Into the Tunnels ***ON HOLD***

Into the Tunnels ~Chapter 3~

Another chapter! I might not upload something for a while since I have three stories going on right now, along with school, but I might be able to upload some next week during fall break! Woo-hoo!

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Julie walked into the weapons shop with her small sack of money. She looked around at different daggers, swords, axes, and other weapons she couldn't name, trying them out and checking prices. She finally found one that was the right price and fit: a steel dagger infused with powdered dragon scales. She bought the dagger and walked out of the store. Elaine looked at the dagger in Julie's hand and her mouth dropped.

"W-what are you doing with that dagger?" she asked, backing up a little bit. Jake and Raj backed up, too.

Julie raised an eyebrow. "I just got this for any... unfortunate encounters in the tunnels." She felt the dagger tip and winced.

Everyone climbed inside the wagon as Julie slipped the dagger into her left pocket and went to check on her cotos. They were sitting in such a position so that they looked like sphinxes. Julie scratched them behind the ears and praised, "You're such good cotos, yes you are!" Afterwards, she boarded the wagon and covered the hole again. She grabbed some moomoo jerky and whistled as the wagon began to move again. Everyone inside the wagon stretched their legs and sat as the wagon bumped out of the small town and back into the wilderness. Julie looked on the Sachina map, which, after a careful examination, Julie concluded they had just left the small town of Sami. They seemed to be headed for... Tiger Bear Forest. Julie tapped Elaine on the shoulder.

"What is it?" Elaine leaned over to see the map.

"Tiger Bear Forest," Julie fearfully replied. She whistled with her fingers again, and the wagon stopped. Julie took the map with her as she went to redirect her cotos. There was a possible route around the forest, through Yuyu Plains again. Ashes and Skar seemed to understand, and again, Julie climbed into the wagon, covered the back, and whistled for about two seconds. The wagon immediately began racing ahead, and around in a circle, continuing straight. Julie looked at her map and smiled. They were headed for Yuyu Plains. She yawned, stretched out, and laid down. I can't wait to get to Yuyu Plains, was Julie's last thought before she fell asleep.

Julie dreamed as she napped. She was running behind a person, most likely a girl, Julie reasoned, on account of her long, flowing hair, who was holding a torch slightly above her head. They were running in a cave that was dotted with shadows, even with lit torches on the walls every thirty paces, and Julie could hear heavy footsteps behind them.

"Come on!" shouted the girl as she tried tugging on Julie's arm. "If we don't move fast, that shadowed giant burrow hog will catch us!"

Julie was startled when she turned and saw the dark, looming figure of the giant burrow hog. It filled up most of the cave and had black fur and large, bared teeth glinting in the dim light.

Julie turned to look back at the mysterious girl who was still running quickly. Julie didn't know why, but she asked the girl, "Why are these wretched tunnels trying to dispose of us?"

The girl replied with terror, "It's not the tunnels, Moni, it's the shadow king! I know we've run into shadow creatures before, but this is the worst! It's as if he is working with the tunnels to keep us away from his chamber!"

The girl had called Julie "Moni." Thinking back, she remembered that she had asked the girl why the tunnels were trying to dispose of them! Julie was slammed with realization. The tunnels of Rabu!

The strange girl her torch higher, and as she did, began running backwards and Julie could see her face. When Julie saw the girl's face, she nearly skidded to a halt. The two girls looked exactly alike. The hog squealed, and the torch went out.