Cave of Wonders: Chapter 1

Juniper continued her halting descent of the mountain for some time without finding either a ledge to rest on or their fallen meteorite. She was beginning to wonder if she’d made a fatal mistake when she broke out of a low lying cloud and found a part of the mountain path they’d ascended earlier. There were fresh tracks in the snow so she landed to rest her wings and examine them. They were definitely Vayron tracks, just barely discernible as descending in direction from the snow quickly filling them. She wasn’t far behind whoever it was, and her money was on it being Remsdale. Perfect! She set off on foot along the path, occasionally using her wings to glide and hop down the path after him (or whoever). 

For his own part, Remsdale was making steady progress down the path, checking frequently off into the empty space alongside him to see if he had caught up with Juniper. He was no expert on how fast she would be descending, using the halting method he’d last seen her descending with, so perhaps he could be forgiven for getting so far ahead of her. He slowed as he heard the sounds of strangers ahead, rounding a bend to come face to face with a small group of humans. After their momentary shock and wariness, he began to chat with them. No, they hadn’t seen a hawk Dracostryx flying down the mountainside, and if they had they’d be a bit freaked out because what even would that be doing here? Nor had any meteorites just fallen in front of them; and yes they would be honest about that, thank you very much. 

“Apologies.” Remsdale coughed in response to a few muttered words he pretended he didn’t hear perfectly well. “If I may ask, what brings you lot this high up?” Their leader studied Remsdale for a moment, clearly deciding if he would share their reasons with this rude Vayron. With a shrug he replied, “Treasure, what else. There’s word that says there’s a cave of vast treasure in these mountains. Previously owned by a fierce Tyrian, but the bloke went and died like three or some years ago. People have been tryin’ to find it this whole time.” Remsdale gave his signature flat look, “And you believe that? Someone could have found it and kept the news to themselves.” It was what he would do, compared to sharing with the world what he’d found and having to face scrutiny, false relatives (and real relatives), long lost relations (and friends) asking for handouts, and worse, his bookie coming to collect. The humans in front of him shrugged and he shrugged in response. “Care if I join you? I’ve got some meteorites I could share out in exchange for a share of the treasure.” Their leader wrinkled his nose and shook his head, “You can join us, but keep your space rocks. Can’t believe you’re out here looking for useless junk like that.” Remsdale smiled politely, not even bothering to share how valuable his meteorites were. He spared a glance over his shoulder for Juniper as he waited for the humans to pass so he could follow. 

She burst from the cloud cover just as Remsdale was moving to follow a group of humans and she screeched a greeting out to him as she came in for a landing. She had tired of running further up the path, and remembering that the mountain curled on itself, had taken flight to make the final drop. The humans whirled at her cry, some yelling in surprise, at least one in terror before crumpling to his knees and covering his head. His companions stared at him in shocked confusion, Remsdale and Juniper turning their noses up at his cowardice. “She’s not going to eat you, you know.” Remsdale sighed, holding his tongue with a great effort so he wouldn’t begin name-calling or insulting the fellow. The man jumped to his feet sheepishly, brushing snow off his arms and head while his companions laughed at him. Juniper fell into step beside Remsdale as their party continued along the ridge, ignoring the path that would take them higher up the peak. “So, who are these people?” She asked.

“Oooh, a dragon’s hoard?!” She almost squealed in glee after Remsdale had explained who the people were, what they were looking for, and what a Tyrian was. “How exciting! I wonder how big it is?” She pondered aloud, a certain fierceness entering her voice at the prospect of fighting a dragon- if it wasn’t too big anyway. She was just a hawk Dracostryx. Remsdale half smiled and shook his head. For his own part, if they met a Tyrian he’d be ducking out of range of those teeth in a hurry. Forget trying to fight one, he was too pretty to die a gorey death. 

Between the humans’ knowledge of the urban legend, Remsdale’s nose, and Juniper flying around the mountain to scout the area, they actually managed to find a promising cave. Their decision to team up was rewarded when they were all safely deposited into the cave entrance by Juniper, who was breathing a little heavier after carrying Remsdale last. They didn’t have to go far before they realized they had succeeded in their search, piles of various objects and almost a mountain of gold in the center of the cavern. There was dust on everything, tell tale signs that nobody had ventured in here for quite some time. They were all celebrating, rifling through the hoard to pick out their favorite pieces when a loud sound made them all pause. As one, they turned toward the entrance as not one, but two Tyrians made their way into the cavern. One was a dark brown, almost wolfish in appearance, the other was a pale grey with extra wings. They were obviously male and female, probably a bonded pair, not like anyone in their party cared to ask though. 

Discarding whatever they had been holding, the group of humans, Remsdale, and Juniper all bolted for the back of the cave behind some rock formations. Behind them, it didn’t appear as if the Tyrians had noticed their presence. At least, they weren’t making a ruckus or pursuing them. Regardless, Remsdale leaped over the closest line of rocks to dive into a hiding place, quickly followed by Juniper. An indignant “BAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” resounded around the cavern as Remsdale first and Juniper second landed on a mountain goat that had already been hiding there. Remsdale pounced on it to cover it’s muzzle with his paws as Juniper extended her wings to cover them both, hoping to muffle any further sounds, but the to Tyrians behind them had also heard. The large brown male snarled, fur rising along his hackles as he stomped over, the feathery female growling low in her own throat as she followed, but moving to locate the group of humans she had just smelled. 

They were preceded by hushed profanity and the reek of fear as the two Tyrians closed from opposite sides of the reuniting group. Just before they could swing their heads to look over the rocks and down on them, the ram burst from under Juniper’s wings, Remsdale following with a bleeding and already swelling snout where the Ram had headbutted him to break free. Screaming in terror the Ram bounded over the rocks, under the half open jaws of the surprised Tyrians, and between their legs toward the exit. Taking advantage of the distraction, Remsdale and Juniper fled along one side of the wall while the humans ran the other way, everyone using the caverns rock formations as a shield to deter the Tyrians from following. They didn’t stop until they were a fair ways down the mountain. It took them running into a meadow of mountain sheep placidly grazing before they realized the Tyrians were not pursuing. Remsdale and Juniper collapsed in separate relieved heaps to catch their breath.