Unlikely Alliances (The Pack)

Twenty One - The Chapter Where Seto's Plan Works Without Him Doing Anything.

'Remember guys, watch out for tripwires.' Mitch warned for the fifth time that hour. Jerome just rolled his eyes, falling back to Preston's side.

'He's such a dad,honestly.'

'I know, right?'

'Jerome, don't think I can't hear you. The cave echoes a bunch.'

'Yet you don't deny that I'm right.'

Lachlan smirked at his three friends from the rear, staying close to Vik's side incase anything else happened though. Totally not debating putting his arm around his shoulders or anything. Nope.

'Yo Vik, you alright?'

'Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just glad that I was standing where I was, though, otherwise I would definitely be dead. Sorry if I worried you guys.' The Boralinian muttered, rubbing his arms awkwardly as Mitch led them deeper into the caves. 'I wasn't actually going to say anything-'

'You would have died!'

Biting back a classical Vik Barn response of "yeah, and?" or "your point being?", the keeper nudged his friend and stared forwards. 'Yeah. Bit of a jag move on my half. Sorry.'

'Oi, the only one who's allowed to have self-worth issues here is me.'

'WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?' Preston screamed from the front of the pack, turning so quickly he could have probably snapped his neck while Lachlan winced.

'Right, forgot about that.'

'You come into the caves, disrespect my job- yet again- of being the Pack's lowest man of self esteem? The only job you're allowed to disrespect is Robert's.'

The prince pulled a face. 'I don't have a job, though.'

'Precisely.' He joined the three near the back, grinning and nudging his Candelian friend who seemed confused. 'You alright there, Rob? You've been out of it since the spawner.'

'Oh, yes, I'm fine. My eyes just hurt.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yeah.'

'Tripwire!' Mitch called. Everyone made sure to step over the practically invisible string, noting by the symbol to the side that it was an acid pit. Definitely not the best way to go out.

The pairs ended up talking amongst themselves, the occasional mob being slain and warning called out, but nothing too interesting. It was almost too dull; and the figure hadn't made another appearance yet, either.

'Wire!'

Maybe Preston was right. It's just the caves, and I'm pretty tired anyway.

'Vik? Vik. Vik!'

'Wha-'

He took another step forwards in a daze, and landed directly ontop of the tripwire. The Boralin froze, eyes widening behind his visor as Lachlan inhaled sharply.

'No. No, no no no.'

'...Guys?'

The ground beneath him began to shake, cracks opening up in the ground around him. It formed a makeshift circle, his eyes flickering to the corresponding symbol - Lava pit. He was going to die.

'I'm gonna die, aren't I?' Rocks fell, the cracks widening to around two feet wide as a tear fell from his eye. 'I-I-'

The separated chunk of rock shuddered, and was a second away from collapsing as he looked down.

'Sorry guys!'

One of the boys shot forwards, onto the circle, and was able to shove Vik off of the platform onto the other side of the caves. He shot a cheeky grin their way, and gave a mock salute.