Creatures Caves

Day Five: Things that Go Bump
Admittedly, my journey back yesterday took longer than expected. After hunting all day, I walked with a slower spring in my step, but I didn't complain. The worrying howling sounds from earlier had temporarily escaped my mind and I was thoroughly enjoying the privacy the still night air afforded me. It was also the perfect time to try and gather more tasty morsels! Even though I had already collected enough provisions for everyone, I couldn't resist the delectable sight, nor the sweet smell, of a cluster of berries I spotted hanging on a bush near a pond. "These will be crushed to make a nice sauce for the fish", I thought happily to myself.

Furthermore, I swore I caught a glimpse of something move, near a small ice cave in close proximity to the pond... Something white with blue specks. Then again, I was very tired, perhaps I was just seeing things. Maybe it was another Snownorn? Curious and curiouser...

I must have got sidetracked for, not surprisingly, the sleepy dawn light was only just peeking through the clouded sky by the time I made it back to our cave. From the moment I stepped inside I began to wish I had arrived sooner, since it appeared I had come home to find my companions feeling a little worse for wear! They were a sight huddled together around the fire, which was almost out, and muttering in frenzied whispers. When they saw I'd returned they burst into frantic explanations, yet all I could hear was babble. "Please! One at a time, guys!", I pleaded as I rubbed at my temples.

As soon as they'd both calmed down, the Borg Norn (who had finally introduced herself as Mea) began to speak. I listened carefully as she began to explain why she kept disappearing. However, this was news to me; had I really been away for that long? It seemed that poor Mea had been suffering from terrible nightmares, and now she wondered if staying with us was making them worse. Rather than being offended, I could see her point. Our gloomy and cavernous lodgings were hardly the best place to get a peaceful night's sleep. No details were given about the nightmare itself, and I didn't want to pry, but I knew she would when she was ready. On a brighter note, she then went on to describe a pale blue critter she'd seen, reminiscent of a fox. "Perhaps it was an arctic fox?", I suggested.

Then it was c1anddsaddict's turn. She told me of her earlier perilous expedition, and explained that the cave runs far deeper underground than we knew. Apparently, if you venture deeper into the cave, it eventually separates into two rooms; one leads to an awful-smelling passageway craved with strange runes, while the other leads you to some kind of relic, which she thought to be an ancient statue with indecipherable runes underneath. Needless to say, it had given her a bad vibe about the place, and the unshakable feeling that we were being... Watched... I felt a shiver shoot down my spine. From the sounds of it, I can't say I blame her for being more than a little nervous!

So... it's likely that we'll be in the market from a new shelter and soon, since everyone and their pet crab has got the heebie-jeebies about this place now. Personally, I feel slightly braver and wouldn't mind investigating this mysterious statue for myself, but it's probably not wise to bring it up just now, considering how c1anddsaddict and Mea both feel! Anyway, to distract them both from such unpredictable dangers, I decided that now was the time to present them with the sizable bounty that I'd worked so hard to retrieve. Surely we'd all feel better with a good supper inside us. I hope they enjoy the berries!