The Adventures of Tatyana and Rose

The Golden Cave

Tatyana pulled her phone out of her pocket as she stepped over the rocks and branches of the forest. She squinted in the sunlight, at her screen and gasped quietly.

"Rose! It's 12:00," Tatyana said nervously. They walked over some more branches. What lay in front of them was a path that forked into three. Tatyana, Rose, and Hadriel sat on the rock with a moment of silence.

"Do you know where to go next Hadriel?" Tatyana asked Hadriel and placed her hand on his head.

"I would take the middle path, it's the fastest way. On the other side of a small mountain is a cave where the ogres should be."    

Tatyana sighed. "Okay, Rose, we have to climb a mountain and then we'll find the ogres," she said sadly.

"Alright. Well let's get going," Rose said getting up. They started down the middle path at a fast pace. Step after step, they glided through the forest on the golden path. The trees glistening as beautiful as ever as the girls and chimera advanced. Finally, after miles, the exhausted group reached the small mountain, shining golden just like the path. It wasn't too steep but, it didn't look easy to climb. 

"There it is," Tatyana said staring at the obstacle in front of her.

"Wow," Rose said astonished.

"Okay, it's... ," Tatyana glanced at her phone, "12:46, we're making pretty good time, we still have to move though."

Hadriel nudged at Tatyana and Rose then started to climb up after them, effortlessly. The girls were halfway up the mountain, when Rose's foot slipped. She caught herself partly and Hadriel helped her get her footing back.

"Ahhh!" Rose yelled. She clutched at whatever she could as Hadriel helped her. Rose, still breathing hard, clutched the rocks so tight her knuckles turned white, but she kept climbing.

"You okay Rose?" Tatyana yelled. She was a few feet below Rose next to Hadriel who was now watching both girls intently, making sure they were safe getting up the glossy, gold mountain.

"Yea... yeah," Rose answered nervously. The girls were wearing out, but still moving at a fast pace as time ticked away. Lilith was on her way.

Finally, the end of the climb was in reach and the girls stood at the top of the mountain, feeling accomplished. Instead of a point, the top of the mountain was flat and rocky.  

"Yes, we did it," Tatyana said, exhausted. She was breathing hard and fanning herself with the little energy she had left. "Oh my gosh."

Rose and Hadriel followed Tatyana as she inched closer to the other side of the mountain, trying to peer down. It was much rockier than the other side and was a darker color. Flowing right at the bottom was a waterway with clear, blue water. As the group started to descend, a faint golden glow was illuminating from below them.

"Guys, I see something!" Tatyana said excitedly.

Rose smiled but never took her focus off her climbing, not wanting to make another mistake.

When Tatyana, Rose, and Hadriel reached the bottom, they stood in the two feet deep water and were staring into a beautiful golden cave. The water was cool and clear. 

"Okay, let's go find some ogres," Rose said and followed Tatyana and Hadriel into the cave.