The Dragon's Gift [Rewriting]

Chapter 12

In which it is dark

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At least I won't have to see Luria's terrified face when we die.

I tried looking to the positive side, but there really wasn't one. I was terrified. Luria was terrified. That... thing just put out our fire, and now we had no way of defending ourselves.

The blind creature could never see us. It could only smell us, and by now, my body was coated in sweat and grime, the creature could probably smell me from a kingdom away.

All I could think of was Naji. He was always there, despite the many times he held me above a cliff, threatening to throw me off.

But other than that, Naji was my best friend. I didn't want to leave him.

The creature didn't strike. It didn't move. I still felt Luria on me, and I still heard her heavy, terrified breathing, but I couldn't see her. I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. The beast roared at us, and Luria screamed. Slimy saliva flew all over us, some of it getting on my face.

Soon, Luria's screams turned into crying, and I realized the creature wasn't even moving anymore. The only sound I heard was Luria's tears, and they were beginning to grow a bit annoying.

Could the creature have left? It was a risky move, but I wasn't going to die holding a child cradled up against the wall in fear.

I reached out my hand, praying to the Gods that I didn't get my hand bitten off.

Fortunately, the only thing I felt was the air. The creature had left. It had spared us.

"It's gone." I said quietly to Luria.

"a-a-are yo-you s-sure?" She stuttered, her voice scared and shaky.

"Yeah." I said, hoping the creature really was gone.

Slowly and carefully, I pried Luria off of me, then stood up.

"Let's go find another torch." I said, beginning to question the creatures completely.

They didn't kill us, and they obviously had the chance. Could this have been by Calysta, or was there a chance that the creatures weren't as dangerous as they seemed?

A smile tugged at my lips as a bit of hope filled my heart.

I felt a small hand grasp onto mine, and I knew it was Luria's. I put my hand on the wall and began to walk, hoping to find light.

In all this darkness finding a single torch would be great. I never liked the dark.

The only sound that kept me from a deafening silence was Luria's shaking breathing. Sometimes when I was in the forest, things would get so quiet. I hated it. It nothing short of awful.

And then finally, I could see. I saw light in the distance. There was light... Actual light!! I ran to it, Luria not far behind me, then dropped to me knees, joy overwhelming me. I took a minute to just stare at my surroundings. Take in everything, then I grabbed the torch. There was more light, and I would find it. I would get out of this wretched maze, and I would have a long talk with my sister.

"Ayla..." Luria said, "Why didn't it kill us?"

The creature. It had spared the both of us. I don't know why, but it did, and now we were saved. But only for the moment.

"I don't know." I told her. "I don't know."

After that, we didn't bump into any more of the beasts. It was quiet. Quiet and dull, but I liked it like that. It was safe, at least. But I was hungry, and I was thirsty. Luria surely was too, and so is everyone else. Everyone else who is still alive, that is.