Let's just take things slower, look into rooms, and keep an eye out for landmarks so we won't go in circles anymore." Vel said reasonably.

"Landmarks?" Calder repeated, "We're not outside, there won't be any landmarks."

"You know what your problem is? You always have to have a smart response to everything." Vel griped, "It's annoying."

"Your face is annoying." Calder muttered loud enough to be easily heard.

For once, Vel ignored the other man's jibes. He went to a door and opened it. Inside, twenty men looked to the doorway as one. They were all wearing dark uniforms like the guards in the cells had been. Vel slammed the door. He was off at a sprint before his crew mates knew what was going on. The pack of guards stumbled out of the room in a rush a moment later.

"Ocean's Mother don't sink me!" Ashsib was off, instinct pumping legs before the brain registered the foes. Real fear boiled over instead of just simmering in the background, and Ashsib absorbed that foamy brew. He stayed close to Vel, of course, he wouldn't be caught any where alone.

"Good job, scar face." Calder berated as they ran.

"Yup, my bad." Vel acknowledged.

~~~

The doors were getting more ornate and the group of guards was growing. Ashsib had no breath left to keep running. He'd fall on their swords soon. And welcome it.

"Door!" He gasped, hanging on to his crew mates for attention. "In door."

"I think Ashy's trying to say we should duck into a room to hide." Calder translated and Ashsib nodded vigorously.

They turned a corner.

Ashsib nearly laid down to die. No more side passages off this corridor.

"That sort of settles it." Vel said, pointing at the large doors at the end of the hall, "Do those look like exit doors?"