Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

The Lost World.

The Riddles of The Phoenixes Series

Chapter sixteen: A light

They began traveling further into the cave. The ground they walked on was surprisingly soft, like moss. A few random green mushrooms popped up in places, glowing dimly. However there were few. “Is it just me, or is it getting darker in here?” Cedric asked.

“No. It’s your imagination.” Rowan said sarcastically. “OWW!!! Someone stepped on my foot!! I think you broke my toe!!” Elayne squealed. “I can’t see anything anymore.” Oliver said. The cave was completely dark now. “We should be far enough in. And we can’t see anything. Might as well stop for a break.” Rowan said.

She heard the others sitting down. She did so as well, and out both hands on the sides of her head trying to focus. If only they could make the storm stop. Her heart was pounding in her ears.

“It’s dark in here.” Elayne whimpered. “Hello darkness my old friend…” Cedric sang softly and teasingly. “Oh shut it!” Rowan snapped. “Shut what?” Cedric asked innocently. “Cut it out!” Rowan growled. “Cut what out?”

“Stop twisting my words!!”

“I’m not twisting your words.” Cedric said. “Yes you are. You do it all the time.” Oliver’s voice said. A scoff echoed along the cave walls that sounded like Cedric. “Like that time that your mom told you to weed all the green(the weeds) out of the garden for a punishment and you spray painted the garden grey so that there was no more “green” in the garden.” Oliver said.

“I forgot about that.” Cedric chuckled softly. “Just stop talking!!!”

Rowan suddenly felt a rush of hot breath on her face and she gagged. “Ugh! Who’s right beside me? Your breath stinks buddy!” Rowan gasped. “It ain’t me.” Cedric’s voice said. “I can’t see anyone, so I’m not sure.” Oliver said. “Here..” Elayne whispered. They all saw her medallion light up dimly and suddenly beams of light lit up the room, shooting from her hands.

Rowan blinked rapidly. They all could see now. Oliver was rubbing his glasses off with his shirt, Kannon was studying the cave wall, and Cedric was chewing on some berries. He was right next to her, so she scooted farther away.

Elayne’s cheeks were blushed, as she was embarrassed of her power. “Sorry that my power isn’t more useful.” She said. “What power would be better for than this predicament, then that?” Oliver exclaimed.

“Well…I was hoping that my power would be more useful. Like being able to style my hair any way I want or something..” Elayne said.

Rowan scoffed and thunder rumbled louder. Oliver’s eyes glanced over to her. Rowan caught another whip of someone breathing on the side of his face. She gagged and turned to face whoever it was.

Amber eyes stared back at her, glittering with interest. Rowan inhaled and blinked. The eyes were gone now. “What was that?” She said aloud. “I don’t see anything.” Oliver said. Elayne turned her flashlight hands over to Rowan. “Ow! My eyes!” Cedric cried. Rowan smirked. “If only it would quit raining. It’s soo boring in here.” Elayne groaned. Kannon sniffed the air, and tilted his head back.

Cedric glanced toward the entrance of the cave and rubbed his head, standing up. “This isn’t a normal storm. It seems to be…stronger, louder, longer…” He whispered. Rowan swallowed, and tightened her grip.

“Maybe it was generated from someone’s implant power.” Oliver suggested. “Like someone in here?” Cedric asked. “Maybe. It’s not you or Elayne though and it’s not me or Kannon because theoretically or implants would be glowing which leaves..” Oliver trailed off and they all looked at Rowan. Rowan shielded her eyes as Elayne spotlighted her.

“What?” She snapped. “It’s your implant isn’t it?” Oliver asked. Rowan narrowed her eyes at him. Kannon yawned. “Maybe.” She said slowly.

“I don’t know, okay?! I didn’t mean to cause this storm!!”

“It must have been triggered by something… hmmm were you annoyed or agitated?” Oliver asked, pushing up his glasses. “Probably she’s always annoyed or agitated.” Elayne muttered. If looks could kill then Rowan’s smoldering glare might have killed Elayne.

“What are you annoyed by?" Oliver asked. “Y’all. Obviously.” Rowan said, scowling darkly. Cedric chuckled and ran a hand through his thick hair.

“So…..there has too be someway to deactivate the implant ability..”

“Not take it off. That could kill her. Although we wouldn’t lose much…” Cedric said. Rowan glared at him. The thunder rumbled louder. “How dare you?!?! You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me!!” She spat. “Exactly. We wouldn’t be in this stupid predicament.” Cedric said.

Lightning crashed and Rowan stood up, hovering menacingly over Cedric. “Fine then! I want to see you survive on your own!” Cedric rose to his feet and put his face close to hers. “Ok, go ahead and go. Coward.”

“Guys, just stop!” Oliver yelled. They ignored him.

“I’m not a coward!! What in the world makes you think that, huh?! When have I ever left y’all to die?! When have I ever tried to run?! To hide?!” Rowan yelled. Hail pounded on the cave roof loudly. “Ha! You’re afraid right now of that implant in your wrist! Why else would you cover it up?! C o w a r d.” Cedric reached out and grabbed her wrist, with a painful twist.

“Ow!! Stop it!! Let go off me, you idiot!!” Rowan yelped.

“Only if you admit you’re a coward.” Cedric said calmly. “I’m. Not. A. Coward.” Suddenly a shock ran through her body, like she had just been hit by lightning. Cedric released her wrist. Silence unfolded slowly around them. “Y’all hear that?” Oliver finally said. “I think-I think it stopped.” Elayne whispered. They all ran too the cave entrance. Sure enough, the rain had slowed down and the dark clouds were fading away to reveal the sun lowering itself.

“How did you get the storm to stop?” Oliver asked. Rowan frowned. “How should I know. You’re supposed to be the expert on this stuff right?”

“I did it.” Cedric said. Oliver pushed his glasses back. “How?” He asked doubtfully. “Well I figured that if I made her more and more agitated her implant would continue to act up this making the storm worse. But it kept making it worse and worse until finally the implant grew tired and malfunctioned slightly this causing the storm to stop.”

Oliver nodded thoughtfully. “Huh. I didn’t think of doing that.”

“I bet you didn’t. I thought you were supposed to be smart Oliver.” Cedric said playfully. Rowan rolled her eyes. “Okay. We’ll spend the night in this cave and then keep heading to the dome.” She turned and began to walk away, adjusting the black cloth around her wrist.

“Rowannn…” A soft voice called. Rowan pulled her hood up over ears, blocking it out.

Sorry this chapter took so long. 🙃

-SunnyFox57