The descent into the earth.

The next day, the mood was sombre with everyone cold and grumpy from the rainy night. After breakfast, they carried the boats the rest of the way to the entrance of the dwarf tunnels. It was a gaping hole in the ground, created by a big earthquake two weeks prior. They stashed the boats in some bushed at the mouth of the crater.

‘Alright, this is it. This hole opened up two weeks ago. It should cut down our travel time by a good amount compared to the normal entrance,’ Q’rin said, ‘Sir Otto, ready a rope and hook, fasten it securely. We do not want to fall, it goes quite deep, you’d break a leg at the very least.’ The dark elf waited for the paladin to retrieve the climbing rope from his pack and secure it around a nearby tree, tossing the loose end into the hole. Q’rin tested the rope, ‘Good, I think Sir Otto shall go first, if the tree can hold him, it can hold any of us. Throw a torch down there so you can see the bottom.’

Otto retrieved a torch from his pack and turned to Ariane. ‘Ariane, could you light this?’ Otto said to the sorceress.

The elf huffed, ‘Hmph, why should I? Can’t you do it yourself, paladin?’

‘I thought, it would be quicker this way,’ Otto scratched his scalp.

‘Just light the torch, Ariane. What’s happened between you two to be so… hostile?’ Mira sighed.

Ariane growled, ‘The problem is what didn’t happen between us… Fine, let’s get on with it.’ She flicked her finger and a small flame ignited the tarred head of the torch.

‘Thanks,’ Sir Otto nodded and tossed the torch in the cavern. It took a few seconds for it to land and, peering over the edge, they could see it burn down at the bottom.

Q’rin chuckled, ‘Good news, we’re not descending into water. If you’d do the honors, Sir Otto?’

‘Right,’ Otto nodded and fastened the rope around his belt, slowly walking backwards and letting himself down. He slowly fed the rope around his belt and supported his weight on the wall with his legs, descending into the dark. The fissure in the earth was slightly angled, making it slightly easier.

‘Looks to be holding fine,’ Q’rin smiled, ‘I’ll go second, I have the best eyes for the dark.’ Q’rin copied Otto and climbed after him.

‘I’ll go next!’ Khala perked up and quickly followed Q’rin.

‘Looks safe enough,’ Lex said and followed Khala.

Ariane was lost in thought for a moment, still furious about Otto’s disinterest and rejection. The elf needed some affirmation that she still was the best seductress around. A moment before Mira could take the rope, Ariane cut in. ‘I’ll go next.’

‘Hey, don’t push me, that’s dangerous!’ Mira stepped back as Ariane grabbed the rope.

They all descended the rope in to the darkness, before the light of the torch illuminated them from below.

Ariane got an idea. She shrieked in surprise, ‘Aaah! Oh damn, what was that?’

‘What’s the matter?’ Lex asked, his eyes still looking down and at the rock wall to not slip.

‘S—Something brushed my thigh,’ Ariane said, ‘Could you look if there is something there?’

‘Uhm, sure I ca—,’ Lex looked up at Ariane. Naturally, the elf wasn’t wearing any panties and he was looking right up her dress, her black-furred pussy was completely exposed to Lex. He gulped, remembering the first night they had met. His eyes roamed her rear a moment.

Ariane knew exactly what was happening and it filled her with joy, teasing the half-elf was always fun, ‘What? Is there anything?’

He gulped, ‘N—No, there isn’t anything. Anything at all.’

‘Must’ve been my imagination,’ Ariane giggled, ‘Sorry.’

‘R—Right, let’s continue,’ Lex said, blushing and looking down again.

Mira grumbled up above them, clearly having noticed that something fishy was going on.

They descended the rope to the bottom without incident, everyone safe and sound. They were standing in a large cavern, a gash in the ceiling by the wall, where they had rappelled down, letting in some sunlight. It was a wondrous place, massive stalagtites and stalagmites shaping it like the maw of a great dragon.

For all her bad mood at the surface, Ariane was cheerful again now and Mira was grumpy. The warrior took the sorceress to the side and glared at her, ‘What was that about, Ariane?’

‘I don’t know what you are talking about,’ Ariane feigned innocence.

‘You flashing your bare pussy to Lex,’ Mira growled.

Ariane shrugged, ‘I felt something on my thigh, I couldn’t put on panties while rope climbing, Mira.’

‘Bullshit, you know exactly what you were doing. Why?’ Mira fumed.

‘What’s the big deal if I did? Might I remind you that I had him first?’ Ariane girnned.

‘Once! And then he chose to rather pursue me. What’s that about suddenly? You didn’t seem that interested in him the last months, but now… wait, is it because him and I are together now? Are you jealous?’ Mira sighed.

‘No, no. I’m happy for you truly am, but… well, I didn’t feel sexy anymore so… y’know?’ Ariane pouted.

‘Didn’t feel sexy? Why? Is that why you were so grumpy this morning?’ Mira raised an eyebrow, ‘Wait, what happened with Otto yesterday exactly?’

‘As I said: nothing! That’s the problem, I tried everything but he didn’t react all!’ Ariane huffed, ‘He must be gay or something.’

Mira started to giggle slightly, causing Ariane to glare at her, ‘Oh, uhm, sorry. I just… I would’ve like to see that. Have you ever considered that he might be keeping his oath? You do know that paladins swear oaths of chastity, right?’

‘You think that’s it? God, I hope that’s it,’ Ariane frowned.

‘Damn, girl, we really have to find you a boyfriend when we get back on the surface,’ Mira sighed. Ariane opened her mouth but Mira cut her off before she could say anything, ‘I’m damn well not sharing mine, don’t even ask.’

‘I wasn’t gonna,’ Ariane lied.

‘Are the two divas quite finished with gossip, so we can continue?’ Q’rin chimed in, glaring at them.