Now we focus

"Mors!" I called out as I finally reached the far wall. He was about ten feet above me, though there was a few spots where the rubble climbs higher. "What the hell are you doing here!? You weren't supposed to run in like an idiot!" I yelled up at him as he shook his head. A small grin on his face at my words.

"Perhaps I had a feeling for adventure." He yells down. Mors raised his head to make sure he wasn't being surrounded by any scaly friends. Thankfully they all seemed to be focused on the last spot they had seen me. Breaking down the wall and clambering over each other. "Come on!" Mors called out as he throws down a length of rope. Barely long enough for me to reach, even at the highest point in the rubble. With a jump I barely managed to grab hold. I grimaced to myself as the rough rope dug into my hand. After planting my feet on the wall I started to climb. Making my way up higher before Mors managed to grab my arm and help me over the final leg of the climb. I collapse back down onto the ground behind the wall as Mors ducks down with me. "Sir! What are you doing here? Did Hailey send you?"

"In a way. The village idiot decided I had something to do with a girl gone missing." I say as I rubbed my hands. "After he tried to attack me I managed to get an answer out of her and Miss Loroni. Little brain storming and we figured she and you had gone to the same spot. Are we right?" I asked turning to Mors. He smiled dryly before adjusting in his spot.

"You're not wrong. She came out here on her own interested in what we had gotten into. She... she's alive, but she got bit. She's in a room just up ahead. Too small for them to get into, it's..." I stopped him as I look over the concrete wall. Several of the lizards had split up and were currently looking around for another meal. Some had returned to their fallen comrades for a snack. Two had managed to actually make it into the enclosure and were currently eating their dead ally.

"I already know it. Let's get moving. Once one of them spots us the others will join in. Least two of them are trapped for now." After a brief moment Mors nodded and we began to make our way deeper into the cave. Keeping low to avoid being spotted too quickly before we finally make it to the office. The crystals inside glow just as brightly as prior. Though this time it's a lot more cramped with three people stuffed into the room.

Nori, the girl who had gotten a bit too excited, was laying against the wall breathing heavily. Her leg was torn up from what I could only assume was a smaller dragon. She opened her eyes lazily to see us come in before her eye lids collapsed once more. "Mors," I said flipping my bag around. Thankfully it had avoided being crushed in my attempt to evade being eaten. "Find the tonic in there. Same as before." As Mors looked through the bag I walked over and knelt next to Nori. Checking her temperature and brushing the dirty hair out of her face. A young teen the girl was barely old enough to be considered such. Best guess, thirteen to fourteen at most. Her petite body was covered in mud and her own blood. "She's on fire. Same as Bry. Though I don't think she's gonna be as lucky to avoid infection. Have to try though." As I finished my thought Mors handed me the bottle. Nearly empty, with only enough for one more dosage at best. Hopefully enough for her.

"Nori... can you hear me? I know you're in pain but I need you to take a moment for me. I've got a healing tonic. I just need you to open your mouth and stay strong for me. You're going home today, I promise you that." I held the bottle tightly before her mouth slowly opened. "Thank you, Nori. This is going to hurt, but you'll be alright." I held her hand gently as I poured the final swig of potion into her mouth. Watching her as she took a hard swallow. Followed immediately by her body beginning to writhe in agony. At first she couldn't be bothered to make a single noise but after a few seconds of sickening noises she found her voice. Screaming loudly, too loudly, in pain. Only coming to a stop as her body collapsed back down and her breathing slowly came to calm down.

"Thank... you..." She said in a dry tone. Likely having gone without a drink for at least eight hours.

"You're going to be alright, Nori." I glanced down at her leg and sighed. Though there was a nasty scar forming the wound had mostly healed. Now only made up of tender wound meat. She had avoided breaking her leg so the potion had focused solely on healing her bite. Her fever had also begun to die down as she rested against the wall.

"Sir? What is this place?" Mors asked as he looked around the space. "Do you know? You said you've been here before? Is it something human?"

"I guess you could say that." I reply. Pulling Nori into my side as I drop down next to her. Letting her rest against me. "This entire cave used to be... very different. A place for families to run around and admire animals. Like... like those outside. They used to be very different then too." I wasn't able to catch myself before he could ask me. Wondering how I knew so much about the place, if I had never been there before.

"Stories mostly." I lie, a little saddened by having to do so. "I only realized it after I saw that metal sign by the entrance. This used to be an incredible place. A very... very long time ago. If I had to guess those lizards out there were as trapped as we are. They evolved down... changed down here. Becoming something more deadly and as the cave was formed they figured out ways to escape. Though I don't think they've figured out how to get out of the cave itself. I think they're living far deeper into the network. Considering your people haven't seen any of them before, it only makes sense that they just haven't left. Living here, down in the dark until your son fell."

"I figured as much too. Before you and my son I doubt anyone even knew this was here. Doubtful that anyone survived, even if they found it. The bigger problem, Sir... how are we going to? I barely made it this far because I ran. I heard her crying and ran until I found her. And she's not going to be in running shape for at least a week if that injury is as ugly as it looks." I sigh softly as the realization sets in. If they weren't tracking us to begin with they certainly heard her screaming. There's no way they won't be on our asses. I lay my head back into the crystal behind me as I try to think. Try to come up with something that will work. Something other then sending someone or myself to be a snack. Something... anything... anything at all.

"Can you carry her out? Or at least to the exit?" He took a moment to answer before he nodded. "You two are going to make a break for the exit. Don't stop. Don't turn back. Just run. Get her out. I'll... I'll join you when I can. Just get her out..." I wish I could have taken a photo of the expression on his face. The grim realization as to what I had planned. Or at least what I had in mind. There wasn't much of a plan. More so a half pitched idea. Half assed more like it. "Let me go first. Wait for the sounds too... get far enough away. Just get her out."

I rose to my feet I swung the bag back around me, after putting the bottle back. I took a deep breath and drew the broken blade. Mors doesn't say anything. He only get's Nori ready to move as she struggled to her feet. Barely able to look around before she noticed me. I nod silently and begin to shimmy through the crack. Making sure to have my sword out in front of me as I made my way out. I didn't have to wait long before the loud sound of slapping drew my attention.