Things That Go 'Bump' In The Night

The moon hangs high in the sky, bathing the black beach in its silver moonlight.  Each gain seems to absorb the light, pulling it in to snuff it out. Its empty darkness glimmers dangerously at the twins as they move through the night. Small blue paws leave no trace of their passage as the brothers explore. Chade had been sleeping when Ricin had nudge his brother awake, pointing out the increase of blue fireflies. A deep foreboding had settled into Ricin’s chest and he convinced his brother it was time to move on.

With the ocean lapping at their side, the brothers had quickly made their way down the beach in hopes of finding a cave to sleep in. There hunch pays off as soon a large stone cave appears on the horizon. Relief fills Ricin’s chest and, without a word, he leads the way to it. Stopping a safe distance away from the entrance, he turns to his brother. Warily glancing toward the cave, Ricin says, “Wait here Ny. I will go in and make sure it is safe first. No sense in us both dying.”

There is no sadness in his voice, it is a reality the brothers have come face to face with in the past month. If there is any danger waiting for them in the cave, Ricin wants to give his brother a chance to walk away alive. Squaring his small shoulders, Ricin moves toward towards the entrance, taking note of the increased number of glowing crystals near the opening. Slowly, carefully, Ricin enters the moonlit cave. He sticks to the wall on his right, making himself as small as possible to go unnoticed.

Eyes dart around franticly as the small boy searches for danger. When nothing jumps out of the shadows, Ricin tests the air with his nose. There are no scents of hiding predator so he allows himself to relax and inspect the cave for other dangers. Eyes fall on a small pool of water towards the back of the cave and he watches a fin break the surface. With a nod to himself, Ricin turns his gaze to the cave walls, watching as colors burst into life and fade as the moonlight strikes them.

A sense of awe settles on him and Ricin notices that the glowing crystals from the entrance appear to grow inside as well. The soft blue light them emanate, while pretty to observe, has an otherworldly feel to it. On the floor of cavern is some mushrooms that seem to have the same glow and Ricin decides that they should not try to eat them. Rocks jut out at odd angles and the crystals seem sharp, but those are the only danger Ricin’s eyes can find.

Turning to go back toward the entrance, a small squeaking sound catches his attention and Ricin spies a fat rat scampering out from behind an outcropping. Lips curl back happily as his stomach rumbles its protest at being empty. Turning back to the opening, Ricin sticks his head out of the cave and says, “I don’t see any danger Ny, it is safe to come in. Be careful of the sharp rocks and crystals that line the walls and don’t eat any mushrooms you see. And there appears to food in here.”

Ricin steps away from the entrance and moves further into the cave as he waits for his brother’s arrival.

WC: 568/2500