Claustrophobia

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 32222

Astra and Checkers waited for about thirty seconds. Astra looked at Checkers, and shook her head. There was no reply from Fred.


Astra

"How am I going to get out of here? Although this chamber is not cramped, even considering the bulk that is my body now, I have no way out of it. The entrance that Fred used is far too small for me. And if Checkers goes out that way, she may not be able to come back either! I do not want to be in this room alone, like a bug trapped in a bottle. The dragon had to be able to shrink somehow. Was it some sort of natural ability, or did he acquire it through some sort of magic? I might die from hunger or thrist. Although strangely enough, I feel sated, as if I have digested a big meal. So I have quite some time before hunger strikes me down. Maybe I could let Checkers go through the passage, but have her grasp some string or rope, and have her tug on it as she leaves, just so I know that she is safe. I am starting to feel more and more trapped. I feel like a prisoner. Close your eyes, Astra, and do not panic!"


Checkers

"I am hungry. My water supply will last me for a while, but that wallhugger is the only thing that I have eaten since I came into the caves, and I have run out. I wish that I could dart outside and look for something to eat. But Fred has not come back, so there may be something dangerous in that room. And worst, Astra is stuck in here. I do not think that she wants me to leave. I hope she is not as hungry as I am. She might eat me without thinking about the consequences. She seems to be friendly, but there might be some urges that dragons have that she cannot control."


Fred

"I could swear that I heard Astra's voice calling from the room that used to have Belboz's tome. Maybe I should go back there. I would have a lot to tell them, if I could find them! I wish that I could get Astra and Checkers in here, and see if they could shed any light on these statues, and this globe. From what little I know about Checkers, she said that she came from 'the East.' I need to ask her if she crossed the Terel Sea. (I had no idea that there was another mass of land on the other side!) She might know something about this land - perhaps it is a land of wizards that she knows something about, and something she or one of the wizards did triggered the spell. Where did she say that she was from --- Electric Pass, maybe - and I thought I saw a 'Lightning Pass' under the amber- like substance. I have a plan. I am going to gather as much food as I can from the little stands outside the ampitheater, and sit down in the place where the tome was, and listen for Astra's call."


Astra Dragon pounded the walls of the cavern with her forepaws furiously, then screamed in pain as she found that not even the might of a dragon was greater than the strength of granite rock.

"Astra, you are scaring me," squeaked Checkers.

"Checkers, please do not be afraid of me. I would not hurt you, or Fred, if I could find him. I really do not want to see either of you hurt. I just feel so ... helpless. I have tried everything ..."

"Except having me go through the passage."

"If something happens to you, then I am trapped here, alone."

"Maybe. But you yourself said that there might be magic books on the other side that might help you regain your old form. I think our best chance lies there. You have to trust me. Fred may have gone exploring, and found something harmless, but very interesting; I swear that I will not be gone more than a minute or two, at least of my own accord. I am just going to poke my head out through the passage, and not go all the way out. I do not have a rope or string long enough for you to hold onto one end to keep track of me - I liked that idea. How about this? I will call out every second step, so that you know how far along I am."

  1. Astra reluctantly agrees to Checkers' plan.
  2. Astra suggests a modification to the plan.
  3. Astra asks Checkers if she can sleep on it, hoping that some idea may occur while she is sleeping.

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9/14/2003 7:13:56 PM

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