Varian of the Northern Isles

The Cave

Hypatia's POV (back to about a few hours ago)
It was strange. I knew I was supposed to be cold, but I didn't feel it. I stood at the entrance of a cave, a strange melody pulling me forward. The song lead me into the darkness and out of the snow. I kept walking, knowing, feeling that what ever was making that melody would lead me to happiness. I turned a corner and I saw it. I was home! Helen was there at the gates, arms open wide to greet me!
"Helen!" I cried, "I'm back! I even found Terrin and I met this other guy named Varian! He's an alchemist who can create explosions with just a handful of powders!"
Helen smiled at me and opened her arms, "It's good to have you back, sister! I missed you so much."
I flew into her arms and hugged her tightly against my chest.
"You've grown so tall and your furry too!" I grinned.
Wait. I blinked. Once. Twice. Yes, my sense of touch was not wrong, Helen was... covered in fur?! I pushed myself out of Helen's embrace and the world wavered. It rippled like some sick hologram and suddenly it shattered. In front of me was a monster, it's maw open, the beautiful melody drifting from it. Everything came rushing up at me, the smell of rotting flesh, the bones lying on the floor, the claw marks, the blood stains, and the horrid look of the creature in front of me. It stood hunched over on its hind legs, extra arms swinging at its sides. It's skin seemed to bubble and writhe, as if many living things crawled beneath its surface. It's eyes were hollow, no emotion but hunger lingering in its mind. The monster approached me, jaws dripping with something putrid.
I did not need much encouragement to turn around and run. I dashed madly through the twisting stone hallways and only stopped to pick if my knife. I was out, my breath clouding in the cold. The creature didn't look any better in moon light, but something shiny flashed underneath it's fur coat.
It lunged, long claws slashing the place I was moments before. Slash, swing, jump.
Run. I tried to doge left but a claw from the creature slashed through the air and hit me across my stomach. I screamed at the pain but held on to the arm. I drove my blade into the skin. The monster roared, throwing me into the air. I fell backwards, the knife flying from my hand, and I landed hard against a tree. I tried to stand but unconsciousness pulled me under and I did nothing as the beast approached me.

For the next few minutes, hours, days? I didn't know which, I faded in and out of consciousness. The creature was dragging me through the snow, I thought, I was going to be eaten. Eventually, I no longer felt cold and slowly opened my eyes. I nearly screamed again, but my throat was so dry no sound would have come out. The beast's head was mere inches from my neck. It took a sniff, then another, and to my surprise, turned away. It sat like a dog in the corner of the cave, watching me. It cocked its head to the side, it's tongue hanging out of its mouth. The creature was waiting, I realized, but for what?The monster then did the strangest thing: it got up, left the room and came back with the severed arm of some person. It set it down on the floor and gently, or as gently as an eight foot tall abomination could, it rolled the arm towards me.
I gagged at the stench of it and kicked it away. Then, to my shock, the monster whined.... shakily, I extended my hand. It edged forward and lightly tapped my hand. I cautiously approached it and let my eyes wander to the small glinting thing under its fur. It was a collar, a dog collar, and it was one I recognized far too well.
"No," I whispered to no one but the cold air. The monster, this hideous abomination was Cala, Helen's dog from our palace.
Our palace! The village we had passed by on our way into the mountains... It was torn to shreds. If that was a single creature, then what did the my home look like?!

A/N: I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. Don't forget to vote and comment!