The Obelisk 🏰

No that’s not it.

The Obelisk 🏯

Nah

THE OBELISK 🗼

AHA no.

The Obelisk ♟

Ah, that’ll work.

-Chapter 36-

Forest and the others were running before they knew it.

He darted his eyes around wildly, searching for place to hide. They couldn’t act strange—running was exactly what they shouldn’t be doing—but Forest would much rather hide and not be spotted suspiciously.

“There!” Rust shouted, pointing to a small hill.

Two trees lay fallen over a few boulders, right beside an opening to a cave. Forests’ heart jumped.

“Go, go, go!” Crimson hissed, shoving Forest and Spark forward. They stumbled and jumped up, quickly diving in and running through the darkness. Crimson and Rust came in right behind them.

Black all around. Forests’ night-vision adjusted rather slowly. It’d been a while since he’d had that familiar, tight, comforting feeling. It was a bit muted, and part of him wished to be back out in the sun as soon as possible.

Crimson hushed them quietly, and all at once they tried to slow their breathing.

Surely no one will search in here, right? Forest thought nervously. Those Terror birds are scouts… but they didn’t see us. They’re just going on with their normal day.

A stab of doubt for the Terror birds. Were they all really evil and trying to take over the world? Sure, Ripper had been lying about them being the good guys, but Needles and the others might also be a bit over-dramatic. He needed to know for himself. If they find us, we sure will soon.

“We should go deeper in,” Spark was whispering. Crimson thumped her and the two growled softly in the dark. Slowly, Forest crept farther into the cave, as Spark had suggested. Rust heard him and followed. Hissing, Crimson hurried behind as Spark snuck alongside them.

A few seconds of walking and Forest heard a noise. What— his night vision was much better now—but all he could see was stone on all sides. Ahead, dark blue fuzz as his limited vision faded.

A slight, creeping feeling crawled through Forest spine. Something near. He could feel it.

There was a slight tip-tap sound above, and Forest jumped, bumping into Rust.

“Shh,” Spark hissed.

“What’s was—“ Forest heard it again. A tiny pittering noise. Anxious of staying still, Forest hurried forward a few more steps.

And then his nose rammed painfully into something hard and smooth, and he let out a yelp. A little buzz filled his ears, and he squinted to see.

And suddenly, one after the other, eyes appeared.

Tons of tiny, bright green-yellow eyes as creature after creature awoke, buzzing and skittering noisily.

Wide-eyed, Forest and the others watched as the eyes became more and more, and suddenly a giant pair blinked open, and a huge, mighty green head burst forward with a hissing snarl, pincers snapping.

Forest fell to his back, tripping Crimson and Rust. “WHAT THE HECK—“

“Run!” Rust cried.

As the giant bug roared again and climbed forward, Forest scrambled backwards and ran for the exit as quick as his feet could take him.