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»» ──────ஓ๑♥๑ஓ ────── ««
Some time had passed as I laid here against the wall of the cave. I couldn't tell how much by now but in that time I was able to better assess my situation. I was definitely a bit more beat up than I had thought. The wind had managed to save me from hopefully any major damage.
There was a bruise forming on my stomach and scratches all over my arms and hands. I also seemed to have hit a rock or something as there was a small gash in my side. My legs hurt as well but not as much as my arms and everytime I took in a breath I could feel a sharp pain.
So, although I had survived I was pretty banged up.
I played around with the box in my hands that I had just risked my life to get. It wasn't a very large box and felt very light too.
After all that I really wanted to know what was inside. However, I also didn't want to press anything or screw it up. What if I pressed something I shouldn't and break the box? Then I'd really hear hell from the Tsaritsa and the other harbingers.
But the temptation... it was difficult.
I'd have to pester someone to open this thing up or at least tell me what was inside when we returned. I'm sure I could get Capitano to try and convince them.
Before I could do that though I'd need to get out of this cave. I had already tried to stand but wasn't able to get up for long before my body gave in. My legs were wobbly and pain ripped through my body every time. For now I had given up on standing and thought best to conserve my energy. The problem was I could only do this so long before the hunger started to kick in.
I stuck the box in one of my cloak pockets for safe keeping.
I had to either find my own way out or hope Capitano would find me. I just wasn't sure what he was up too right now. Though I guess now that the box and I were gone he could use a lot more power.
When I had a chance to get up I looked to see how far I had fallen. Surprisingly, I could no longer see the original ledge I had gone off. When I looked down there were even move caves. It seemed I had fallen into a system of them.
The caves were beginning to get cold. My body shivered and I wrapped myself up in some more of the cloak. I used that heat trick Capitano had taught me but it wasn't as warm as I would have liked. My elemental powers were not as strong as usual. That must have been because of the injuries I had sustained.
This was going to be a problem too.
If my elemental powers depleted the more injured I got I'd not only starve but freeze to death too.
I needed to figure out a plan now.
I couldn't rely on Capitano finding me.
Looking back at the cave entrance behind me I realized how dangerous it might be. If all these caves were connected there was a chance I'd get lost. That would only ruin my chances even more.
But I still needed food.
My mind went back and forth before I came to a decision.
I'd just go take a bit of a look. Just to figure out if there was anything more behind me or if it was a dead end.
Pushing myself off the wall I tried to stand up. My legs wobbled but kept me upright. I used the wall as support as I slowly shuffled toward the back of the cave.
It was fairly dark so I lit a small palm torch in my hand to illuminate the way. There seemed to be more at the back of the cave. I pushed my hand forward to try and see. The path before me lit up and I found myself at an impasse.
There was more to explore in the cave however there were two paths in which I could take.
Off a whim, I decided to venture down the left tunnel.
My legs moved at a slow pace and my grip on the wall remained steady.
I tried to focus all my energy on just walking.
The cave was what you'd expect it to be, dark and cool. A small breeze hit me, it almost felt claustrophobic in the narrow path.
Beyond that narrowness a stream of natural light poured in. The fire in my hand dissipated and I used the light to find myself in a new area.
My heart dropped as I looked out at the sight before me. As suspected, there was a system of passages in the cave. The light coming in was from some small cracks at the very top of the cave.
