The dawn air was tense with anticipation. Today's mission was different. The Gale Sparrow hunt had been a test of speed and precision. The Sunstone Caverns, Zara explained as they prepared to leave, were a test of knowledge and stealth.
Zara led the way this time, her steps sure and quiet on the forest path. Cade and Raven followed, with Rocky moving beside them. The drake seemed to sense the seriousness of the adults, his head low, his movements cautious.
"The caverns are not far," Zara said, her voice low. "But they are deep. The Sunstones grow in the deepest parts, where no sunlight ever reaches, but where the earth's heat is strongest. It makes no sense, but it is true."
Cade listened, fascinated. "How do they grow if there's no sun?"
"No one knows for sure," Zara replied, pushing a low-hanging branch aside. "Some say they are tears of the earth, crystallized by ancient heat. Others say they are the eggs of light-eating worms. All I know is that they hold a powerful, warm energy. Perfect for a light-attuned evolution."
As they walked, Zara pointed out plants and herbs, giving them quiet lessons. "See this? Silverleaf. Good for poultices to reduce fever. And that moss? It only grows where the water is pure enough to drink." Her knowledge of the forest was deep and practical, a sharp contrast to Raven's knowledge of hunt and danger.
Soon, they arrived at the mouth of a cave. It was not a rough mine shaft like the one for iron ore. This entrance was a natural arch of stone, covered in glowing green moss that provided an eerie, soft light. The air flowing out was warm and carried a strange, metallic smell.
"Glow-Moss," Zara said, touching the wall. "It lights the way, but only for the first part. Deeper in, we will need our own light." She pulled two small, hooded lanterns from her pack, lighting them and handing one to Raven. "The light must be soft. Bright, sudden light angers the things that live here."
Cade felt a prickle of fear. "What kind of things?"
"Nothing that will hunt us if we are careful," Zara said calmly. "Mostly Rock-Crawlers. They are like big insects, the size of your hand. They eat the moss and are blind. They feel vibration. So walk softly. And Glow-Bats. They sleep on the ceiling. Do not shine light directly on them. They will swarm."
The instructions were clear. This was a place of quiet and shadow.
Raven took the lead this time, her lantern held low. "Stay close. Watch your step."
They moved into the cave. The Glow-Moss provided enough light to see the path, which sloped gently downward. The tunnel was wide, the walls smooth as if worn by water long ago. The only sound was the drip of water somewhere in the distance and the soft scuff of their boots.
Cade focused his ability, sweeping his gaze across the walls and floor. He saw nothing but rock and moss. No helpful, shimmering outlines appeared. The Sunstones were not here.
Deeper they went. The air grew warmer and heavier. The light from the moss began to fade, leaving them in a pool of lantern light surrounded by pressing darkness.
Zara pointed to a side tunnel. "This way. The main tunnel leads to a drop-off. This one circles down to the hot springs. The stones will be near there."
The new tunnel was narrower. Cade could hear skittering sounds in the darkness around them. Rock-Crawlers. He tried to make his steps as light as possible.
Suddenly, Rocky let out a low, rumbling growl. He was staring into the darkness ahead, his body tense.
Raven immediately stopped, holding up a hand for silence. She slowly raised her lantern.
There, on the wall, was a Rock-Crawler. It was as big as she said, with a hard, segmented shell and too many legs. It was not moving toward them. It was simply… there. A dozen more were on the ceiling and floor ahead, blocking the path in a living, clicking carpet.
"We must go around them," Zara whispered. "There is another path. But it is narrower."
They backed away slowly and took a different fork in the tunnel. This one was tight. Cade had to turn sideways to fit through some parts, and Raven had to coax a nervous Rocky through a narrow gap.
"This is it," Zara said finally. The tunnel opened into a large cavern. In the center was a pool of water so clear it reflected their lantern light like a mirror. Steam rose from its surface. The air was hot and humid. And all around the pool, embedded in the walls and ceiling, were crystals.
They were not bright. They were a deep, cloudy orange, like captured sunlight seen through fog. But as Cade looked at them, his ability finally activated.
Material: Low-Grade Sunstone
Usable:Yes
"There!" Cade whispered, pointing to a cluster of crystals low on the wall near the water. "Those are them!"
The crystals were within reach. They looked like they could be pried out with a tool.
But between them and the crystals was the hot spring. And lying half-submerged in the water was a creature.
It was long and thick, like a giant worm or a snake with pale, translucent skin. It had no visible eyes, only a circular mouth full of needle-like teeth. It was sleeping, its body slowly moving with the gentle current of the spring.
Creature: Blind Cavern Crawler
Rank:Silver 1-Star
Note:Highly sensitive to vibration and sudden light. Defends its territory.
Cade's blood ran cold. A Silver-rank beast. They were only Bronze.
Raven and Zara saw it too. They exchanged a worried look.
"We need a plan," Raven mouthed silently.
Zara pointed to Cade, then to the crystals on the far side of the pool. She then pointed to herself and Raven, and then to the creature. They would distract it. He would get the stone.
Cade nodded, his heart hammering. He motioned for Rocky to stay. The drake understood, crouching low.
Raven picked up a small rock. She threw it skillfully across the cavern. It hit the far wall with a sharp clack.
The Blind Cavern Crawler instantly stirred. Its head rose from the water, its mouth opening silently. It began to move toward the sound, its body slithering out of the spring.
Now was his chance.
Cade moved. He skirted the edge of the pool, his eyes locked on the Sunstone cluster. He could hear the creature moving behind him, searching for the source of the noise. Raven threw another stone, leading it further away.
He reached the crystals. He pulled the hammer from his belt and carefully worked it into the rock around the smallest Sunstone. He had to be quiet. He had to be fast.
With a soft crack, the crystal came loose into his hand. It was warm, like a stone left in the sun. He had it!
He turned to signal that he was done. But as he turned, his foot slipped on the wet rock, knocking a pebble into the pool.
Plink.
The sound was tiny, but in the silent cavern, it was like a thunderclap.
The Blind Cavern Crawler stopped. It turned its head slowly. It wasn't looking at him—it couldn't look—but it was sensing him. Sensing the vibration in the water.
It began to move toward him. Fast.
"Run, Cade!" Raven yelled, no longer caring about silence. She drew her knife.
Cade ran, clutching the Sunstone. The creature was faster, cutting through the water toward him.
"Rocky, now! Tail slam!" Cade screamed.
The Stone Drake, waiting at the tunnel entrance, obeyed. He slammed his heavy tail onto the stone floor.
BOOM.
The vibration was immense. The entire cavern seemed to shake. The sudden, massive disturbance confused the creature's senses completely. It thrashed in the water, disoriented.
It was all the delay they needed.
"Go! Go! Go!" Raven shouted.
The three of them and Rocky fled down the narrow tunnel, not caring about noise anymore. They heard the enraged thrashing of the creature behind them, but it was too large to follow into the narrow passage.
They didn't stop running until they burst out into the sunlight, gasping for air, their hearts racing.
Cade leaned over, hands on his knees, and held up the warm, orange crystal. "We got it," he panted.
Zara let out a shaky laugh. "We are never doing that again."
Raven clapped Cade on the back, a wild look in her eyes. "You kept your head. And you got the prize. Good job, kid."
They had faced a Silver-rank beast and won through wit, not strength. They had the Sunstone. The final ingredient for Sienna's evolution was secure.