Marcus Cavern, it had been known for over a hundred years but was just too twisty, to crappy to develop into a tourist trap. Still the rancher made a bit extra by leasing it out on weekends to qualified High School Spelunking clubs. Elizabeth and her team had come for the fun this weekend because, well, as long as people had been coming here there still were occasional new areas located and as it was a ‘dry’ cave traction was very good. There had never been water in this cave even when Hurricane Billy sat over the area for a week, most people figured it was because the West face of the mountain had collapsed sixty years ago when gold miners riddled the place, and after eleven years digging and blasting they found nothing. Mainly because Marcus Mountain was nearly pure limestone. Limestone that was not hydrothermally altered thus carried nothing but limestone.

Elizabeth was busy acting as scout for her group when she entered a very tight crevice angling down, one that almost trapped her until it opened out into an area no one had seen before, a wet cavern. There were no wet caverns in the Marcus cave system, in fact it was believed that because of the shear there couldn’t be but here she was, water dripping on her, stalactites hanging from a low ceiling while multiple stalagmites rose from the floor. There was even a small cluster of cave straws. Abruptly any movement was stopped, somehow her old t-shirt had snagged on a stalagmite, so very carefully she started appraising her situation, it was not good. As she worked out ideas, she didn’t want to damage the delicate structure after all, the mouse realized something dangerous. Though she hadn’t moved a muscle in several minutes her body was slowly sliding back towards the opening she had come through. Abruptly a tearing sound filled the mouses ears, her t-shirt, one she had worn for years, was giving up the fight.

‘Fudge’ the teenager thought, her dry shirt was outside the cave packed in the back of her pickup. Her main problem was as a small woman she had stopped wearing bras when climbing through caverns, they simply held to much sand and grit. Knowing what was going to happed she simply gritted her teeth, her team, mainly boys, were going to get a real eyeful. Abruptly she over balanced and a loud tearing sound filled her area.

“You o-kay in there?” a boys voice called out. “Need any help.” It was Thomas, a true nerd but one of the gentlest souls in her school. And as they were almost a mile inside the cavern her best choice of companions with this ad-hoc team.

“I’m fine” Elizabeth replied, face down in the thin mud. She could feel how much forbidden flesh was now exposed as the mud was cold. Moving carefully she eased into a sitting position, inspecting the damage. It was only her left breast, no blood though pain told her she had scratches. Working carefully but quickly she tied up her shirt so that she was respectable again.

Barely.

Looking back the way she had been going she gasped in excitement, this tunnel opened up into a huge galley.



Artist: iDfer (DA)
Concept, character and ancient memories; Mr. David R. Dorrycott (FA/DA)

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