Chapter 2

I must have been knocked unconscious once I hit the water because I simply for the life of me cannot remember how I escaped the liquidy devil. The only things I could remember were small flashes of orange light and a lot of water. With bleary eyes and a barely functioning brain, my consciousness returned to me.

Upon my awakening, somewhere along the shoreline of the small lake, I quickly took note of the area that I found myself in. The walls of the gorge were incredibly steep, which in turn lead to many trees making a canopy. The fact that I survived that fall with some minor muscle pain is almost comical.

It was dark, the only way I could see was from the rays of moonlight that peeked through the canopy. With this bit of light I made a rough estimate, I would say the closest wall of the gorge would be roughly a half-mile from my current position.

The forest I needed to get through to arrive at the wall was like a blanket of darkness. I don’t think that a small amount of moonlight would help.

After observing the surroundings I pushed myself up off the dirt and stretched for some time, every muscle in my body seemed to scream in protest. Figuring it would probably be a bad idea to stay standing out in the open I moved towards the closest wall of the gorge. Albeit moving towards the forest was difficult one your bones are shaking every step.

Maneuvering through the forest was a lot easier with hunger as motivation. This doesn’t mean I didn’t trip like once or twice...or several times. Though even if it was easier to maneuver it was still extremely difficult to see, but through the darkness, I caught a glimpse of something, a flash of orange light against the backdrop of the gorge wall. With some newfound hope, I quickened my pace towards the source of light.

Upon reaching the mysterious light I found that it was a lantern that had been knocked on its side. Next to the lantern was a display of tracks, two to be exact, each of different sizes and shapes.

“Huh, What happened here?” I muttered as I bent down to inspect the area.

Next to the lantern were some foo- hoofprints. Whoever was around here must have been hunting a deer or something. However, there were no footprints. On closer inspection, there were some larger more intimidating prints that came after the hoof prints.

“Hope whoever left this lantern doesn't mind me borrowing it forever,” I whispered. I picked up the thick iron lantern the flame flickering inside slightly as I did so.

“The hunter could have followed the hoofprints, guess that's my objective.”

After my open remark, I decided to follow that mysterious trail. After a bit of a walk and some spooky atmosphere, I observed some changes in the terrain. The trees parted to reveal a large clearing. Though I doubt I would have seen it without my handy dandy lantern.

I hesitantly walked into the clearing, once I walked in I perceived some odd terrain. Large holes decorated the wall face. There were also some more describable features around the area like a noticeably large skeleton nestled at the entrance of one of the holes.

“Holy shit,” I exclaimed while examining the holes from the forest parting.

The trail that I had been following leads to the other side of the clearing. Well, I might as well get back to my lovely stroll through a pitch-black forest. Before I could reach the first hole I got a glimpse of something etched into the cliff wall.

There was a roughly chiseled picture of an eel and small letters that were blurry for a solid second or two before the reconstructed themselves into understandable English.

“A query for quick quarry miners.

In the Ghastly Gorge game of cat and mouse.

Would a Qarrary eel be the cat or the mouse?”

“I don’t know, eels are probably the ‘or’ option,” I giggled like a madman. My skill for wit clearly above average.

With the reading by lantern light done, I walked towards the other side of the clearing. After passing the first hole I swear I heard some hissing, but y’ know it’s the middle of the night and I couldn't afford to get spooked. Though after walking past the second hole and seeing two giant orange eyes burning into my side was enough to get me speed walking. A giant burgundy eel slowly slithered out of the third and final hole.

“I, uh, didn’t mean it when I called you an ‘or’ earlier,” I sheepishly said as the giant eel peeled the rest of its body out of its hole.

The eels stabbed its colossal head forwards, it missed me by a hair. Realization struck me, it must have poor eyesight. Though carrying this lantern would make me lose any advantage I had, but losing this lantern would be a nightmare.

That's if I lived through this experience. I heard hissing behind, another eel ripped its body out of its hole. It shattered the rock face above its hole.

“Okay, okay, just gotta wait for the righ”- The colossal eel charged forward, and with a large amount of luck and a little miracle, I dodged its oncoming attack. “Now!”

The eel behind me had crashed into the one in front of me allowing me to escape. I ran towards the mess of jaws and scales that made up these eel-esque being and ran between a gap between the two of them. After running for a bit I managed to get to the other side of the clearing and luckily with no more eel encounters.

“What kinda LSD nightmare trip am I on?” I questioned aloud. The tracks seemed to continue even further.

I was exhausted but I couldn't risk stopping, my fear, even though I wouldn't admit it, is what kept me going. I had to talk to myself to keep myself sane and alert.

“Hydras! Giant rock eels! What is going on?! This is crazy!” after exclaiming my building questions I inhaled and exhaled, what good are breathing exercises if you don’t use them, right?

“ Alright, get it together Peter!” I slapped my left hand to my head and ran it through my rough auburn hair. My suspenders and slacks were a nightmare covered in mud and soaked in sweat. I was bound to get sick if I didn't dry myself soon.

Whatever followed these tracks must also be ahead of me. I had so many questions, like why are these tracks so familiar? Why is there no footprints, but there was a lit lantern? Hoofs?

Some of these questions would be answered soon, maybe, probably not.

Author's Note

Howdy.

Thanks for reading!

I hope you have a wonderful day!