Secrets of the Trees

28 - Missing Teeth

ITS BEEN LITERALLY MONTHS! D: Sorry. Man, life has been crazy. I doubt anyone really cares about the story anymore. But ehhh here's more of the puzzle!

--------------------

By the time we made it the cave part of the mountains, we had been traveling for two days on foot. I followed behind my escorts into the entrance. A daunting skull's mouth was the opening shape; crudely shaped to rather frightening. Only a few steps in, I could hear the faint sound of electricity. Hairs on my arms stood up. The others didn't seem to notice it, but I shouted a warning:

"Stop! Wait! Listen... Do you hear that?"

A chorus of 'hear what?' rang through the caves until it was Ren who had the first face of recognition.

"She is right. I believe there is a magical ward to keep out intruders. After all, this is their safehaven for refugees. No one step any closer inside. Does anyone see a clue?"

We all backed up and stood out far enough to see the face of the skull again. It sort of reminded me of captain Hook's cave in Neverland. Except this one is missing teeth. Teeth! That's it!

"Look! See how the cave looks like a skull?"

They nodded. I continued. 

"The problem is, that this skull is missing its teeth. There are four holes in the ground and ceiling a little further in. What do you think is supposed to go in there?"

Nobody seemed to know. At this time we set our packs down and took a lunch break. Arlyss complained about how heavy the brosba was that we took with us. He chucked the brittle chunks of stone into the cave. Instantly a reaction occured.

The space in between the holes glowed a dim green, and a clammy wind blew from the tunnels, whipping my hair around. A few seconds passed and it subsided, including the glow. Simultaneously the five of us reached into our packs and gingerly took out the cloth wrapped brosba stones, trying to not to shatter it as Arlyss had, nor let in come in contact with our skin.

There were two brosba chunks in each pack and the remaining pieces were placed into the couple inch-wide holes. Gwyn boosted me up so I could fit the last four pieces in the ceiling. Dropping down into his arms, we watched the brosba shoot up and out, thicker and higher all the while glowing their irridescant purple-green. 

Electricity in the air skyrocketed until I could feel the energy shattering and we were left with the cold of the deep caves. Gwyn decided that he would go first in case the wards weren't down. He climbed through the enormous brosba, and laughed with victory. "Come on. It is safe!"

Following behind, we squeezed through the crystal and took a moment to adjust to the dim light coming from everglowing lanterns on the wall. The wind howled violently behind us, causing shivers down my spine. I wasn't very cold, but it didn't help how creepy this place was. In front of us were twelve glowing green passageways over an expanse multiple times larger than the entrance.

Uneasiness swept over me. I could tell by the look on their faces that they must be thinking the same thing.

"Should we split up and search for Deliah?" Gwyn suggested.

Ren spoke against him. "No. These morph ghouls may have set traps for any unwanted Kloftcesni. It is probably best that we stay together. Strength in numbers." His brows were set as was his mind. Nobody dared argue with him. 

"So, Ren. Which way do you suggest?" 

He covered a hand over his eyes and did some version of Palladian eenie-meenie-miny-mo. His finger landed on the far left tunnel. I shrugged at him. Hopelessness filled his eyes and he fell to his knees burrying his hands in his face. 

Arlyss stiffened. "Well, there's no sense in picking at random. Let's give the fella a break and we can discuss this." 

I followed everyone to the left cave wall where we sat beneath the glowing green lanterns. Nobody said a word as we were all deep in thought. "I wish we could just use one tracking spell. These stupid mountains are getting to me. I'm suddenly getting a headache." Arms crossed I blew hair from my face.

Avalbane and Arlyss both glanced at eachother quickly. Apparently they had a similar thought. Avalbane spoke up. "You as well?" 

Nodding I tried to read him. "What about it?"

His fingers reached toward the light. Inches away he shrunk away gasping, beads of sweat rolling down his brow. "Just... As... I... Thought." he gasped.

Quickly I stood up and rushed to steady him. The others inspected the lights carefully. Brosba. 

Ren had become instantaneously hopefull now that we understood the source of our magic being depleted. I had an idea.

"You four, go back to the cave entrance." A few looks were shot around but there were no protests. 

The lanterns dimmed substantially. "Hey! Come back now! When you left the room, the light dimmed.  Not only is it blocking our power, its using our energy to fuel the light!"

Astonished they all looked. Gwyn asked, "Does anyone have Muillag?" 

Ren dug in his linen pack, and pulled out a ring that begun to melt in his hand as soon as it came in contact with his skin. Where had I seen metal melt at room temperature?

Ren explained, "I always keep this with me in case I come in contact with Brosba. Well, I forgot I had it until now. Lily you look confused. Muillag is a highly reactive metal when it contacts with Brosba. If the Muillag is slightly cooler than room temperature, it will freeze the crystals in the Brosba and the particles vibrate at such a rate that it shatters and permanently loses its power." 

Now I was in awe. "Well, let's do it!" 

He dropped it on the cold stone floor and it hardened once more. Gingerly picking it up with the edge of his tunic, he tossed it into the rim of the lantern. Like a baseball to a window it shattered with an intense shudder. The room's light was half gone now. Pieces of crystal lay around the frozen Muillag which Ren picked up once more and transfered to the remaining lantern on the other side of the tunnels. 

Pitch blackness. My headache begun to fade and my muscles and wings felt a tingling burn like when you come in a warm house after being outside in the snow. A snap of someones fingers ignited a teeny flame. Gywn's hand had a steady glow of fire that lit up his face and enough of the room for us to come close and join hands to begin the tracking spell. Deliah, here we come.