| "I hope that you two fair well," Grandfather said, handing us Ketria and the white falcon hopped on my shoulder."She knows the way quite well." Will was still eyeing the bird warily and Ketria was doing the same. "Yeah, sure. As long as it doesn't attack me," he said, frowning slightly. "I've been attacked while going falconing, no can do." Sleeping Panther smiled. "She's not you're average bird..." <Yep, I'm smarter.> The two of us blinked. 'What in the-' "If you don't realize it, Ketria can talk...telepathically of course. Now you guys better be on your way," my guardian shooed us and soon we were trudging through the dense forest. Trees that had to be thousands of years old towered above us, nearly blocking out the sun. Little shafts of light that did make it through made pools of gold on the ground and on bushes, highlighting the vibrant greens of the bushes and leaves. "This place seems, enchanted almost," I say out loud, looking around and stepping over a log. The bird on my shoulder preened her left wing. <It is...in a way. This is the place where all the myths of Earth and the Underworld meet,> she said. Cocking a confused eyebrow, my green eyed friend looked at Ketria and me. "Whoa, wait. What do you mean 'all the myths'?" <I'm sure you know that there were times on your Earth where you people believed in dragons and such, right?> "Yeah, so?" <So, if you dream it, it can become real. And it did, for a time. But once people started to forget and discount them as myths, they came here. Zeus and Hera, Pegasi of all shapes, werewolves, vampires, all the gods of Mayan, Aztec, Incan, Egyptian, excreta, excreta, now find their place in Nivta where they can live out their lives.> I blinked at Ketria. "You're telling me that there are dragons around here? And like Anubis and whatever?" 'Maybe somebody spiked that rat sandwich she had for breakfast...' Looking around, the falcon fluffed her feathers. <Turn left after that tree and it was rabbit to be precise. Yes, they are around here, just not in this area.> The forest got less dense and parted into a clearing, about 10 yards across. "Do we go in?" Will asked, looking and Ketria. The bird gave a mental shrug. <If you want.> "Aren't you supposed to be the guide here?" I questioned, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Ketria hopped off my shoulder and sat on tree branch high above. <Yes, go to the edge of the clearing. There's a path. Keep going and you'll know when you see it,> she says, looking at the sky and then back at us. <It shouldn't take you too long but the sky looks like it's promising rain, so hurry.> Will and I looked at one another before walking across the clearing and then to the path, not talking but then not needing to. The path widened out and suddenly, there was a rock monolith in front of us; reflecting light like a shinny piece of black onyx. A slab of rock sat in front of the opening , looking huge and immobile; ancient and brand new at the same time. I could tell that it went underground, right when you stepped in but it was still impressive, nevertheless. "What is it?" Will asked, looking at the structure like he didn't want to believe it's there. "WolfAngel cave," I answer simply. |