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Every muscle in my body screamed at me as I pushed them to their very limits, trying to escape the scaled Lizarian's grasp. I watched in terror as he opened his gaping maw, long strings of saliva still connecting his upper and lower jaw, his fierce, yellow eyes piercing through the last bits of nerve I had left. His rancid, hot breath panted out; the stench wafting from his mouth stung my nose as he extended his long, versatile tongue. It ran over my cheek and left a trail of slime. My heart sunk as I noticed the change of expression in his eyes: He loved my flavor.

A paralyzing feel of dread ran through my very core as I watched his pointed fangs emerge from his pink gums. It was, in my opinion, the most terrifying feature of the Lizarian race. Slowly he brought his arms in, moving me closer and closer to his mouth. As my head entered the expansive jaws of the creature I could feel heat radiating from his flesh. I tried to struggle against him, but my body was too crippled from exhaustion. I tried to scream, but my tongue was held still by fear, and no sound came from my throat.

My eyes shut as I accepted my fate. This is where I would die. This is my end. I waited in silence for the Lizarian's powerful jaws and sharp teeth to sever my head from my neck; to snap my spinal cord, and to forever be lost in darkness.

Suddenly, I felt a warm liquid spatter onto my cheek. I heard agonizing trills come from its throat as it threw me away, making me roll several times on the ground. When I opened my eyes, I saw a lithe female with two shortswords thrusting her blades in and out of the beast's stomach and chest.

Tears of joy came to my eyes as I watched the beast fall before a steamy gas passed in front of my eyes. I immediately realized what had spattered on my cheek a moment ago was the Lizarian's blood, and it was evaporating now that it was exposed to open air. This was the most interesting characteristic of the Lizarian race. "Come on, you dummy! Don't just sit there! Do you even realize where you went? Where you are!?" I heard my friend nearly scream at me as she turned from the fresh corpse to face me, but my body was still wrecked from the shock. I couldn't respond. I could hardly get to my hands and knees.

I watched motionlessly as she stormed over to me. I was grateful she came to help--until I felt a jarring pain in my left side. She'd kicked me! My body fell over and the wind was knocked out of me, leaving me trying to gasp for air, but unable.

"You could've gotten yourself killed, Tano! You're literally almost in the Bestial Lizarian's nest! I don't even know how you got this far in alive by yourself!"

My eyes darted around me and I peered at my surroundings; I hadn't realized it myself. I was inside of huge cave, one that could only be the nest, as my friend had said. I looked up at the ceiling of the cave; it was covered in beautiful, innumerous, luminescent crystals. They were called sol stone, and they absorbed sunlight and moonlight, only to expel the light later. These particular crystals got their source light from the mountain this cave was under. These particular sol stones were wonders of nature; their lengths were incredible, and they ran through hundreds of feet of Earth until they poked out of the mountains.

My mind broke from the thought of the crystals and returned to my friend, just in time to hear, "what were you even thinking?"

What was I thinking...? In an instant, it came to me, and I felt my strength return.

"What was I thinking? Jaye, I was thinking that the Bestial Lizarians aren't getting sick, yet the ones back home are...You don't think that's strange? There has to be something here that there isn't back in the city!"

"Tano, I understand why--"

"No, you don't! You grew up in the 'flesh' colonies. You were never around any Lizarians, or any Lupids, or any Felids, or anything! You were even taught that they were all evil! While, yes, you've grown away from that, a lot of your actions are still filtered through that original mindset... If any of the flesh races were being plagued by sickness that slowly killed them off, you'd immediately jump on that. But beyond that, even, your best friend isn't currently dying a slow, painful death!"

I waited for a while, but got no response. I sighed softly and took a step in to hug my friend. She hugged back softly. We held the embrace for a few long moments before I heard the sound of pebbles skipping along the stone floor.

"There's more coming..." I peered deeper into the caverns, where they split into multiple paths. I didn't have to wonder which one they came from, however--I'd studied this cave extensively.

"Look, I'm fairly certain at this point I won't change your mind," My friend whispered to me, "So I figure if I just help you find the cure thing, we can get out of here faster."

I wanted to thank her but knew we didn't have the time for formalities. I sprinted to the left to hide behind a large, jagged rock jutting from the floor. She followed in step, and before we knew it, we saw a battalion of the scaled beings walking out of the third-to-left tunnel. Many of them carried assorted maces and clubs, and a few of them wore armor, either stolen from the outskirt stores or from dead bodies.

"So I'm guessing we're--" I cut my friend off with my hand, in fear of the battalion discovering us. As they neared, I inched around the rock with my friend, evading detection. The process was slow, and once or twice I jumped at the grunts the creatures made. I climbed up the rock to the top and peered over, staring at the sheer amount of Lizarians that were leaving. There were tall ones and short ones, ones of stocky and muscular build, some seemed well fit, but some seemed somewhat frail. No matter the condition, the amount of Lizarians was surely a force to be reckoned with...

They eventually passed and made their way out of the cave. With a sigh of relief, I motioned for my friend to follow me but she grabbed my shirt and stopped me.

"Before we continue, here."

I looked back at what she wanted, and noticed she held out a staff and a shortsword. Before I could ask, she answered.

"You came in unarmed. I saw these inside your house. It's how I knew to look for you here."

"Thanks, Jaye..."

"And one more thing." She handed me a bow--although I didn't recognize it.

"What's this?"

"The Doc just gave me it. I'm not much into ranged. Maybe it'll suit you better."

I didn't have time to question it. I took the bow and slung it across my chest, letting the quiver hang on my hip opposite the shortsword. With staff in hand, I began walking towards the cave's tunnel that led to the Lizarian's nest. My eyes constantly darted around, looking for anything that might be the cause of these Lizarian's immunity to the sickness that was spreading back in town and other places.

As we began walking down the tunnel my mind began worrying--what if we were caught? What if another group of the Bestial Lizarians began walking down the cave and met us? My heart raced more and more at the thought, but eventually, my worries quelled. The size of that group was enormous--it was probably the main, monthly hunting party. There would only be a few of the stronger Lizarians back at their nest, with the rest being the children and the elders.

My friend and I walked in silence for what seemed like an hour, until the tunnel took a sharp right. We followed in and stared in awe at what was there. Stone huts were scattered everywhere along a slowly ascending path, until, at the very top of the hill, it flattened out and was lost to darkness. That was the end of the sol stones that lined this cave. I followed it in. Jaye followed behind me cautiously, and I could hear her sliding her shortswords out of their sheaths. I had to admit that I was feeling very nervous as well, but I tried to keep my patience as best I could as well.

As we walked, though, I knew something was off. There were no Lizarian children running or playing about. There were no elders speaking to each other in the Lizarian tongue. All was quiet. Nothing stirred.

"Something's not right..." My voice raised from the whisper it was in before. My body relaxed and I stood tall, looking around.

"Shouldn't there be people here?"

"I'd think so..."

Suddenly, the cavern began filling with a putrid smell. It was absolutely overpowering. I felt as though my airways wanted to shut, and I could tell Jaye felt the same from the contorted expression on her face. The smell was rotten. It was almost... Almost familiar. I knew I had to push on and investigate.

In this wide, open cavern, every one of my steps echoed out. Behind me, however, Jaye was completely silent. This was something I'd always envied of her. She was very lightfooted and nimble, as well as flexible... My mind wandered away from her and carried to the huts in front of me. I peered into them as we passed, but found no one. In fact, they seemed emptied out, almost. One hut after the next, they all seemed abandoned. There were broken stone bowls and daggers and things lying about in the huts, however, as if the people left in a rush.

"This is getting more and more suspicious as we investigate..."

Five huts. Six huts. Seven huts. The more we checked, the more were abandoned. As we neared the next one, however, I heard soft shushing coming from inside. I looked back to make sure that Jaye was still right behind me before widely rounding to the front of the open door, peering in. Inside, I noticed what looked like a female Lizarian sitting against the stone wall, holding a baby in her arms. I saw her eyes fill with fear before shutting tight.

She immediately curled into a defensive ball around the baby, shouting, "Krie dakaal!"

My arms lifted and I gently swished them down, trying to calm the woman. She didn't seem hostile at this point. I'd learned the native tongue of the Lizarians in my studies, and she might be willing to listen.

"Gaah yonn tomana frei... Gaah yonn. Vonn ti'il svui..."

There was silence for a moment before the woman slowly uncurled, looking at me. There was a mix of confusion and pain clouding her eyes now.

"Yonn... Drekken flesh biie hend..?"

I tried my best at a soft, innocent smile. "Tren. Vonn ro ti'il svui."

To my left, I could see my friend was completely lost. I briefly explained to her that the Lizarian thought we were there to harm her, and that I'd told the woman we mean no harm. I studied her up and down for a moment, noticing she seemed skinny. My attention then turned to the child, and my eyes shot open wide. It had a black tail tip! It wasn't a normal black, however. The black was the essence of death itself. It was a darker-than-coal black... My heart immediately sunk for the woman. Her child was showing the most apparent symptom for the disease that was plaguing the city--but wait, that means... That Bestial Lizarians really are getting sick...?

Suddenly there was a faint click in the distance. I turned and looked towards the darkness atop the cavern, where the click came from, but quickly turned back to the Lizarian. She'd suddenly looked like she'd seen a ghost. Before I had time to ask, she frantically beckoned us into the stone hut before she began cradling and rocking her child, muttering prayers. As curious as I was, in this suspicious situation, I didn't question her. I grabbed Jaye and pulled her in with me before I peered out the door and up the hill.

I heard another click. Shortly after, another. Even sooner, another. Whatever it was, it was becoming both more frequent and louder.

I was dying inside to find out what this noise was, and I didn't have to wait long. Coming from the darkness was what appeared to be a shadow itself, but its glowing green eyes proved it to be a body. It looked like a giant snake straight from hell, with long, vicious fangs that almost drug along the ground as it slowly slithered from the top of the hill. The diameter of its body was easily longer than my height. Its entire body was covered with the same death black that the woman's child's tail had, but it didn't seem to be in any sort of bad shape. It seemed still strong and muscular. The Lizarians that were known to catch the disease, however, had their muscles deteriorate under where the black spread... This was both fascinating and terrifying.

I watched in silence as it slunk down the hill, its jaws agape, tongue extended. It was testing the air... I heard another click come from its throat, although I couldn't understand the purpose.

Suddenly I heard a scream come from one of the higher huts. What seemed like a teenage Lizarian, his arms, leg, and tail completely covered in black, ran out of the hut--an impressive feat, in my mind, as it had to be extremely painful for him. He hadn't made more than fifteen steps down before the beast of a snake shot forward and swallowed him whole, silencing the screams from the room. From the way it happened, I couldn't tell if the snake had followed its eyes or ears to catch its target...

Behind me, I heard the baby coughing, along with the mother desperately shushing it. The snake immediately started slithering down towards us.

Ears. Definitely ears.

My mind raced for any sort of solution. Next to me I could almost feel Jaye's tension as the beast came towards us. There wasn't a lot of time. My eyes passed the snake and to the huts behind it. There had to be something, anything... I couldn't see any immediately loose rocks, but I had no other option. My arms took off the bow and slung my staff on my back in replacement, quickly knocking an arrow, aiming it twenty huts or so up. I launched the arrow and it hit the stone with a loud clunk. The snake stopped.

I felt encouraged. I knocked another arrow, sending it two more huts up. The snake made a very tight turn on itself and slowly began heading back up the path. I fired a third and fourth arrow further and further up the hill until the arrow wouldn't climb any higher. Behind me, I waved for Jaye and the woman to make their escape. I watched as they briskly paced down the hill, albeit as quietly as they could, and returned my attention to the snake. It was tasting the air where the last few arrows had landed. I couldn't waste any more time.

I turned to follow the other two, but right as I did, a cry pierced the air. It was the baby! My head shot back to the snake, and it had already turned towards us.

"Run!"

I screamed it at the top of my lungs and began bolting down the path, dropping the bow where I'd been. I unhooked the quiver and let that fall as well. I needed to drop some weight at this point, else I'd be caught and eaten. In front of me, the Lizarian and Jaye had already began running and were nearing the mouth of the tunnel. My legs pounded underneath me as I followed them as fast as I could, but I could hear the snake behind me easily catching up to me.

I took the staff off of my back and turned around, stopping. There was one shot.

Suddenly, a red aura enveloped me, centering on the tip of the staff. Suddenly, a large, molten ball fired from the staff and landed square on the snake's head. It exploded in a magnificent show of fire, and I could hear the snake letting out a roar that rivaled even banshees. It made my spine shiver.

I didn't have time to stop and watch. I turned and continued down the hill, reaching the tunnel in just over ten seconds. I stopped and turned again, watching as the snake shook its head in agony, trying to throw off the flames. A light pink aura enveloped my body this time and centered on the staff tip, shooting out. It created a screen over the entrance to the tunnel. It was a barrier, although I wasn't too sure if it could hold the monstrous beast... At the very least, it would slow it down.

I turned and began running again, and noticed that Jaye and the Lizarian were far ahead of me now. I noticed that Jaye was looking back at me, however. She had to be very concerned... I had an idea.

"Keep running! I'm going to do one last thing! Don't worry about me!"

I heard no response. I suddenly stopped and turned around, just in time to watch the pink shield shatter from the snake's hard skull. I watched it stop where it was, head in the tunnel. It seemed to be staring me down with hatred, its green eyes watching me. It couldn't recognize me as the person that hit it with fire, could it..? There's no way a beast like this could be that intelligent...

I pushed the thought down. My body enveloped in a red once more, and I lost sight of the snake for a brief moment before the red centered on my staff. I could feel my body weakening the more I used these magic arts, but I couldn't afford not to at this point. My body enveloped once more, and as it focused on the tip of the staff this time, it radiated vibrantly. I cast this magic once more, before the staff itself seemed to almost overheat. It radiated both light and heat at this point.

My eyes locked on the snake's, and for just a brief moment, I wondered why it hadn't moved. The thought skipped my mind soon after, however, and I pointed the staff to above the snake's head, at the tunnel roof.

In one last spiteful comment, I spoke in Lizarian, "Jaal."

The bolt fired from my staff, but as it did, my ears picked up something faint from the snake. Before my mind could register it, the ball exploded. The force sent me flying back and cracked the roof above the snake. I didn't have time to see if the collapsing rock crushed the snake or if it fled back into the cavern. The shockwave from the explosion rattled my ears. My head seemed to spin three times as fast as my body tumbled along the ground, and I found myself extremely disoriented by the time I'd stopped rolling. I could hear the tunnel collapsing at the entrance for a short while until it stopped, seeming to finally create enough rubble to support itself again.

My head weakly lifted up and I looked at the newly blocked tunnel with satisfaction. There was no way even that snake would be able to tunnel through that. This victory came at the cost of immediate pain, however, as my ears were ringing loudly and I couldn't hear anything. I struggled to my feet, looking around, and couldn't find my staff. I figured it must have disintegrated from magic overload...

I turned and began walking down the open end of the tunnel but soon found myself tripping. I must've injured my leg when I'd rolled...

I slowly limped down the tunnel with determination. I'd defeated the snake for now and learned a lot of new information. My mind couldn't help but reel back to that snake... I heard something right as I launched my spell, I'm sure of it.

Slowly, the ringing began to fade, and was instead replaced by another noise.

"...no... Tano...Tano are you there..!?"

As I regained my hearing, I was pleased to recognize my friend's voice. I immediately called back, "I'm alive, but my leg is hurt!"

At the response I could hear uncharacteristically loud footsteps running down the tunnel. In the distance, I could see Jaye rushing to my aid.

I silently thanked that she'd come to rescue me in the beginning.

It wasn't long before my arm was around her and she was helping me to walk down the corridor. She assaulted me with questions as to what happened, and I lied to her, telling her I couldn't really remember right now, that the explosion must've knocked my head on something.

I wanted to scream out in joy. That snake, surviving the black scaled death, meant there was a cure. But I finally recognized what it had said to me, and it was to haunt my every waking moment for months to come.

It said, "We'll be back."