The Confused Explorer

Below the miles of stone, earth, ore, and mud lied a dark and dank cave. Stalactites and stalagmites took most of the small area up. Water formed at the tips of the stalactites as they dripped slowly and methodically. Nothing breathed in this cave. Nothing lived in this cave. Nothing happened in this cave. At least, nothing should have happened in this cave, that was until this day arrived. Only on this day may the thing that resides here may break free of its invisible shackles. Something not quite a beast, yet not quite a supernatural being. Something most things in all worlds now of and harbor either worship or disgust for. A sin that blasphemies and taints in any form it lives. It squirms in its own form, finding the day nigh for its time of movement.

Deep set yellow and veiny eyes that hold dark and abysmal oval pupils. Small in size, yet large in dominance and emotion. It was time.

✵

A dark snow field held the bright golden bird in contrast. Light snowflakes fell down without sound in the area as it piled upon the messy and hard snow already there. Sharp breathing escaped its beak as it sensed the sudden danger that was soon upon the land. The distant rumble of its past work still flowed forward in a small tide towards a desolate plane, creating no difference on this lonely little world. It was in no condition to fight another hard battle for it had already risked its everything in order to get this victory.

Grabbing as much food as it could from the squashed beast, it flew away while being both full of food and carrying enough to last any normal person weeks. Dripping slowly with colorless blood the slab of meat that easily matched the size of a large truck was carried away by it. It's massive golden form spreading a wingspan that was easily larger than a person. It flew towards the distant craggy mountain tops towards a set destination.

A hard look adorned its face as it felt the unease and friction in the air. Cold seemed to be emanate from the very depths now as temperatures dropped below what should be possible. The snow in the surroundings shifted once more. It was time.

✵

A slight warmth surrounded Mike. He felt hot and stifled, yet he could not move his own limbs. Weakness and sickness were apparent from any angle looked at. Bright sparks lit up the dark exterior as his eyes played tricks on him. This time no family showed their condolences for his suffering. Only his short thoughts and bright white fireworks played the game of cat and mouse in his little realm.

Sounds echoed all around him, bustling cities and festive music that played on radios. Chatter of a busy street and the daily news in the morning talking in a deep male tone. Noisy cars and happy christmas music played on loop mostly with the sparks now changing color and showing variation in shape.

"It was around that time I came here huh?" A croak of a distant and sad voice only made the noises louder. They created deep headaches that split down his crown. Death was coming swiftly. Nothing changed. It was time.

✵

Small ravines spread chaotically in the dark of the snow. The stars shined powerful light upon these new additives. Groans of splitting ice and falling snow spread softly. Yellow lights like the aurora borealis spread through, creating quite a beautiful scene as they lit up the surrounding snow. The ravines only continued to grown in size and length as the beautiful yellow lights inside them grew brighter and stronger.

Flying forward with a deep screech following behind him, Turul pulled out the new found energy within him to reach for his master faster. Although only getting food might not be enough to help him, it would at least help give him more time to think of something better. However the food was not the most important thing now. They had to leave this mountain.

Something was coming. Something incredibly dangerous. Bright yellow light shined throughout the ground through craggy ravines behind him as it spread out from the middle of where that Mantis Shrimp was. Whatever it was it seemed like that Mantis Shrimp was there for it and not some sort of treasure. The beautiful lights showed an underlying of danger to only those who felt it.

Rushing noisily, Turul reached his destination in a mere half an hour going a speed blinding to the eye as he left a huge storm in his wake.

With the monster far behind him, Turul found it more important to keep his master alive first before leaving this place.

Dropping the large truck of meat, Turul went to rouse Mike. The crunching and shuffling of snow filled the noiseless air as Turul pulled Mike out of the snow and into his embrace, and although he was alive he did not have much longer until a cold demise.

Tearing off small pieces and forcing him to chew and eat took a little bit of time but other than it bringing a little more color to his face it did nothing else. After eating a full meals worth Turul grabbed both the large stack of meat with his talons and Mike, by his clothes, with his beak hurriedly.

Using the element of wind for protection, Turul rushed towards the bottom of the mountain to where the pink lake resided, for it was terrain in which they knew the layout of, and if that monster didn't stop at the mountain they could escape faster.

In order to get to the slope that led to the bottom of the mountain, they'd have to fly past the monster, however it was only past the monster so they could go more around if needed. Although it brought the sense of danger, it wasn't to the point of where he couldn't push it back in order to escape with Mike since nothing in this area would really be of threat towards him.

Along with those thoughts most animals don't usually chase down other animals to the death unless under extreme circ.u.mstances-like hunger.

✵

The small ravines appeared and only continued to grow in amount. By the time Turul was rushing back towards the slope they had already taken over that part of the plateau leaving little area to fly around, which was closing fast.

Turul flew low to the ground as he used a large bubble of wind to protect mainly Mike from any more damage. It was like traveling in a fast and transparent car as no wind hit them and it muffled the noise on the outside. Crashing through darkness as only the lights above gave them a sense of where they were. Snow blurred past rapidly in almost pitch black darkness as they traveled closer to the bright yellow lights that lifted over the horizons edge.

Deep yet short vibrations shook the beautiful area tainted by the yellow aurora borealis. The bright yellow lights that originated deep within the ravines shifted and extended beyond the ravines edges floating a little bit into the air, creating small rivers of golden light that spread all over. Like a maze it created patterns as they swayed gently above, looking more and more beautiful. It was more like a work of art than an ill omen of an awakening monster. They created no noise as they swayed and extended. The dark and somber atmosphere that surrounded the rest of this little world lifted with the beauty and created a sort of soft and vibrant aura as the stars light blended within. Darkness lifted by a golden light of mysterious origins created a scene none have seen.

Deep within the dizzying lights at the center of this newly created golden river, where the body of the Mantis Shrimp resided. A shift in the ground had started. A small little mound, no bigger than an animal, appeared and out of that small little mound appeared a monster as it released a faint noise.

✵

With half an hour to grab Mike and half an hour to make it back near the area, not including the time to feed Mike, the monster had plenty of time to grow its area of control. So upon seeing the sight of an expansive, yet small wall of golden lights that blocked their path Turul could not come up with an immediate solution.

Stopping for only a moment he had dropped them relatively far away, enough to make the river sized lights look like a thin line on the horizon. Scanning the area with heavy eyes, Turul could only think of flying around it.

Had he made the right decision? Doubt flared through his mind. Would it be better to go the opposite way? But what if they couldn't find their way back? There were many consequences for any action he took.

Flying around may get the monsters attention, yet it was the safer option once they got down since they knew the terrain and the danger level at the base was low which could allow for an easier escape. If he flew any other direction who knew when they'd get off this plateau of ice and snow, and Mike only had hours to live at most if he continued to suffer through this tough environment.

Although he had already started to rouse from sleeping with a high fever, frostbite still racked his body. He was already lucky enough that his coat, backpack, pants, and shoes were still around since supposedly the created items didn't disappear with Mike sleeping, and it was all held on with the broad bear rug that was tucked snugly all around him.

Looking far into the horizon towards the yellow lights razor edge, Turul calmed himself. It was time.

✵

The rapidly approaching screech as if a jet was flying through sounded as a long stream of white snow and ice barreled through reminiscent of a long freight train as it rumbled through the ground and left a long deep trail.

Although a lot of G-force would have been put on Mike with this move, Turul kept relatively simple movements with only small changes in direction as well as a constant speed, allowing Mike to experience none of this in his semi conscious state.

As Turul pushed on the edge of controlled speed, he kept a safe and watchful eye on the bright yellow lights as they moved gently with the slightest breeze or touch or falling snow.

A higher view down on this would show the large maze like area in which the aurora borealis yellow light tresided, as well as the small middle portion being devoid of such lights. On the outer edges, somewhat far away, flew the long white train like creation as it rapidly did a half circle around the yellow lights towards the slope down the mountain.

Deep within, dodging all of the swaying yellow lights and labyrinth esque turns into the middle where the beast had made its home, there stood the small creature that was the due reason for all of this.

Along with the appearance of this creature was the start of something rising from the deeply packed ice and snow. Something quite large was shuffling within the snow as it seemed prepared to finally get out.

As the large white train sped along around the distant light show, a large blast shot out from the middle of the yellow lights centre.

A large column of air along with snow and ice shot straight into the air as it disrupted the silent falling snow within that area. The large blast brought down a small air shockwave into the immediate surroundings with the yellow lights swaying intensely as it rushed by. A hole that reached deep down appeared with a width that was well over the size of a manson. Darkness almost reigned supreme inside this deep hole-almost.

The faint yellow light and powerful star light that mixed together showed faint signs of a light turquoise and deep red mixed shell as light black compound eyes shined with deep yet harrowing feelings as they mixed in with the surrounding darkness. Deep groans like a collapsing building echoed loudly as reverberating stomps that shook the ground faintly echoed within the almost pitch black hole. It is finally time.