A shortcut through the mountain

Thurkla parted a large growth of vines to reveal a large cavern entrance on the side of the mountain. Morgala and Takoff looked concernedly at one another before the latter took a step forward and asked, "What is this?"

"I know this area pretty well. I've had to drive people who had tight schedules, so naturally, I found a few... let's call them unconventional paths." Thurkla started to rip down the overgrown foliage covering up the entrance, tossing the massive vines aside like they were nothing. "This shortcut will give us a quicker path than going through the forest. We might even reach the other side before nightfall if we get a move-on."

Morgala and Takoff looked past Thurkla into the dark cave. The light from the forest didn't reach very far inside, and past that darkness, they could both hear unpleasant sounds echoing from beyond their vision. Shivers went down their spines, this time not just from the cold wind hitting their naked skin, and they instinctively stepped closer together until their bare shoulders touched. Both women jumped in fright and yelped before their hearts stopped racing at the sight of one another.

Thurkla just stared back at her naked companions confusedly. "What's wrong?"

Takoff scoffed. "'What's wrong?'! You want us to go into a dark cave with no equipment and no guaranteed escape plan? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Don't worry about it," Thurkla grabbed one of the oversized vines and strung it over her shoulder. "I know these caves like the back of my hand. You'll be safe as long as I'm here."

"Sweet pea," Morgala ventured, "It's not that I don't trust you, but..." As she looked Thurkla in the eyes, however, she trailed off. Thurkla was giving her a face like a puppy that you were about to leave at home alone for the first time. Normally whenever Tina gave her a face like that, Morgala could muscle through it, but with her girlfriend... "...but I think we should hurry up and go. We don't want to have to sleep underground, now do we?"

Thurkla's face beamed, but she composed herself, not wanting to look too childish when she was in charge. So, standing up straight, her chest proudly on display, she turned around, mooning her companions, and marched forward into the cave. Morgala trapped a small branch from the ground and, setting the tip ablaze, fashioned a torch for their journey. With luck, it would not only keep them warm but also light their way until they made it to the exit.

Takoff, meanwhile, was flabbergasted. These ladies were crazy! No wonder they lost all their earthly possessions; they weren't smart enough to keep their own heads on (the irony of having that thought while she was quite naked herself was lost on her). "So we're really doing this? Just wandering into a dark cave hoping we'll find a way out?"

"It's either spend a day in the cave or spend a few weeks in the woods. And I do not want to survive the cold on top of the mountains at night." Morgala turned around and hustled to catch up with Thrukla.

Takoff looked around, then looked down at her naked body. She lifted her damp and smelly hat off her head and stared at it for a few moments before groaning, donning it once more, and running after the dwindling light in the mouth of the cave, yelling, "Wait for me!" How had her life come to this?