Noelle was furiously digging, this time she wasn't using her scale claws, but her own. Leroy was using her gloves, as ill-fitting as they were, they were better than his own. With the quality upgrade, they were making significantly more progress.
"Highness, ten minutes." Leroy reminded as they took turns clawing away at the earth and stone. This was an impossible task… digging through 60 ft in 30 minutes. There was no way they could get through another 30-40 feet. They had been going non-stop for twenty minutes. Leroy cursed as he hit a stone and a third claw broke from the impact. With two missing claws on the left hand, and one on the right his speed decreased once again.
Noelle kept digging, "Rowena!" They didn't have time. Even if Leroy hadn't just broken his third claw. Leroy didn't waste time as he shimmied back so the much smaller Rowena took his place. Since they were both using their own claws they were digging faster but… 9 minutes…
"Elly focus!" Rowena growled as her eyes changed from the effort. She had both hands cupped just shoveling dirt out. If Young Song felt the need to check on them… shit must really be about to hit the fan.
Noelle let her eyes shift as well, 30 feet in 22 minutes… even if they couldn't make it all the way out, they should be close enough for Young Song to… damnit she didn't have time to think of what could possibly be enough of a threat for Young Song to move.
Rowena leapt back not even half a heartbeat after Noelle as the tunnel they were digging started to rumble and shake. Disastrously, the tunnel was so narrow she was only halfway out as the tunnel started collapsing around her.
Leroy and Tania leapt in at the same time but were jerked back, "Row!!!" Tania screamed as the entire tunnel collapsed. Tania sank to the ground when her personal knight released her and Leroy. "Row…" Tania leapt forward ruthlessly digging as tears poured down her face blurring her vision. "Fucking help me!" She screamed when no one else was moving.
Noelle collapsed just outside the tunnel as the other two were jerked to safety… "Row…" Oh god… as soon as she heard Tania's scream she also leapt forward and started digging. "WE'RE COMING! HOLD ON!" Row's armor might not be perfect, but Young Song had promised they'd survive! Beast Gods above as long as she was alive they could save her! Oh god, oh god, oh god. She would be fine. Row had to be fine!
Rahm's nose twitched as he picked up the disheveled princesses, "She's not there anymore, her scent vanished before the collapse would have crushed her into meat paste." Rahm informed using his tail to wave away the still settling dust.
Tania slowly turned her neck, then shifted so she wasn't dangling from her waist. She desperately started to climb up his chest, "What, what does that mean? Did… did Young Song?" Tania didn't care how dirty she was as she clutched the front of his shirt. God please, she would offer up everything she owned if it was true.
Noelle also shifted as she was let down, she immediately grabbed Lord Rahm's hand in both of her bloody, dirty hands, "Lord Rahm…?" Please, please please please please, she couldn't even see his expression because of all her tears. Still she didn't let go as she bowed to rest her forehead on his hand as she sank to her knees. "Please, Lord Rahm… is she okay?" Oh god, she wouldn't be able to liv with herself…
"It's like you have no faith in Papa bird… his feelings would be so hurt to hear you princess." Rahm teased. Most of the humans were staring at the filled tunnel with despair.
Tania burst into uncontrollable sobs as she collapsed onto her knees and wiped her face, "ugh, sob, hic, Thank the gods, hic, thank the beast gods above. It's okay, she's okay."
"Echo Rowena, guys? Elly? Can you hear me?" Rowena asked hesitantly as she clutched her ear. Her heart was still racing as she lay looking up at the sky. Beast Gods above… for just a moment she'd thought that flash of silver light was… her dying and seeing the other side.
Noelle let out a sob as she clutched her ear, "Row! Row where are you?" When she didn't get an answer she almost panicked, "Echo, Row, can you hear me?" Noelle demanded as fresh tears continued pouring down her face as she just stared up at Rahm… she didn't even know when she'd let go of his hand.
"I hear ya! Elly… I'm fine, I'm here with Young Song and Lord Caius…" Rowena choked out as she half laughed… Beast Gods above, what a scare… no more cave explorations for a while.
Noelle just nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, thank you thank you." Row was okay, everything was okay. The relief was overwhelming, Noelle's whole body felt like a limp noodle as she leaned against Tania.
Suddenly the whole chamber started to shake… but not as if it were about to crumble on top of them… more like they were in an egg and someone was knocking against it. Tania wanted to scream but quickly wiped her face.
Noelle glared at the walls, "How did the tunnel collapse?" it couldn't have been natural… not with mages adding reinforcements and supports every couple of feet… no matter how rushed she'd been she would never risk their lives.
Rahm clicked his tongue as he narrowed his eyes, "Something big… I would hurry if I were you." He added as his tail bristled, very big… but it wasn't attacking… just scaring them… dirt and small rocks were being knocked loose.
Zane had been standing at the entrance of the tunnel they'd used to find the chamber, but now he could hear goblins chattering aggressively, "I NEED MEN ON THE WALL!" Zane hollered as he darted back into the tunnel. Rowena might be safe, but the rest of them were still struggling down here.
Rommel ordered the mages retreat behind the first stone wall, then add three bars from wall to wall, and ceiling to floor. This would leave enough room for arrows to be fired, and spears to stab at oncoming goblins. They would defend each of the four walls as long as possible with three guards and two mages.
Just as Zane was charging down the tunnel with two more guards the tunnel started to shake, "Look out!!!" Zane threw his arms up to stop the guards behind him as something crashed through the walls in front of him…
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" One of the guards screamed stumbling back… it was bigger than the tunnel it had just crashed through. No, crash wasn't the right word… swam through… there had been barely more than a rumble as it passed through.
Zane paled, even with light coming in from the chamber he couldn't see anything, Waters of the Sea… just how big was this thing? "ROMMEL!!!" Zane roared after several seconds and the thing was still passing through.
"Highness!" The first guard screamed dragging him back as the thing finished passing through causing part of the tunnel collapsed.
"Echo Zane, speak to me Rommel!" Zane demanded as he pulled away. He pulled his shield off his back to shovel through the loose dirt. Suddenly there was… light… a moment later Rommel fell through the other side. He must have also been using his shield to dig through the rubble.
Rommel was only surprised for a moment before he shoved his way through the loose soil and glanced up. It was a straight, compacted tunnel all the way to the surface… he glanced at Zane. He wasn't sure if he should laugh… or start barking orders for them to haul ass outta here.
Zane's grip tightened around his shield… "Get ready to move out!" He roared darting back into the chamber. It would be a steep climb, but it was their best chance. He'd worry about what made the tunnel after they were out of here.
Rommel glanced back, "We'll hold them off as long as we can, get them out of here!" he called then darted back. It may have been coincidence, but the creature had left their first two stone walls intact. The new exit had destroyed the third stone wall and all the traps, but it was only a few steps from the chamber entrance.
"There's an exit, lets go!" Zane didn't want to waste a single moment. The women were wrapped up in blankets so only their faces were exposed, then strapped onto the backs of the guards. Zane sat leaned over as a woman was strapped to his own back. As the rope was passed under his arms he started to tie it around his waist. Another set of ropes went over his arms and he passed those under his arms to be wrapped around the woman's back, then it came around to his front where he tied another knot. The last set of ropes were over his arms and tied to the two around his waist.
Noelle and Tania both had children strapped to themselves as they quickly readied their escape… there just weren't enough of them to get everyone out in a single trip. 15 would remain behind with the women to defend the stone gates while twenty carried the smallest captives out.
Lamont stood by Leroy and his own guard as most of the guards stood around the remaining captives. Lamont couldn't help glancing at Lord Rahm as his fur bristled every time the chamber shook… whatever was moving through the ground wanted its presence known.
Noelle wanted to go first, if anyone was going to get attacked it should be her. She had insisted they dig out. There wasn't time to argue so Zane agreed to follow right behind while Tania would be the last. The guards would travel in the middle, most of the ones left behind were mages.
Noelle stood up with the woman on her back. She wasn't heavy, but the size difference was awkward. Noelle hunched forward with a deep breath as the others all stood with their precious cargo.
Lamont rushed in, confirmed nothing could be seen, then rushed back, "All clear!" He waited on the far side of the tunnel watching between the stone gate. Rommel was giving quick glances back but the rest were watching down the tunnel. No doubt the goblins would be here any moment from the racket he was hearing.
Noelle used her claws to find purchase as she half ran half crawled up. The incline must have been 60-70 degrees, most wouldn't be able to make it even without carrying someone. Noelle didn't look back as she raced up, while it probably only took her about three minutes it felt like three lifetimes before she crested the pit.
The moment Noelle pulled herself free she used her claws to cut the woman free and darted to the closest tree. She half pulling, half jerking out her spider silk rope, looped it twice, tied the knot thrice and raced back with a silent apology to the dazed woman. Noelle tossed the rope down, "It's anchored!"
Noelle wanted to start pulling them up, but there were too many and it might cause an accident. Noelle tried to slow her anxious heart as she could already hear the first volley of ice spells being triggered. Going by the screams of dying goblins they had been very effective. As soon as Zane was within reach, she laid down to offer her hand, then jerked him up the last two feet. She stayed laying as she helped pull them up one by one. The moment Tania was up, Noelle started sliding back down.
Zane wanted to curse, fuck they couldn't leave the women up here alone… "Half of you stay with me, the faster climbers go back down! I want more ropes! Let's see if we can take turns pulling them up!" Zane went down on his hands and knees as he struggled to untie the woman from his back. These damn knots! Zane lay on his side, "Ugh, sorry." He mumbled as he pulled a dagger from under his arm guard cutting the ropes free.
Zane struggled to stand up, then started cutting the guards free of their burdens. The ground was still rumbling every so often. Alaina, beast gods above, I do not want to know what that thing is. Zane felt like it took ages for the guards to either start going back down, or figure out if they were staying.
Tania didn't bother to wait as she tied off a rope on another tree, then leapt feet first back down the hole. The tiger guards were better climbers so most were only a few steps behind her as she slid down. She crouched as she landed hard and looked toward the stone gate. Goblin blood was already soaking the ground as most of the remaining men were holding them back.
Tania cursed under her breath as she leapt into the open chamber where guards already had women wrapped up like backpacks. "Bloody brilliant, I could kiss you!" Tania grinned as she plopped down with her back to the guard who was already sitting one of the women up.
Her personal knight gave a cheeky grin despite the chaos, "Don't let you cousin hear you princess, I like both my heads where they're at." He quickly settled the moaning woman on her highness's back, then helped tie her tight. By the time she was ready to go, six more guards had already come down.
Tania almost fell forward from the awkward weight of the woman who had no legs, but both arms. Soon Noelle was jogging back into the tunnel to climb again. Tania's heart sank, only 20 of the 53 captives were topside, of the 22 that were pregnant the first six were now being taken top side.
Lamont gripped his daggers tight, as hard as it was, they had to leave the girls for last. The climb was no easy feat. Better to move the heavier women first before their stamina was drained. As the eight guards were strapped up Lamont looked around, then took a steading breath, "Four of you take the girls up. Two each if you can." The guards, including Leroy hesitated so Lamont glared, "This Prince gave you an order! Move!"
Leroy gave a quick salute, "Strap me up, I'll take a woman and child. You heard the prince!" He roared picking out the least obviously pregnant woman and one of the larger girls. Within two minutes he was strapped up. A heartbeat later three men followed him out with the last six of the girls.
Lamont watched them leave, that meant there were 15 women left, with 12 of them to stand guard including him. Obviously getting the last of the group top side would be the worst since the goblins would be chasing them every inch of the way.