Sun and Stone

XI.

The disturbing giggle sent shivers down my spine. Straining to listen, I could pick out a dripping sound from behind; condensation from the tunnel ceiling dribbling to the ground below, ticking away the time as we waited. Malavy had stopped walking forward, and looking back, I could see that Gray was hovering close by. I heard a barely audible scrabble, rocks rubbing against one another, or being kicked over the ground. When the next laugh reached us, it seemed to be closer, but I still didnt see anything approaching.

"I think this would be a good time for Tinkerbell to do her thing" I could hear how Gray tried to make his tone light and sardonic, but he couldnt hide the tense undertone in his voice. I bristled at his teasing, but didnt reply.

Malavy turned to me next. "I am not threatening you, but if you do not give us some light we very well could be attacked in the next few minutes. That sound was certainly a Goblin. They may sound harmless and childlike but the breed under this mountain is more akin to a Red Capp; they feed on blood. They will giggle and dance around us as they cut into any skin they can reach. Their nails secrete a paralyzing toxin. I will fall, then you'll go down too. I doubt they will bother with small prey like you, but you won't be able to do much besides watch as they slice into your paralyzed... friend."

More insane giggles punctuated the threat in Malavys warning. I swung around and tried to make out forms coming towards us in the dark. A gentle growl came from behind, but now I found it almost comforting in the darkness, sensing it came from Gray. He would protect me. For the first time, I was grateful for how much he seemed to have changed. Not wanting to be wholly useless facing whatever was to come, I dug deep into my core. I still felt empty and cold, but I could remember the terror I had felt as I choked when Malavy held me up by the back of my shirt. I recollected my thoughts of imminent death as I had fallen from Grays hand after burning him with my light. I recalled the sense of hopeless frustration from the night before when I realized just how much help I would need navigating the world from this new position. This was the same. We were in danger, we could die, and I could do nothing to physically defend myself or my friend. If there was anything at all left, I had to find it.

I pictured gremlins scurrying forward out of the darkness. In my mind, they would be as tall as Grays knee, dressed like the lawn gnomes that decorated peoples lawns. Even at a foot tall, they would tower over me. I looked down and tried to think of what it would feel like to fall to the earth from this height. I thought of the sound Gray would make as they cut into him. I thought of the pained face he would make, a mix of desperation and hopelessness. I thought of claws the size of butcher knives hovering over my own skin. No matter how gruesome and terrifying I made my own thoughts, my chest remained dark and cold. The dull glow around me remained the same, no brighter. Looking at my skin, it only shimmered as if it was covered in phosphorescent glitter. I couldnt make out the veins below as I could when light filled them. Distraught, I finally broke the tense silence. "I... I can't! I'm, I'm just so tired! I'm plenty frightened so you can stop with the scary stories, Malavy. The light isn't going to come."

The golden glow of Malavys eyes vanished as they closed their eyes. I heard a deep sigh and felt my seat rise and lower with it before a hand came from the darkness. I let out a surprised scream as the digits wrapped around me and yanked me from my perch. I flew through the air only to slam against a fabric covered stone wall. More hands came up around me, this time familiar and rougher, and the grip around my abdomen vanished. As I knelt against Grays chest with his more familiar palm beneath me, I could hear Malavys jaded voice speaking from above. "Take her and back up to the wall. I can handle this as long as you don't get in my way. Make yourself small, and hold her close."

Neither of us was given time to argue as Malavy grabbed their left hand in their right and twisted their ring. They vanished on the spot and Gray stumbled back until he hit the tunnel wall. A protective second hand crashed down over me, blocking my view. He slid down slowly to crouch near the ground. I barely registered the elevation change as I listened to the world outside of my enclosure, trying to lift the stone hand from over me. I was so tired of not seeing what was happening around me, but another shrill giggle from outside caused my fear to overpower my annoyance. I stilled in Grays hands and we both listened in the darkness. I didn't hear Malavy unsheathe their sword, but I knew they had when I heard cries of pain, mortal wounds inflicted. I thought they had taken out three, maybe four unseen creatures when a deeper chuckle rolled through the tunnel from the other end.