Journey Below

[Felypsa]

oOc|Note: This is a continuation from the thread "Reborn the Hawk" in the Bamboo Forest.[/color]

"Oh yes, of course," Ammolite said obligingly, walking slightly ahead of Hawk, with Azarak comfortably on her back. She couldn't help but feel a thrill: Hawk and Azarak both wanted her to lead! This was one thing she knew: how to get home. She never returned there, determined to spend life above the Surface, but now her return was inevitable, and she was exultant. But she took care to neither rush nor tarry. She led the way out of the Bamboo Forest, keeping the not-too-distant Great Mountains in her sight. That was where she had first come up, and that was where she and the others would now go below. "Beneath the Great Mountains," she said aloud, for Hawk's benefit. "That's our destination."[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk felt a thrill stir within his body. He had not been near a mountain for so long. Despite having been born in the deserts, he had always felt at home in the mountains. His mind filled with memories of his old life in the north. Images of the sun setting beneath two twin peaks, casting it's warm rays to reflect off the snow. A small smile played across his lips as he paused in his trek. Yet Ammolite's words snapped him from his stupor. Quickly he nodded and followed in her wake, waiting to see where they would go. His thoughts swirled as he remembered Icewolf. He still could not feel his old friends presense which greatly disturbed him. But he would help his friend first before venturing off on his own to try and discover his comrade's fate.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite slipped into a sort of trance, not concentrating entirely on where she was going, letting her paws and instinct guide her. She knew the way so well that she didn't even have to think twice about it. Meanwhile, her thoughts wandered. She thought about what it would be like to be back Underground again, without this brilliant sunlight forever shining in her eyes. Would her eyes adjust to the semidarkness of the caves? She hoped so. Would she run into old acquaintances? That made her slightly nervous. She was determined not to think about that. She thought instead about Hawk. How strange, that he was reborn from a brook in the Bamboo Forest, without being able to sense any of his old friends. Strange, and terrible. And yet, instead of pursuing his own curiosities, he was helping her to sate her own. She was grateful, but also couldn't help but feel a little guilty. What if she was leading him on a wild-goose chase, with nothing at the end except for sheer disappointment? That was her greatest worry of all.[/color]

"Watch it," Azarak said tersely, as Ammolite in her reverie nearly stepped into a shallow stream. "For one who loves the Underground so much, you sure love to float your head in the clouds. Focus, Ammolite. We're nearly there." Ammolite, chastened, put her concentration to the task, while Azarak watched Hawk expressionlessly. They were approaching the base of the Great Mountains. The huge formations towered over them, and their summits, like Ammolite's head, were lost in the clouds. "Take a good long look," Azarak told them both. "This'll be the last of the Upper World you'll see in a while. We're almost to the point where we go Undergro—" he stopped himself suddenly. He lifted his head, his ruby-red eyes darting wildly. "I sense something," he said alertly. "Something rotten. Actually, Hawk, it reminds me of you a lot...only like it's been spoiled. And there's more than one, if my senses are correct..."[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

The mascu was coincidentally also thinking about how he was helping his newly-found friend. Even if their search proved fruitless, he knew he would have the satisfaction of helping. This creature had always put others before himself. It was just how he was. Azarak's words snapped Hawk from his reminiscing. Quickly he perked his ears and listened intently to the sounds of the terra. His nostrils lifted to the wind and caught nothing unusual. Yet that did not mean anything. Intently his golden eyes darted around. The sinewy muscles that encased his bones flexed slightly as he prepared himself for a bout. He waited to see if whatever the lizard had sensed would show itself. Soon voices echoed in a slowly increasing volume. Hawk recognized the voices and relaxed slightly, knowing who was approaching

It was then that two identical wolvens broke through the foliage. Each had a pelt that was darker than midnight with deep red eyes. However, one was considerably smaller than the other. The larger of the two had large draconian wings. His pitch black fur wasn't broken by any other colors. However, the smaller of the two had multiple scars across his body. His left eye had a golden cloth over it. A chain of the same metal dangled from around his neck.
Both of these creatures looked grusome, dripping from head to tail with blood. Gouges and scratches covered their body as the looked at Hawk with disbelief. For a second it looked as if the larger was about to pounce, and yet he did not. Soon the smaller of the two spoke up.
"Hawk...but..I..we thought you were dead?"

[Felypsa]

Ammolite was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the two identical wolves. But what shocked her even more was the fact that they were both dripping in blood. She was about to run, but then the smaller one spoke. Ammolite's eyes were completely red and orange: large with fear and confusion. Hawk knew these gruesome creatures? And, surprising most of all, was the fact that they confirmed Hawk's own strange story. "We thought you were dead...?" And he was. Or was he? Who were these wolves? "He's alive now," Ammolite said shakily, surprising herself. "Who are you?" For some reason, though they were in worse shape than Hawk had been, she was disinclined to help them.[/color]

Azarak was no longer on Ammolite's back. He was hiding behind a clump of large rocks on the path, behind both Ammolite and Hawk. He clearly did not want to be seen by the two approaching wolves. "Be careful!" he hissed, to Ammolite but especially to Hawk. "They have a rotten stench to them. Methinks they're not what they once were." With that he went silent, seeming to have disappeared completely.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk quickly dismissed Azarak's words. He knew that these two had always been a bit on the dark side, but he thought them to be the innocent pups they once were. Quickly he looked back to Ammolite before speaking. "The smaller one is Luke and his brother is Kindare. These are my friend's adopted sons." Suddenly he perked his ears and turned to the other two. "Where is Icewolf anyways? I can not feel his presense."

Kindare, who was indeed the larger one, licked his chops slowly. He looked at Ammolite for a moment with an odd gaze before his brother nudged him. Quickly they both put on convincing looks of sorrow as Kindare let his gaze drop to the ground. Luke pretended to comfort his brother for a moment before looking at Hawk. "He's dead..as are all the other Defenders..Tagger killed them all." To cover for his slip up, Kindare let loose a growl at the mention of Tagger's name, giving the impression of utter loathing. Soon Luke spoke up to the others again. "Hawk, it is wonderful to see you alive. But what are you doing with this femme?"

[Felypsa]

Ammolite nodded, staring at the two brothers. Though Hawk was able to disregard Azarak’s warning, she was not so sure. The way Kindare looked for a moment—licking his chops, gazing at her—made her increasingly nervous. A bloodred color appeared in her eyes. But then she heard the news, that Hawk’s friend was dead…and she turned to her newfound friend, compassionate light green in her eyes, although the red did not go away. “Oh, Hawk, I am so sorry…” she said, her voice ringing with sincerity. “That’s just so…horrible.” Her eyes flickered to Kindare as she said that last word. She did not trust them, though they were Hawk’s friends. She then turned to Luke. “My name,” she said frostily, “is Ammolite.” She did not particularly like being talked about in front of her; she would much rather they spoke directly to her. She added, “I’m Hawk’s friend.” She did not mention Azarak. The little lizard seemed to have vanished anyway.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk bowed his head at the words that Luke spoke. His sorrow clouded his judgement of the two. Yet as he remained in the dark woods of his grief, a light shone that was Ammolite's words. He looked to her, the glow in his eyes gone for the moment. Icewolf had been like family to him. The news that his friend was dead struck him hard. Yet he began to form hope. He himself had been dead. Somehow he had been reborn. Was it possible for the same to happen to Icewolf? It was then that he decided that after he helped his friend to find her family, he would seek out the answers to his query. He would find a way to bring Icewolf back.

Luke seemed unphased by the coldness he recieved from the femme. In a rather rude tone he spoke the words. "Is it now?" After his vocals to her had been voiced, his attentions turned to the golden wolf. How in the name of Hell did one of the Defenders come back? He had always thought Hawk was a bit too far on the allignment of good. Yet was it possible that he was so far as to be given a second chance. It was then that a most diabolical plot came to mind. He looked over to his brother who was absently licking at the blood between his claws. A small smirk played on Luke's lips as he bowed his head to Ammolite and Hawk. "Well it seems that you two are on a quests of sorts. Allow me and my brother to humbly accompany you."

[Felypsa]

Ammolite looked at Hawk, and saw hope in his eyes, though it was less clear than a color. She realized that Hawk had been dead—and now, alive. If Hawk thought that his friend could come back from the dead as well…Ammolite shook her head. Such things were far too complicated for her. What she could deal with was this present situation. These two bloody wolves wanted to accompany them. Normally, Ammolite would’ve been more than happy to allow them too. She wondered where she had acquired such sudden cynicism and suspicion, but for some reason she just did not like them. Maybe it was Azarak’s warning. But could Azarak himself be trusted? How could she trust a little lizard over Hawk’s friends? That was simply irrational.

But here was something she did know: Azarak knew her father. He was helping them on her mission. And these two wolves seemed to have chased him away.

“Thank you very much for your offer,” Ammolite said courteously. “You’re very kind. But I think it’s probably too much trouble…we have to go Underground. It will be long and troublesome and I don’t even know where we’ll be going. Too much effort. But thank you anyway.” Where is Azarak? she wondered. He can’t have abandoned us. She turned to Hawk again, wondering if he would agree with her, or if he would want these two to follow them.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk saw Ammolite's reluctance to let these two bloody creatures join them in their quest. It was then that he took note of the profuse amount of cuts and gashes over both of them. It was obvious to him that they had been fighting, a ritual he knew they only performed during their rather dark times. Quickly he put on a friendly smile before shaking his head to Luke. "I thankyou for the offer friend but this is something we have to do alone. I trust you understand?"

Luke scowled within his mind. His plans foiled for the moment. He put on a rather strained smile before inclining his head slightly. "I understand fully. We will see you later Hawk."
His last words slithered past his lips like a snakes tongue. Luke looked to his brother before barking out angrily at the larger mascu. "Î íà èäèîòà!" It was after those words that Kindare growled lowly before bounding off into the shadows after his sibling.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite was actually rather startled twice-over. First, that Hawk would rather her be comfortable than to enjoy a reunion with his two friends. Second, that they actually agreed to go. She watched them vanish into the shadows, relieved and yet nervous at the same time. She felt sure that was not the last time they would meet. "I'm sorry, Hawk," she said sincerely. "I didn't mean to be so..." she struggled for the right word, "impolitic. That was unlike me. I know they're your friends. I'm sorry to have prevented you from joining them."[/color]

The moment the two wolves were gone, Azarak reappeared and clambered up onto Ammolite's back once more. "Well, let's move on, shall we?" he said as if nothing had happened. "Ammolite, I trust you recall the area in which we go below...right between the oak and the water-rock." He nodded in the general direction.[/color]

Ammolite reluctantly turned away from Hawk, still embarrassed about her behavior towards his friends. "Glad to see you again, Azarak," she said. "I was afraid we'd lost you. The oak and the water-rock..." She headed towards the medium-sized oak tree that was at the base of the first, and highest, mountain. Trees were rare here, so it was a good landmark. The water-rock was harder to find. It was so named because it was a hollowed-out boulder filled with rainwater, but it was inconspicuous because of the many other boulders in the area. She eventually found it, and sure enough, between the oak and the water-rock was a familiar-looking dim passage, just big enough for a single wolf to enter in. "This is it, Hawk," Ammolite said excitedly. "This is the entrance to the Underground."[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk followed her silently, not in the least bit surprised at Azarak's return. As they reached the tunnel into the Underground, the mascu looked over to Ammolite. He offered her a small smile before bowing his head. "Do not worry about Luke and Kindare. I understand your uneasiness with them. I helped to raise them in a sense. I still remember when they were little pups, eager to learn how to fight. Yet they seemed to have changed. Never before have I seen them act like that. Things seemed to have changed much in the time I have been deceased..." Before the female could answer his words, the warrior walked over to the hole. He was used to climbing through small areas so he dared to take the initiative in going through first. Hawk assumed that there was only one passageway and that he would not get lost. Slowly his golden tail flicked as he clambored into the dim entrance.

A short distance away, the two blood covered creatures watched from the shadows. They had kept themselves downwind to avoid being detected. Kindare looked to his brother and smirked evilly as they watched the group enter the tunnel. Without a sound, the two mascus slid into the shadows yet again.

[Felypsa]

As Ammolite followed closely behind Hawk, Azarak spoke to him. "Those who yearn to fight early on end up either sick of it before long or addicted to it. I don't know those particular wolves, but judging by their appearance and manner, they are certainly not sick of fighting. They are not what they once were," he repeated. Then his red eyes flashed. "Listen to me, spouting off cheap wisdom to no one's delight. By his blood, I sound like some kind of sanctimonious fortune-teller with an eye on cheating others. That irks me. As for you, Hawk, we'll be hitting a fork in the tunnels soon, so take care to go left, not straight ahead. Why isn't Ammolite in front?" he wondered aloud, rhetorically.[/color]

Ammolite said nothing in reply to either Hawk or Azarak. The fungi that growed all along the walls of the passage gave off a familiar green-white glow, a beautiful sight. She still couldn't believe that she was returning home. She couldn't believe she still thought of the caves as home. It felt like so long ago since she had last been here, with her mother...though it was not as long as she thought. Azarak's last words roused her from her trance. "The left?" she asked incredulously. "But I'm certain I came from the other way...I've never been to the left." She was slightly nervous. Her eyes glowed pink and orange and yellow in the half-light of the fungi.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk listened intently to the words that spouted out from Azarak's tiny figure. Despite the silence that the mascu maintained, he was truly taking the lizard's words to mind. When the orders to take a left cascaded upon his ears his golden head nodded once. Yet as Ammolite displayed her reluctance to go in said direction he could not help but let his usual wariness of their little friend arise again. Slowly his sinewy legs powered him forth through the tunnels. Those golden eyes of his gazed around slowly at the walls. Awe again filled is visage as he was dazzled by this tunnel.

Then the fork came into view. Hawk paused for a moment, as if wondering as to the wiseness of following Azarak's directions. Yet the halt was only momentary before he indeed turn left down the tunnel. The warrior became visibly tense as they traversed through these odd tunnels. Hawk had thought that the cave system the Defenders housed within had been extensive, yet these tunnels seemed endless. His eyes glazed slightly as he remembered the cave systems they had discovered beneath the forest. The many caverns had been made into living quarters for those that ever desired shelter. Indeed, the Hall of Defenders had been made into what it was with a noble purpose. Yet Hawk knew that if Icewolf was truly dead, the tunnel would be sealed off. For a moment the wolven wondered if it was possible one of these tunnels came close to that cave system of even joined it in some unknown way.

[Felypsa]

They traveled in silence for a long time. The tunnel grew steeper as they went further and further belowground. At length Azarak addressed Ammolite's concern. "You have been there before, I'm certain. It's just a different route to get there. A shortcut, so to speak. You'll recognize it." Then he fell silent once more. He gave no other directions to Hawk, which meant that they would be traveling in this one passage for a long time yet.[/color]

Ammolite was slightly reassured by the lizard's explanation. As time passed, she thought she heard the trickle of water. Her eyes grew wide with excited gold-purple. Were they approaching what she thought - what she wanted to think? If so, Azarak was right. She had been there before, and it was probably her favorite place in all the caves. "Korian's Waterfall," she said eagerly. "And Dalia's Lake. Oh, Azarak, is that where we're going?" When the lizard nodded positively, Ammolite broke into a relieved smile. "Hawk, this is wonderful! Korian's Waterfall feeds into Dalia's Lake, which in turn feeds a lot of rivers that are the sources of water for the caves. It's also one of the most beautiful places in the Underground. I love it there! Do you hear the water? We're getting close!" She had shed all anxieties by this point, eager to look upon one of the most treasured locations of her home.[/color]