The first thing they saw upon hitting the bottom of the cave was... absolutely nothing. Pitch black. "Salazar?" Ground asked. "Can you see anything?" Salazar could not. "Let me light my tail," he said before causing a flame to ignite on said tail.
This made the cave more visible and less dark, but the cave was still mysterious. There were many openings, but no clear path. "I thought Grounderl's had good vision underground," Salazar commented. Salazar and Groundy picked a path and started to walk down it. "Where did you hear that?" Groundy asked Salazar. "Grounderl's actually have really bad vision in the darkness. But we have better sight than hearing."
Salazar continued to use his tail as a torch to light the pathway. "I didn't know that, actually," Salazar stated. "I guess I just assumed that Grounderls had good eyesight cause they lived underground." Groundy kind of shrugged. "Remember, Salazar. I like in a field, not underground. The things you have heard or thought about us is a myth." Salazar eventually nodded at Groundy and agreed. "Okay, so I guess I still have much to learn then. ...I'm sorry about the assumptions. ...Uh oh."
Eventually as they were walking, Salazar caught something on the ceiling. It was a bat like creature. "...Maybe we should be quiet," Salazar suggested as they tried to sneak by the bat. ...But it was no use, the bat awoke and started to fly toward Salazar and attack. Groundy caught her first sight of this creature. "It's a Tunnebat," she said as it was attacking Salazar. Salazar lashed his tail about trying to shrug the creature off, but the Tunnebat basically flew away from his tail every time. "This is another reason I don't like being a Pash. ...Marmera's had such awesome tails."
"Hold on, I think I have an idea." Groundy eventually dug her claws into the ground, taking up a good ammount of dirt. Groundy was unsure if this would actually work. "I'm going to try throwing rocks at it. Flying creatures generally have a fear of falling rocks." Groundy took in some more dirt with the other claw for a seconds shot. Eventually, she lobbed the first claw full of dirt over Salazar's head so it had a better chance of hitting the tunnebat instead of Salazar. The dirt missed it's target, but caught the tunnebat's attention. Groundy eventually lobbed the other fistful at the surprised tunnebat, and made a direct hit with the poor thing. This sent the poor tunnebat down to the ground, and taught the tunnebat not to mess with these two. The tunnebat eventually flew off into the cave, leaving Salazar and Groundy behind.
"Looks like you're not hurt," Groundy stated as she closed in on Salazar. Salazar felt the back of his head for scars. "Just a few scratches," he stated before heading on down the cave. Upon their travels, they came across a light. And they could see it easily from where they were. As well as the light, the sound of a rushing waterfall filled Salazar's ears. Salazar ran into the next area and saw the source. It wasn't the exit, just a waterfall pouring into the cavern. Still, it seemed serene and peaceful in this wake. ...Except neither Salazar or Groundy could swim. There was a path at the other end, connected by a long, narrow bridge across the water. Still, Salazar had a feeling they would egress the cave, soon. ...Until...
As Salazar was walking down the pathway, his nose caught a rather unpleasant stench. "Blegh!" Salazar cried. "What is that stench?" As Salazar was choking on an awful stench, a creature eventually came into view. This creature was very long. It's body was serpentine in manner, but it was obviously mamalian. It's head spouted a long nose and two great red horns. It's arms and legs were relatively short compared to the rest of it's body. Regardless, this creature didn't look friendly.
"Feh, thanks for the introduction, you spineless runts." This creature neared Groundy and Salazar in an angered fashion. Salazar backed away from the creature in fear. "What is that thing?" Salazar asked Groundy. Groundy was equally uncomfortable around the creature. "I've never seen such a hideous creature. But I think we can take it." The creature towered over Salazar and Groundy, extruding it's body to the fullest. A smart creature would use that as an opportunity to strike. But both Salazar and Groundy were highly intimidated by the wily beast. Eventually, it drooped it's body downward before striking groundy with it's claws, sending Groundy back a few inches.
"Ugh, I hate rude monsters," the creature said. "You kids should really respect the wisened." Salazar started to think for a moment. The creature talked out of anger. But was it really evil? "Please, sir," Salazar started. "We are sorry for our rudeness. We have just never seen a creature like you, and we wish to pass through the cave. We don't mean any harm." What do you know, the creature stepped backward, folded it's arms and body inside, and said "Feh, appology accepted. For now."
Salazar helped Groundy up after the attack. Fortunately, she did not seem hurt. "We're sorry for the rud comments, mister," Groundy stated. "But this is the first time we have come across a... uh..." The creature rolled its eyes. "I'm a Shiftevil. And you're a couple of runts. Why should I let you and that little Pash you drag around through this here cave?" Salazar decided it to be a good oportunity to explain his spiel. "Actually, I am not a Pash. I am a Marmera. I just look like a Pash due to my brother slipping a poison in a drink he handed me one day. My brother has always had it in for me." The Shiftevil put a claw to its chin.
"Devolution poisoning?" the Shiftevil started. "So you young whippersnapper isn't really a young whippersnapper, and is looking to turn back to normal?" Salazar nodded profoundly. "Perhaps I could lend you a hand. I happen to be a hermit: A very wise and mysterious creature who knows what ails you. And it just so happens that I might be able to cure you. If you wish to turn back, then come with me." The Shiftevil eventually slipped off into the next cave. Salazar started to follow, but was immediately stopped by Groundy.
"I don't like the looks of this, Salazar," Groundy stated. "What if it's another trap?" Salazar shrugged at the thought. "Adrian already tried to trap me once. He wouldn't be dumb enough to try it again." Salazar walked back down, but was stopped again by Groundy. "What if this hermit Shiftevil isn't affiliated with Adrian? Your brother may not try to trap us twice, but what about anyone else?" "What's the hold up!?" the Shiftevil yelled. Salazar knew that Groundy had a point, but he desperately wanted to turn back. "I'll take my chances," Salazar decided as he went into the next cave.
The scene looked familiar alright. There was a rug on the floor, some furniture and shelves, and of coarse, Shiftevil was looking through a big chest. "Where is it?" the Shiftevil stated. "Hmmm... It's not here." Salazar started to back away. "Oh no, you were right Groundy! It's another trap!" Salazar yelled out. The shiftevil immediately wrapped it's body around toward Salazar and lashed out, knocking him backward. "Pipe down, you pipsqueak!" the shiftevil yelled. "This isn't a trap! I was looking for Dragon Fruit! Not a weapon!" Salazar grabbed at his arm. "Do you have to lash out every time we oppose you, then?"
Groundy was a bit wiser with her words at this point. "Dragon Fruit? Might I ask what that is?" The shiftevil hermit straightened up again. "Forgive me, but you two are bugging me," he stated. "But anyway, Dragon Fruit is a rare fruit that grows in remote locations, normally in a mountain. This fruit can give those who have the blood of a dragon the power of greatness. And as luck would have it..." the Shiftevil started to dig back in his chest. "You my scale-tailed friend have dragon blood." The hermit then pulled out an old scroll, then proceeded to near Groundy and Salazar with it, handing Groundy the scroll. "The nearest Dragon Fruit Tree grows on Mountryu, the Mountain of the Dragon. This map will show you where to go." Groundy proceeded to recieve the map from the hermit and smiled. "Thank you, mister," she started. "We are sorry for what we said before. Salazar is very persistant on becoming a Marmera again, and we appreciate your support." The Shiftevil pointed to another pathway at the back of the cave. "You should find the exit through there," the hermit said. "Be warned, you may come across more Shiftevil in the cavern. And I warn you that they may not be as forgiving as I." Groundy picked Salazar up and they went on their way.
They continued down the dark path, hoping not to run into any more Shiftevils. The hermit stated that garden variety Shiftevils were generally even meaner. But most of all... "I hope your brother doesn't realize we're down here and starts hunting us down," Groundy stated. Salazar nodded in agreement. But as they were walking, Salazar heard something faint. It sounded almost like... Salazar could not quite make it out. But eventually, the sound was followed by a not so faint sound. "CAN IT, SURFACE DWELLERS!" That was the shiftevil hermit from before. Salazar took a long, slow look at Groundy. "I don't think he was talking to us," Salazar mentioned. After a few more seconds, the shiftevil yelled again. "I SAID CAN IT!!!" Who was he talking to? It didn't sound good.
Sure enough, it wasn't good. Above the layer of the shiftevil hermit, a sinister plot unfolds. Salazar's brother Adrian, the two opolars, Barnes and Wedge, and Adrian's friend Zeno, who also happened to be a Marmera, were all gathered around a large drum planted on the ground. "I learned this at school once," Adrian stated. "You can hear better through the ground with a large war drum." Wedge decided to comment. "The same class your brother took?" This made both Wedge and Barnes laugh. Adrian HATED to be reminded of Salazar and this comment made him angry. "Enough! Salazar wishes to head to Mountryu to gather a dragon fruit. If he obtains even a single fruit, he will return to his former form." Zeno decided to comment. "Adrian, I'm your friend and all, but don't you think you've had your fun? What does keeping him small actually prove?" Adrian rolled his eyes. "Please. This is basically just punishment for what he has put me through. All the frustration. All the hard work I went through. For nothing! That is why I must go to Mountryu to stop my brother." The cries of the hermit was drowned out by the conversation they were having. "But Adrian," Barnes started. "How do we even get to Mountryu?" Adrian got a chuckle out of this question. "Thank you Geography class. Might I add that I still remember the path to get there? We must go through Veuda Lake, up the Galagos Range to the Ruins of Betha, through a Pash colony who's name escapes me, then cross the Graveyard Swamp. And then we will make it to the Mountain of the Dragon. And believe me, this journey won't just be my fun, but yours as well." Adrian then proceeded to exort a hideous laugh, which caused an equally unpleasant laugh from the rest of the group.
The hermit heard the entire discussion. He didn't know what to do at firt, but eventually told himself that he might as well tell Salazar and Groundy. "BE ADVISED!" he called out. "YOUR BROTHER KNOWS YOU'RE HERE! HE WANTS TO STOP YOU!"
Salazar immediately heard the cry and started to scramble through the cave. Groundy trying her hardest to catch up to him. "Oh, great!" Salazar yelled loudly. "Now my brother is after me! I was hoping it would be easier than this. Let's just get out of here and..." Salazar slid to a halt as eventually he ran across another Shiftevil. And this shiftevil was not alone. There were several other Shiftevil gathering around Salazar and Groundy. Their stench completely filled the air, clogging up both Salazar's and Groundy's noses, causing them to choke. To make matters worse, these shiftevil were surrounding Salazar and Groundy, looking for a fight. It's obvious they were not going to let the two pass by like the hermit did.
"Now what do we do, Salazar?" Groundy asked him. Salazar shrunk down in fear, his knees locking, his tail curled up, and his skin sweating bullets. They couldn't take on the Hermit, let alone multiple shiftevil. Albiet they were all smaller than the hermit, but there was still a LOT of them. "We... we..." Salazar had no idea what to do. They were surrounded, and their survival overall was starting to seem unlikely.



...Sorry, this chapter ends in a cliffhanger.
Groundy (and tunnebat) belong to  Burgundy-Maroon2012