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6

The peace was short-lived.

A low rumble echoed from deeper within the cave. At first, I thought it was thunder reverberating through the stone, but it carried an unmistakable weight, a physical vibration I could feel in my chest. The small creatures around me stiffened, their glowing eyes snapping toward the darkness. Their chittering grew frantic, a series of sharp clicks that bounced off the walls like an urgent warning.

I rose to my feet, gripping the guide stone tightly. The warmth pulsed in sync with the vibrations, stronger now, more insistent. The small creatures began to scatter, darting into cracks and crevices in the walls, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. Only the one nearest to me hesitated, its glowing eyes wide with fear. It chirped once—a sound almost pleading—before scurrying after the others.

The cave fell silent again, but the air had shifted. The metallic tang I'd noticed earlier was stronger, almost oppressive. My heart raced, each beat drumming against the hum in my chest. Whatever was coming, it was bigger. 

And it was close.

I took a step back, my boot scraping against the stone. The sound echoed, unnervingly loud, and I winced. The guide stone's light flared brighter, casting jagged shadows against the cavern walls. Then, from the depths of the cave, I saw it.

The creature was roughly the size of a small dog but much bulkier. Its body was covered in overlapping scales that shimmered faintly in the guide stone's light, and its four legs ended in thick, clawed feet that scraped against the stone as it moved. Its head was angular, with a wide, flat snout and eyes that glowed faintly orange, like embers smoldering in a dying fire. A ridge of spines ran down its back, each one twitching with a life of its own.

It didn't rush me. It moved with a slow, deliberate gait, its head low and nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. My grip on the knife tightened, but a part of me—the part attuned to the warmth in my chest—hesitated. The hum was stronger now, almost overwhelming, but there was no fear in it. Instead, it carried a strange calm, a reminder of the connection I'd felt earlier.

I held my ground, forcing myself to breathe evenly. The creature stopped a few paces away, its glowing eyes fixed on me. It growled, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate in my bones. The guide stone responded, its light steadying, and I felt that thin thread of connection again, fragile but present.

"You're not here to kill me, are you?" I said softly, though I didn't expect an answer.

The creature cocked its head, the growl fading into a low rumble. It didn't attack, but its posture was wary, coiled, ready. I didn't dare move closer, but I didn't raise the knife, either. Instead, I let the warmth in my chest guide me. Slowly, I lowered the guide stone until it rested in my palm, its light shining upward.

The creature hesitated, its glowing eyes flicking between me and the stone. Then, with agonizing slowness, it took a step closer. The thread between us pulsed, faint but steady, and I felt a flicker of something—an impression, a feeling.

Hunger.

I glanced at my pack, which lay against the wall where I'd left it. Moving carefully, I crouched and retrieved another strip of dried meat. The creature growled again, its spines rattling, but it didn't retreat. I tore off a small piece of the meat and held it out, my hand trembling slightly.

"Here," I said. "I don't know if this is what you want, but it's all I've got."

The creature sniffed the air, its nostrils flaring wider. After a moment, it took another step closer, its movements slow and deliberate. Its claws clicked against the stone as it leaned forward, its snout brushing my outstretched hand. Then, with surprising gentleness, it took the piece of meat between its sharp teeth and retreated a step to chew.

The thread between us pulsed again, stronger this time. The impression of hunger faded, replaced by something else—satisfaction, maybe even a hint of trust. The creature finished the meat and looked at me, its glowing eyes less guarded.

I exhaled slowly, relief flooding through me. "You're not so bad, are you?"

The creature chuffed softly, a sound that almost resembled a laugh. It settled onto its haunches, its spines flattening slightly. I didn't let my guard down completely, but I allowed myself to sit again, leaning back against the wall. The guide stone's glow dimmed slightly, no longer as urgent, and the warmth in my chest steadied.

For a while, neither of us moved. The creature stayed where it was, watching me with its ember-like eyes. I could still feel the thread between us, a faint but undeniable connection. It wasn't as strong as the bond I'd felt with the smaller creatures, but it was there.

The storm outside continued to rage, but inside the cave, there was a strange sense of calm. The creature stretched out one leg, its claws tapping against the stone, and I noticed a faint shimmer along its scales. It wasn't just reflecting the guide stone's light—there was something deeper, a faint, internal glow.

"Are you like me?" I murmured. "Drawn to this power?"

The creature tilted its head, as if considering my question, but of course, it didn't answer. Still, the thread pulsed again, and I thought I felt…acknowledgment. Not understanding, exactly, but something close.

I didn't know what this power was, or why it connected me to these creatures. But one thing was becoming clear: the bond wasn't just a tool. It was a bridge, a way to communicate in a language I didn't fully understand yet. And the creatures weren't just threats—they were a part of this place, tied to the same force that pulsed in my chest.

As the storm raged on and the cave grew darker, I closed my eyes, letting the warmth guide me. Whatever lay deeper in the cave, I wasn't ready to face it yet. But for the first time since this journey began, I didn't feel entirely alone.