Mask

First aid kit.

Spike stared into his bag, hands covered in blood, ignoring the red liquid staining his hands and peered at the first aid kit. He kept walking through the snow, lowering his mask down and flicking his long, draconic tongue out. He tasted the air for a moment, ignoring its icy grip on his tongue, then continued on. He kept walking, looking around, squinting his eyes through the blizzard, being following by Storm and Silver, who was carrying Big Mac on his shoulders.

They stopped for a moment, Storm taking this chance to cautiously walk towards Spike, before asking, "Kid, you sure you know where we're heading? All I can see are buildings and more snow."

"We're almost there." Spike said, walking off, Silver silently following, Big Mac giving a soft groan on Silvers shoulders. Storm looked up at the clouds, then grunted loudly, walking with them.

"Why are we following this kid around?" Storm asked Silver, making Silver give a grunt in response. "He's clearly lost, we need to set up shop and get Mac here some-"

"I...trust Spike..." Big Mac weakly said, Storm giving him a surprised look. Big Mac was too weak to lift his head too far, but gave Storm a glare, continuing, "I...trust him with...my life...he'll get us...where we need to go."

That seemed to shut Storms questioning down, Silver giving a smile that was hidden under the rebreather. It seemed only a minute or two passed when Spike finally found what he was looking for. He slowly started to push on the metal door, the ice on the hinges cracking and splitting as it groaned open, Spike grunting as he pushed it open more and more.

Seeing it open enough, Spike waved the trio in, Storm taking the lead, using her flashlight and weapon to aim around, crossbow at the ready. Silver followed, giving a grimace at the skeletal remains they passed, Spike giving a grunt as he started to drag the door closed, gritting his teeth as it screeched, piercing into the howl of air.

Once it finally shuddered shut, Spike gave out a breath he was holding. He spared a look at the skeletal remains, before heading down the stairs and into the main room. Storm has brushed away some of the tables, getting rid of dust, computers and papers, letting Silver set Big Mac down on it, his shoulders having blood on them, the former farmer groaning in pain.

Spike scampered up, digging through his bag and pulling the first aid kit out, along with a bottle of water. He washed his hands with the water, washing away the blood from the beast and cleaning them, shaking them dry and opening the kit. He pulled out alcohol, needle and thread, and multiple ointments, tugging out a needle with a strange substance inside.

He poked Big Mac, giving a wince as he gave a groan of pain, saying, "Sorry. This is going to hurt...a lot, but you'll be alive until doctors look at you." As Spike used the alcohol in the cloth, Silver and Storm sat next to each other, scanning the rest of the room.

Big Mac pointed at his mask, Spike pulling it off, before cleaning Big Mac wound, hearing soft hisses from the man, before Big Mac finally spoke, far too soft for the two guards to hear, "I saw what ya did. Ya sure you're alright?"

Spike was silent for a moment, slowly starting to stitch up the wound, his hands slowly getting bloody as he did so, "Yeah."

"Spike, I've never seen anyone do somethin like that. You're clearly not fine." Big Mac said, staring at Spike, the young dragonblood giving Big Mac a soft look, before continuing on.

"I...I dunno what I did." Spike finally admitted, loud enough for the two guards to hear, though Spike was too busy helping Big Mac to notice. He continued, "I just saw you get struck, lying in the snow, motionless, and...something inside of me snapped. Like I needed to help you, that I had to do anything to keep you safe, even if that meant ripping that thing apart. I got so angry...and so scared, and I just kinda blacked out."

Big Mac stared at Spike, before weakly resting a hand on Spikes shoulder, the young teen looking at Big Mac, seeing his soft green eyes full of comfort, before finally speaking, "Tartarus, woulda done the same thing in your shoes...don't remember any of it though?"

"Not a thing. All I remember is sort of...waking up and seeing you lying in the snow." Spike admitted, before pulling the string, closing up the wound. He cut the string, before applying the gauze, then the bandages, giving a soft sigh. "This'll hold until an actual doctor gets a look at you."

Silver walked over, giving a impressed hum, before speaking, "Good job kid."

"Living with a bookworm had its perks." Spike explained, before giving a soft smile. "She would drill medical knowledge into my head every time she got a chance. And it comes in handy."

At that moment, the lights flickered, making the group look around. Silver and Spike slowly started to help Big Mac up, the larger man giving a grunt as he felt an ache in his side, before wobbling on his feet for a moment, a soft chitter being heard throughout the room. Storm started to slowly inch around, the lights flicking again, her eyes narrowing. She slowly checked her wrist, before slowly nocking an arrow into he crossbow, slowly scanning the room.

"Something's up. We better get to the Caverns. Now." Storm finally said, the lights giving another flicker, giving a wary eye to the holes in the walls.

"Come on, kid, you lead the way." Silver ordered, helping Big Mac walk across the room. "You keep a close eye on the kid, Storm. If anything happens to him, I'll probably have to bury myself before Mayor Mare finds me."

Storm nodded, letting Spike take the lead, the young dragonblood giving the lights above a nervous glance. He started walking, Storm giving him soft glances as they walked forward, the lights shutting off for a moment. Storms slowly walked down the stairs, checking the corner as they went down, before slowly walking into the bottom floor.

"Clear."

The lights flickered again, making Spike glance around in worry. He flicked his tongue out, before walking in, flicking his tongue again and again, tasting the air. "We should hurry. Smells awful in here. Something's close."

"How do you do that?" Storm asked, aiming around, eyes darting this way and that. "I can't smell anything except...ugh, something rotting."

"Dragons have a better sense of smell. At least, according to Twilight." Spike mumbled out, eyes narrowing, before his nictating membrane slid over his eyes. "Come on, the lights won't last long."

Silver walked in with Big Mac, Big Mac giving ragged breaths as they walked inside. The flickering lights started going, Spike giving a worried look. He walked past the computers and paper, before a light popped, making Spike jump. And, just as quick, the lights shut down with an audible whir, sending everyone into darkness.

Spike heard them rustle around for their lights, only to breathe out a stream of green flames, illuminating the room before them in green light.

"Thanks, Spike." Silver spoke, reaching into his pocket and pulling a light out, turning it on. He scanned the room, before they heard a scraping sound, the group turning to it.

It seemed a table had moved on its own. Then a skitter echoed out, Storm twirling around, weapon raised, turning her flashlight on. She heard a screech and turned, ducking under a chair, firing a bolt into whatever it was.

The bolt bounced and flew away, smacking into the wall, the creature giving a scream of anger as it ran away from the light. Spike felt fear creep into his heart, but kept it at bay, looking back to see Silver trying to teach his weapon. What Silver and Big Mac didn't see was a shape taking form behind them, Spikes pupils suddenly constricting into slits as he watched. He couldn't lose a friend, couldn't lose anyone else.

He refused to lose anyone else.

He flew forward, grabbing Silver and Big Mac, pushing thek out of the way, then blew a stream of green fire onto the carapace beast, lighting the room up in a green hue. The beast scrambled and screamed in agony, but Spike only took another breath in, then blew another stream of green flame out, making the beast back itself into the wall from the force. The crackling of flesh and armor gave Spike no pause, though when he drew his breath in for a third time, Silvers hand grasped onto his shoulder, making his snap to them. Seeing the fear in Silvers eyes may not have done anything to the young dragonblood, but Big Macs gaze pierced straight through Spikes heart.

It was a look of worry.

Spike snorted out some smoke, only to look back and see the blacked beast, dead under his flames. It was some strange mixture of scorpion and spider, with the hardened shell reminding him of some sort of crab in a way. He turned then gave a calming breath, nodding to Big Mac, who smiled a bit at the sight.

"Come on! We gotta get outta here! Now!" Storm broke them out of the moment, only to hold her weapon up, giving a disgusted look at the creature she shor at spit at her. The weapon started to sizzle and smoke, to which she responded by shining her flashlight on the creature, making it screech and start to smoke.

"These thangs don't like lights. Keep yer fire goin, Spike, we'll back up into the cave. Seems lit up fer some reason."

Spike nodded to Big Mac, before taking a deep breath in, aiming towards the ceiling and blasting a stream of flames from his mouth. It finally lit up the room, making the creatures scream as they started to back away, the light making them smoke, their armor starting to blacken under the light. Silver speed walked to the other end of the room with Storm, who was aiming around, keeping her flashlight in a solid motion in front of her.

"Come on kid!" Silver yelled out, helping Big Mac into the doorway. Storm waved Spike over, who grew red faced trying to keep it up. He panted loudly as he finally finished, before running back towards the others. The creatures made to follow, only to scramble back when Storms flashlight hit them, scampering back into the holes and shadows, Spike panting, then scrambling into the hole, Storm following after into the cave of gems.

They took deep breaths as they finally made it out of eyeshot, taking a moment to breathe deeply, deeding oxygen into their starved lungs after the mad scramble.

"So...who's hungry?" Storm asked, ignoring the looks the three men gave her. She patted her belly and started walking, inspecting the weapon in her hands. "Those things spit acid! Damn near melted through my crossbow!"

Spike rolled his eyes, only to walk past her, Silver giving a chuckle, "Don't you worry, private, I'm sure you can use that sparkling personality to win a new crossbow from the metal workers."

Thunderlane and Bulk Biceps watched the tunnel, Steel wing wiping his armor free of blood, giving a disgusted look at the hound before them. First the bugs, now the dogs? He must think nature hates him. Meteor herself was adjusting the sights on her weapon, giving a soft grunt as she switched her sitting style, her right leg having fallen asleep with no movement for so long.

"We shouldn't have left them out there." Thunderlane finally said, rubbing his left shoulder where his bag once was. Luckily, they had gotten the supplies to the medical areas, and now they were just waiting for the others. "It's been too long, we have to open the doors now."

"Thunderlane." Meteor spoek, only to be cut off by Thunderlane.

"I mean, if it was us up there, I know they would look for us!"

"Thunderlane, I-" Meteor tried again, though the mans wings were rustling, greatly annoying the guard.

"It's been too long! We gotta get some more people, maybe round up volunteers and-"

"THUNDERLANE!" Bulk yelled, making the man pause, the muscled man having to use his loud voice to draw Thunderlane out of his own head. He then turned to Meteor and gave a grimace, "Continue."

"Right...like I was about to.say,.timer hasn't gone off yet." Meteor pointed to her watch, before continuing, "If the timer goes off and we still haven't heard from them, we'll go out looking."

Steel Wing gave a chuckle, before admitting, "You're worse than I was at bootcamp." The skyblood rotated his shoulder, then stretched a bit, sighing as his back popped. "We should hear from them. Silver is too damn tough to be taken out by a couple of mangey mutts. And Storm kicks some serious ass."

Meteor stood up and hummed in thought. Perhaps Thunderlane was right, they were taking a long time, and Silver was usually not like this. She adjusted her weapon, walking over and resting an arm on the door, staring up into the tunnel ahead of her. That was when she turned, only to see some people running towards the gem cave. Her interest piqued, until she saw the familiar form of Big Mac being carried away by medics.

She whistled, catching their attention, then pointed towards the trio who had returned, giving Thunderlane a look, before saying, "Next time, have a little more faith in the captain."

The group walked over, Steel and Meteor giving a salute, Thunderlane mumbling something, while Bulk gave a wide smile, seeing the trio. The four, however, noticed Spike and gave Silver looks of confusion, making Silver wave his hand a bit.

"Hey, kid, get these to the storage area." Silver spoke, handing Spike the three, heavy, filled bags. Spike wobbled a bit, before nodding, walking off with the supplies. "Long story, Storm will tell you while I report with Mayor Mare."

"Big Mac is with the medics, but he'll be fine." Storm added on, brushing Spikes hair when he walked past. "You did good, kid."

Spike sat the supplies down in the storage area, stretching a bit, walking away from the storage area, heading towards his bedroom. He flopped onto his bed and groaned happily, slowly drifting off to a dreamless, well earned sleep.

He would need the energy, because Mayor Mare would give him a scolding of a lifetime in the morning.