The Factions found themselves in a spacious beautifully decorated underground area. There pillars everywhere, crumbled structures like vases and several tunnels at the ends.
SNORE
Noah in bear form sneezed out the dust, turned to his side and returned to sleep. Ethan was leaning on his side and slept quietly. Dax curled up in his blankets onto of a coiled Orion while Blake wearing an eye mask leaned on the snake. Quill was on a separate king size mattress with luxurious blankets and sleeping cap barely clinging to his head.
Atlas looked at the others while drinking a hangover drink and started the livestream.
[CrazedFan: HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING!!
Azure 32: WHAT HAPPENED?
Twotailed: Hush, newbie. We'll update you later.]
"They're not getting up anytime soon." he groaned "So shall we check what is the challenge?"
Screens appeared outlining the challenge:
You are a group of explorers
During your expedition of the ancient ruin, you found something important you must report but the entrance was destroyed!
Quickly find a way out and give the information to the relevant person
Xavier walked toward Atlas with a smile. The Crazed member unfortunately still remembered Maxwell and avoided eye contact.
"I'm a fan." Xavier smiled
Everyone even his own members were shocked and Maxwell pinched his leader with fury. Sadly Xavier ignored it.
"...Nice to meet you." Atlas mumbled
Xavier beamed, "I wanted to greet you all but I'm still content. Until next time!"
Wonderland walked down a tunnel and the others Faction followed their example. There was silence for a moment until a ringing sound echoed. Atlas kicked Orion strongly and he moved abruptly with a hiss.
The snake flicked Dax off his body, causing Blake to fell to the ground and flicked it tail. Its tail cut into Noah's back and he roared in pain. The noise woke Ethan and Quill up.
"Awake?" Atlas smiled
Dax groaned, "You become more fearless by the hour."
"Oh no, the consequences of getting to each other." Noah smiled
Quill applied healing magic on Noah's back as the others equipped clothes and equipment. Atlas gave an explanation of the challenge and meeting with brief Xavier.
"Why not that one?" Dax suggested
They followed his line of sight toward a tunnel hidden by a pillar.
"We have a plan." Blake nodded
[ Quill's Supporter: Is this a new wardrobe?]
"You like?" Noah laughed "So all that suffering was worth it."
They squeaked into the entrance.
"Move your leg!" "Tell me we're almost there?"
Dax become frustrated and used his scythe and slashed everything in sight. He beamed when less crowded area was in view.
"We're out." he beamed "I hate tight spaces!"
Ethan looked at his tore shirt and then at the the condition of the others. They glanced at one another with silent understanding.
"Noted." they said seriously
The hallway was wonderful with pictures engraved in the stone walls and mixture of intact or barely intact statues.
"This is...wonderful!" Dax smiled looking at the wall cravings and unknown words
Dax took out a book, wore golden rimmed glasses and started writing as he walked. Everyone watched him will interest. The teenager took out a magnifying glass and a brush. He began to lightly remove the dust and document more.
"Dabble in archaeology?" Blake asked
Dax didn't look as he answered, "Yep."
"Is there anything you can't do?" Quill blurted out
Dax told, "Yes, tons. I'm horrible at medicine and don't ask me anything involving pharmacy. Never trust me with your garden and I may slash you if we discuss Law or debate."
"Wow...you gave that up easily." Noah commented
Dax closed his book and smiled, "Was it a secret?"
He looked down the hallway silently. His gaze was serious but they noticed a hint of excitement trying to hide within.
"So this place is filled with traps, no they didn't bother to tell us what they are or how to bypass them.:" Dax continued "Shall we draw draws to see how goes first?"
Their leader was now holding a cup with five wooden sticks of equal length. They knew the rules already: one of stick had a red tag and whomever got it would be their unlucky volunteer. They gripped their chosen ones with determination.
"On three?" Blake said
They yelled "THREE!"
Everyone pulled out their sticks and eyed everyone else's for the red tag.
"Quill is the winner." Dax smiled
[Quill's Supporter: NOOOOO! Let's do it again, we can't send him out there!!??]
Noah sighed, "Sorry, we don't so it twice. Them's the rules."
Quill watched his teammates make way for him and raised their hands indicating they wouldn't push him. He dashed forward which genuinely surprised them.
He felt a slight shift on the floor under his feet and used a basic wind spell to propel himself further as well as upward. He saw the ground cave revealing long rusty spike with several skeletons. Quill hiccupped as he crash landed in front of a statue which opened it mouth.
He made as many barriers as he could to envelope him and closed his eyes tightly. The statue shot intense purple flames and he continued to ran ahead. When their was movement on the ground he jumped, on the sides he would duck and continuing sprinting.
Could this be a really long dream, why's he pick the tagged stick, what did he do to be brought here...he just wants to go home.
"Damn it!" Blake exclaimed
The others saw what caught his attention and moved forward. Blake floated forward in the middle of the ceiling Ethan and Dax used the statues on the sides while Atlas with Noah moved through the ground.
"Why....." Quill thought but a force pulled him back and he fell on something
He reluctantly opened his eyes to find he had fallen on Noah.
Quill looked in front and saw the rest of the hallway collapse as water gushed out creating a beautiful waterfall with a crocodile filled body of water below.
"You're a lot of trouble, youngest." Noah sighed
Ethan nodded, "A long way to go, too."
Dax smiled and took in a deep breathe of the fresh air. He got lost in a memory of the seaside until a hiccup from Quill broke it. The teen took out a bottle of warm water from his storage and gave to him.
"It's one step at a time...no matter how small." Dax chuckled
Atlas sighed, "Maybe start with opening your eyes."
"So, what are we going to do about the rats?" Blake interrupted
The others were silent for a moment in understanding. Honestly, it would be hard not to notice after all this time.
Dax smiled, "What can we do? It's not like they're a threat."