Midnight Swim [pg13]

[Iƪƪia]

Amused at Ara's sudden burst of panic, Illlia had to fight back the urge to smile. She wasn't sure if it was the potential accepted hopelessness of the situation or the sedative sounds of the lake water swirling underground around them, but Ara's hysteria had a strangely calming effect on her.

"No worries. I'm sure there's another way out," She had to shout over the the pounding resonating through the cavern.

With that, Illia headed further into the cavern. She attempted to gauge the age of the cave based on how many years had passed since the lanterns were lie with little success. Perhaps she could find a book on the subject in the library. Better yet, perhaps she could find a book about the cavern itself. Definitely worth a look once they managed to get out of here.

As they continued through the cave, it became obvious that it was built on an incline. Not a very steep one at all, but an incline nonetheless. The further into the cavern they went, the further up they went; the sounds of the lake below becoming more and more muffled. Just as Illia was considering the possibility of a second tier to the secret cavern, she noticed a small patch of moonlight not too far ahead.

A closer inspection revealed that the source of light came from a crack in the earth wall at the end of the tunnel. The lake was clearly visible through the small hole, several feet below. As was the moon, now setting in the night sky. It was almost morning. They'd spent more time in the cavern than she had thought.

Turning away from the wall, Illia noticed that the cavern continued, still in an upward direction, along the side of the wall. Was there a second tier after all? Suddenly interested, Illia continued down the path, eager to see what was at the end. Hey, maybe there was a way out up there too.

[Elle]

Elle had to hug herself tightly to keep herself from shaking. It wasn't because of the cold; she had a fairly high tolerance, actually. It was because she was terrified of whatever could be making that noise. She'd heard stories of students fighting trolls and banshees... There's no telling what that thing could be!

She noticed Illia stop to look through a crack in the wall. Perhaps she could see the outside through it? Then she continued up the path. Literally. The path actually led upward on a gentle incline. But wasn't the thing that was making the noise somewhere up there? Begining to really panic, Elle hurried to catch up to Illia.

"Are you sure we should be going up there?" She managed to gasp.

[Iƪƪia]

Before Elle could finish talking, another violent quake shook the cavern. This jolt differed from the previous ones in that it felt far more intense. However, it didn't last nearly as long. It started and ended all in a span of no more than three seconds. Then there was another. And another. And another.

Illia stumbled back a few steps as the quakes became more frequent. These weren't at all like the one that trapped them in the cavern. The other shocks had felt more like earthquakes. This... This felt like... Like footsteps. Her eyes widened at the sudden realization. That was exactly what these were. Whatever was making the noise was coming closer, and coming quickly. She took several involuntary steps back before inadvertently colliding with the two girls behind her. Without bothering to apologize or even look back, she kept her eyes trained on the figure slowly emerging from the depths of the cave.

The giant creature filled the cavern entirely, it's broad shoulders scraping against the sides of the cave. It was completely covered in thick, black hair that swept along the ground as it lumbered forward. It's arms also dragged along the ground with it's long claws pulled together into a fist. Two large tusks protruded from it's face just above the only thing visible under it's thick locks: A large, red, gasping mouth. As it staggered ever closer, it gave one the impression of a large mole.

The buggane came to a stop several feet in front of them. It appeared to look them over, although it seemed more like it was looking through them. Without warning, it let out a long, low noise sounding to be a cross between a moan and a howl before proceeding to bring it's claws forward and savagely beat them on the ground, causing the floor beneath them to shake dangerously as small rocks rained from the ceiling. It didn't seem at all happy to see them in it's home.[/color]

[Elle]

Upon seeing the monster, Elle staggered back a few feet. What was that thing?! A troll? An ogre? She had never seen anything like it before. Whatever it was, it didn't look friendly. After all, this was the thing that had trapped them in the cavern in the first place! This was bad... This was very bad.

She felt her skin begin to fail and did nothing to try to stop it. She'd be safer in her protective scales, anyway. The dragon felt her wings and tail scrape against the walls and ceiling of the cave, realizing that this was far worse than she had thought. Trapped in a narrow cavern with a large monster and no way out. She settled on cowering against the wall as a low whine escaped from her throat.

[Iƪƪia]

Illia couldn't help but smile at the sight of the creature. So this guy was causing all their troubles, was he? He wasn't much! Just an overgrown troll in need of a haircut. She'd fought trolls before, pretty much singlehandedly, so she was confident that she could handle him.

Then again, that troll had managed to leave it's mark on her. Also, they'd fought in an area that wasn't nearly as enclosed as this place. What else could they do?

Wincing, she rubbed her side as she considered the options.

Go back? Go back to where? The tunnel they took in had collapsed, and they'd still be trapped. Not to mention the fact that Elle seemed to be blocking off the entire tunnel with her body. The only other possibility left was to go foreward. To go through this thing. They needed an exit, and this fellow could be blocking off the last one.

Illia dropped to the ground, loosing her skin as she did. This would be a tight fit, but what other choice did she have? Cautiously, she edged foreward, her teeth bared in an offensive growl. Hey, she had killed trolls and fought off vampires before, how tough could a giant rat be?[/color]

[yuki]

As she saw the gigantic creature enter the tunnel, Ara let out a scream. It was hideous with claws and hair covering its entire body. It looked as if it would kill anyone with one swing of its hand.

Suddenly, Arabella saw Illia crouch low to the ground and get ready to fight the beast.

She looked at her wide eyed. What is she doing?
"Illia, no!" Ara shouted.

[Iƪƪia]

Illia's ears twitched in annoyance as she heard Ara scream behind her. Her second head turned to lock eyes with her in an attempt to convey a warning not to distract her. The last thing she needed to worry about were her two traveling companions cowering behind her.

The buggane, seemingly able to sense her anger, let out an equally annoyed grunt as it brought it's right foot forward and stomped it hard on the ground, causing a shower of dirt particles to rain down upon them.

Momentarily disoriented by the earthquake, Illia managed to come to her senses in time to see the beast lung forward in an attempt to bring it's claw down upon her. Startled, she jumped back, growling as the creature instead buried it's fist into the ground.

"Well, what do you want me to do?!" She snapped at Ara, still not turning her main head away from the buggane.

She backed away from the beast as she looked it over, trying to figure out the best plan of attack. It didn't seem wise to attack it from the front, and yet she was unable to get around it to attack it from behind. Perhaps this wouldn't be quite as easy as she had thought.

[Elle]

Elle was just short of amazed as she watched Illia approach the monster. Was she really going to fight it? The thing was huge! Not to mention, how dangerous it looked. Those claws... and those tusks... Illia was far braver than Elle would ever be. (ooc: lol it kinda hurt to write that, even though it's ic)

When she saw the monster swing at Illia, she gave an involuntary jump backwards, hitting her head on the ceiling. Dazed, she forced her massive girth further down the tunnel, away from the troll-like creature. Elle had had a bad feeling all along. She knew it! They should never had come here.

[Iƪƪia]

As she was contemplating her strategy, the buggane decided that it was tired of waiting. With a snarl, it charged forward, flailing claws desperately reaching toward them. Without thinking, Illia lunged forward to meet the creature dodging directly in between it's claws.

She dug her own claws into it's chest and attempted to propel the creature backward. This proved to be a difficult task and for a time, neither of them had budged. Sensing an advantage, the buggane reached forward, grabbing her horns and attempted to force her to the ground. Annoyed and uncertain, Illia removed her claws from the beast's chest and instead, grabbed at the creature's arms in an attempt to get him off of her.

With several clawing motions and a sharp shake of her head, the buggane's grasp slipped, allowing Illia to hop backwards, though not before the buggane responded with a shake of it's own head. It's tusk managed to graze her left shoulder as she made her escape. With a hiss of pain, she stammered backward even further. She didn't look at her wound, but she was unable to avoid the sharp taste of blood. However, this only served to heighten her rage as she let out a deep, rumbling growl.

[Elle]

Still unable to shake her feelings of fear and uncertainty, Elle watched in horror as Illia faced off agains the monster. How awful! They were right in each others faces. For a moment, it seemed as if Illia was fighting a losing battle, but she managed to break free. However, it looked like she was injured in the process.

Grinding her claws into the dirt nervously, Elle decided that she needed to do something. Slowly, she inched back into the tunnel. It was then she noticed that the monster appeared to be ready to charge again. She jerked her head up higher, colliding with the ceiling before she let loose a torrent of water over Illia and Ara's heads. It hit the beast square in the chest, pushing him back a few paces. A feeling of excitement suddenly surging through her, she lowered her head, prepared to attack again at a moment's notice.

[Iƪƪia]

Dazed and angry, Illia desperately needed a moment to compose herself. That seemed unlikely in these cramped quarters. That is, before a sudden spray of water streaked over her head and collided with the buggane. The creature's moment of disorientation was all she needed.

She was somewhat annoyed that she hadn't thought of this herself. Maybe a buggane was comfortable with water, but not ice. The lake below never froze (not naturally, anyway) so this creature couldn't be accustomed to the cold. This would be the perfect plan of attack. Satisfied with her reasoning, Illia set about to lowering the temperature in the cave, causing the water to freeze almost immediately.

Already drenched in water, ice crystals began to form all throughout the beast's matted hair. Startled, it stumbled backward even further, clawing at the ice covering it's body. Seizing the opportunity, Illia unleashed all of her anger as she sprang forward and barreled into the creature, sending them both flying back a few feet.

As soon as they stopped moving, she jumped back, getting out of the reach of it's claws and tusks. As she moved to the side, where she expected to collide with the cave wall, she didn't. Confused, she twisted her second head around to get a look at her surroundings. This room was slightly bigger than the previous corridor. There was enough room for more than one creature, at least.

At ease with the increased space, she dropped lower to the ground and stalked around the side of the buggane, now in the center of the room.[/color]

[Elle]

As soon as she understood what Illia was up to, a feeling of ease swept through Elle. This could actually work. They really might get out of here alive. They just needed to get past this monster, and that seemed all too possible now.

Just then, Illia attacked the beast and the two of them were propelled beackwards and out of site. Without thinking, Elle slinked down the tunnel after them. She found them in a larger room at the end of the cave. Illia already looked like she was prepared to attack again, so Elle decided that she should offer as much help as possible. Craning her neck, she unleashed another torrent of water on the already weakened creature and she watched him desperately try to clear away the water and ice covering his body.

[Iƪƪia]

Another blast of water further disoriented the beast as it became preoccupied with ridding itself of the chunks of ice that still encased it's body. That was it. Illia had decided to end the fight now and end it quickly. She wouldn't be bothered by this creature again. She'd make sure of it!

With a deafening roar, she threw herself full-force at the buggane. The unstable creature easily toppled backward, the chimera locked on top of it. The beast barely had time to protect itself before Illia had set about to tearing at it's flesh with her sharp, hooked claws and fangs. Unsure of where any of it's major organs existed beneath it's matted hair, she instead focused on attacking it's head. It seemed to have some effect as she tore at the tough skin in between it's tusks.

The buggane let loose strange, tortured cries as it frantically grabbed at her mane in an attempt to pull her off. However, that only succeeded in making her angrier. She continued clawing and chewing at it's head in between snarls until she finally felt the skin give. Triumphantly, she pulled away a chunk of the buggane's face and spat it across the room.

She continued clawing and ripping away pieces of the creature's head, each bite only fueling her rage and determination to continue, until finally, the cries stopped and the beast moved no more. Slightly surprised at her strength, she lifted her head to get a better look at the buggane, now no more than a limp heap of hair and blood. Curiously, she nudged one of it's arms with her paw, only to see it roll lifelessly to it's side.

Removing herself from the creature, Illia walked slowly to the other side of the room, using her paw to remove the blood from her face. She noticed another cave entrance at this end of the room, and decided to see just where it went.

It had better lead to an exit, She thought, licking her paw, After what I had to go through to get here. It had better.[/color]

[Elle]

With a mixture of fear and fascination, Elle watched as Illia attacked the creature and mercilessly began to rip it apart. It all happened so quickly, and she had to look away at the sight of the amount of blood. She only turned back when she didn't hear the monster wailing anymore. Hesitantly, she looked over and saw it lying there dead.

Elle actually felt sorry for the beast. It probably wasn't an evil creature. It was only trying to defend it's home. Pushing these thoughts aside, Elle watched Illia walk off into the darkness and quickly ran to catch up to her, bumping into the sides of the cavern as she did. Illia. Wasn't she hurt?

"H-Hey, are you okay?" She managed to stutter.

[Iƪƪia]

Illia was slightly annoyed to hear Elle's voice. She just wanted to get out of here without having to talk to anyone. Though, she supposed she shouldn't seem too angry. Elle did help her to defeat that thing. Unlike Ara who didn't do a damn thing. Normally, she would have growled in disgust at this, however Elle reminded her that she had just been injured. Hesitantly, she looked at her shoulder and began licking the blood away. It wasn't too bad, right? It wasn't worth a trip to the infirmary, was it? After all, what would she tell them happened? Injured because she ran into a buggane in a secret cave beneath the lake.

"I'm fine."

Without saying anything more, she galloped down the new cave, eager to see what rested at the end. They didn't have to wait long before they entered another room, much like the one where the buggane was, only there was one noticeable difference. A thin, long crack ran through the length of the ceiling, allowing the light from outside to come in. Not about to continue searching for another exit, Illia bounded up and brought her claw through the soft dirt which caved easily. With one leap, she jumped through the makeshift exit, landing on a stone ledge outside.

The moon was gone, and the sun was just starting to rise. Morning already. And she hadn't gotten a lick of sleep. Perhaps she should just skip her first few classes and get some sleep instead. Looking down, she saw that the lake was several feet below. It was exceedingly tranquil, completely oblivious to the battle that had raged on within these dirt walls. With long, fluid movements, Illia jumped to a lower ledge, then another, then she splashed into the lake below.

Despite all that happened to them in that cave, it might actually be worth a second look. Now that there was an exit and a lack of hostile creatures, she'd like to see where some of those other caves led. Perhaps she'd come back here and scout out the place a little more. Content with this, she climbed out of the lake and trotted off toward the dorms, not looking back to see if the other girls had gotten out as well.[/color]