A light at the end of the tunnel

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 107842

"Well..." Astra begins before noticing that the ceiling is starting to get higher again. "Hey, I think the tunnel is starting to open out again."

"About time," Fred whispers. Though he is finally beginning to get a bit of a neck-belly-tail-claws rhythm going, slinking through rocky caves is a far cry from soaring high above the countryside like he imagined when he asked Belboz to cast the spell. "I don't know what I would have done if it had gotten much tighter. Apparently my scales have a natural one-way grip to help slide forward. Reversing might be a problem."

The tunnel is soon large enough for Astra to walk somewhat comfortably again, but it is still too low for Fred to stand up properly. The inherently energetic Blue Dragon nature is starting to emerge again though. Two Draconic abilities mastered! (Granted, neither of them are flight, combat or control of his electrical discharges.) Now that he's getting the hang of twining through and pushing on the rough rocky passage with his full body he's almost starting to enjoy himself, too. Fred's stoic knightly upbringing is still repulsed by such a base form of locomotion, but for the moment the prudish side is just doing the mental equivalent of sulking quietly in a corner while being ignored.

"Why are you stopping, Astra?" Fred whispers when he realizes that she's come to a halt.

"Shhhhh. There's a light up ahead."

Fred looks. To his improved darkvision the faint glow is much less obvious to him than to Astra, but once he notices it he gives a little hiss.

"I'll sneak ahead and see what it is," Astra whispers.

"Shouldn't I -?"

"Shhhh!" Astra hushes again before giving Fred the Allarian military academy hand signals for 'Hold position. Be alert/Await next instruction.'

Fred is surprised enough that Astra knows the commands that he doesn't argue as she slips quietly forward to see what lies around the bend.

  1. It's just a phosphorescent moss growing on the tunnel walls.
  2. It's Velus, and he's found a light source!
  3. A party of monsters is approaching.
  4. The Dragon of the Caves herself is coming!

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Sam

12/6/2014 9:54:56 AM

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