Cracke-ThUP!-TuMP! Pap. "Wha-" A step crumbled beneath the masked man's feet, showing the spiral below. The short knight swiftly leans forward, grabbing his hand tightly.
"Well. Guess I almost lost my footing." Said the Tall masked one cheerfully as he regained his balance from his stumble. They soon made their way to the bottom of the spiral, a thin bright mist covered the floor.
Hmm. Aup.Sploos-woosh. They stand in awe, before them, one could taste the tropics in the thick air looming over the bright cyan waters flowing into a translucent pond. The floral scent only intensified as they walked closer to its evergreen, lush mossy edges, shrubs, and bright flowers rooted in the grey sand.
Uerglp Uerglp. It was teeming with insects, fish, and slimy swimming creatures, and glowed a bright hue that lit the grotto from its surface, lightly seasoned dugouts in its sand, to its stalactites, jutting down from its ceiling.
"How beautiful…." Said the Tall one slowly as his voice expanded, breathing out from his lungs. They began walking slowly about the pond, the little one especially ensuring to spare the little critters with each step.
"We'll have to head up after we get to the other end of this grotto."
Bulbublbubbe. A new patch of bubbles springs up on the surface of the water near its edge, popping and squelching.
Sniff sniff. The short one's nose twitches as the scent of metallic rust fills the air.
Uerglp Uerglp. Again, that same squeaking.
Ploop, Hssssss. A Creature with bright, vibrant Teal and pink scales emerges, on its back a patch of silver fur. It's large and low to the grotto's floor, it faces them, its tail end to the water, its jaws open.
"Ahh, a male gorgator…" said the masked man, looking down at the creature.
Uerglp Uerglp. He glances up at the chirping. The creature charges.
"Ah, I see this place is…" said the cloaked man.
The short knight rushed before him.
sss-Clingggg. Uggh Uff. The creature clamps down on the little one's lead mitten with a vice grip, unable to bite through.
Tit- crash, ting-crash. The tall one chucks the spike vials at the creature.
Hsssss. Another emerges, this one lacking the patch of silver fur. The Little knight slowly reaches for the bone at their waist.
"There is no need for that." Said the masked man in a smooth, low tone.
Ting-crash clink-crash. Two vials shatter on their hard, scaly skin, overwhelming their senses as the little knight jumps back. They sprint to the opening on the other side of the grotto.
"Remove your mitten, let me see." said the tall one with a firmness in his voice. The short one removes their mitten, revealing a warm, slightly supple hand with dark chestnut skin on the back of their palm.
"Hmmm…" The man removes his gloves, his skin a warm beige, he grabs the little knight's hands, parting the fingers gently, looking at them individually. He slowly releases their hand to their side. And the two slide back on the covers for their hands. They turn to a gaping hole just behind them.
"Seems we will have to go deeper before we can get to the other side." Said the tall one, patting his cloak, as the short knight began to unravel their rope, looking back at the grotto. The creatures still at the water's edge, facing them.
Soon they repel into the cracked cave with jagged walls, the short knight below the tall.
Thump. The short one soon reaches the bottom first, the masked one following above them.
Crumble! swish-swish "Oh dear." The ledge beneath the masked one crumbles as he's sent twirling downward through the air.
CLANK, thud. "AUGOOF-" He smashed head first into a ledge on the way down before falling before the short knight. The little one rushes over to him, taking them in their quivering arms, squeezing him tightly.
They remove the beak, mask, and helm. Smooth, short seafoam green hair marked with a cream hue ran down the sides of his young, sweet, and gentle face. His hazel eyes batted slowly as he rested in the short one's arms. The taste of iron fills his mouth as his lungs burn in his chest. The scent of copper fills the air.
Clatter. The little one takes off their mittens, brushing aside his sticky, matted, bloody hair.
Chik chik swish swish. The short knight shakes their head profusely, holding the man tighter in their arms, clasping his body.
"G-get to the top, find the vassel, sh-shatter this keep, only then can we…" He gasped slowly, his eyes shutting as his voice faded.
For a moment, their still, it's quiet, the man's body begins to grow cold as the little knight holds him close, pulling his head tightly to their stomach.
Eu-wu. A bleeding mewl slipped through the cracks of their armor.
Clonk! A small pebble falls from above, striking the little knight's spangenhelm. They slowly turn their face to the ceiling above. A bit of dust falls, hanging in the air.
griggg. Tip-tip clank. They quickly strap on the man's bag over their own before lifting his corpse into a carry over the shoulders, securing him tightly.
Rumble thud thud, crumble. The cave begins to collapse behind them as they sprint to a nearby tunnel.
On the other side, a narrow ascending shaft with a dim light up above..
Grraowl, tip-tap rik, greeeeek. Again, the distant sounds of scraping, tapping, and roaring echo throughout the tunnels.
Grig, strip tip. The little knight straps his corpse, securing it to the front of their body, their heads side by side, before firmly gripping the walls with their mittens, one foot after the other, one hand after the other, they climb.