Vengeful Stone Collector

Chapter 2

Spontaneous Actions that save your Life

I can't breathe. I can't move. Something is holding me. What do I do? I flail around and pull away the thing covering my eyes. Huh? I'm covered in vines! I've freed my right arm which is holding the vines that were over my eyes. Hey wait... If I'm strong enough to pull away the vines by my eyes, I'm strong enough to free myself!

Sure enough with a few tugs I slip free.... Then start falling again. Not as far though. I seemed to have landed on some moss. Let's check for broken bones. None, lucky. After lying on the floor for a bit I stand up and look around.

I seem to be in some sort of cave. It smells strongly like metal. Small animals have claimed this place as their home. I don't recognize any of the animals. I know for a fact this isn't earth now. Is this the mining dimension? If so then there are worse places I could have fallen! All I need to do is go out and find a camp. Then they'll take me back.

Take me back... I don't really want to go back. Maybe I could ask to join them? Am I strong enough? I don't think I could lift a pickaxe let alone use it. I make a swinging gesture then almost fall over. Maybe I could do other things.

Wait... What's that sound? It's like the animals from before but... Heavier. I freeze. A large beast looks me straight in the eye. Its mud stained fur is dark as coal and its eyes bright yellow. Its claws are so large that whenever it steps it makes a scraping noise. Its mouse like ears prick up before pressing shut. It growls at me.

It's large mouth opens to reveal rows upon rows of pearly, white teeth. It takes one step forward. Then another. Then another. I step back holding my breath. It looks like it's about to pounce when a deafening screech erupts from outside the cave. The ground beneath me shakes then gives in. No I can't fall again! Once again I descend into the darkness.

***

I open my eyes. Nothing changes. After a while the darkness settles and I can make out the walls. A little bit longer and I can see what's around me. Wow it's huge! Despite being so dark plants are growing here. There's a small stream flowing between them.

Ouch! I try to move but my leg hurts. I hope it's not broken. I manage to sit up and lean against a rock. Something moves. A small animal jumps out of a bush. It observes me for a second before breaking out its claws and running at me.

"Wait, no!"

Before it can even get close a larger animal swoops down and swallows it whole. It glances at me and comes closer to inspect. As it sniffs at me it opens its mouth. Wait I'm not tasty I swear! Then a larger animal comes and eats it in one bite.

This repeats until a beast so big its head scrapes the ceiling appears. Before it can spot me I use the rock I'm leaning on to stand and amble away.

Safe! I pant. Geez this pain! Not just that but the strength sucking cold. My breathing is heavy. I stop. What's that smell? It smells... Familiar. The fire stone! I drag myself over to the source of the smell and scrape at the walls till something falls. I grasp the stone with a shaking hand.

How do I use this again? Oh yeah my aura! I push the thin energy on my skin into the stone. It feels... Warm. With a faint glow. This is nice. Just as I get comfortable my aura runs out. No! How could my aura be so weak? I need to train, but if I do it here some beast will stroll by and bite my head off.

My eyes dart all over the cave. Nothing. Wait... Is that a ledge? I could climb it but how would I do that with a broken leg? It's worth a try. I pull myself over to the wall and start my ascent. My leg is throbbing but I'll ignore it for my survival.