The Whispering Caves

_Chapter 7_

“I do not think you believe you are an overestimated food product.” Now Eliza was just enjoying herself just a bit; after all, once her sister had passed, she really had not had time for anyone else, it had been a poor idea to make any friends. It had been a poor idea to get close to anyone else. The one person who Eliza had been closest to, the one person who she had been a role model for, had evaporated from Eliza’s very reality. Fuck, couldn’t Eliza just enjoy a simple moment, without overthinking? Not since she had been subjected to solitary within her own head. I have felt so alone, for such a long time. Eliza didn’t share this thought out loud, and just held it close to her chest like poker cards.

“And I do not think you are crazy. I think that you are right; Fover this is a huge mystery. If there is any chance, I mean...maybe, if it was true, if a question could be asked...but at the same time, it is hard for me to entertain such a possibility because, then I would have to admit there may be no reason for what happened. I have thought of these grand conspiracy theories beforehand. I tried to reason a grand design that made her the center of a huge answer to something. But in truth, maybe, she was just...taken. But to know where she was....”

As Eliza’s sightless eyes still distantly gazed off, they filled to the brim with a tear, but she brushed them off with a hint of humor, as almost any human being would in that moment.

“Either way, I need to go to for a long walk anyways. I had never imagined inside a cave, but I had never imagined it would be with a friend too. Are you sure you aren’t a mole rat?” Now Eliza faced Fover, and he could feel that joy, and almost touch it in the air. Something to do was better than grieving. He knew that feeling all too well. To have someone to be lonely with, to have someone who you could witness your pain with, but not have to fix it, was a gift. So, now they could both seek out this cave. Or whatever might be there. Buster would be a key as well, but they would have to plan carefully to make sure they had his supplies as well. There were tunneling dogs, who could fit in small places. Buster was about the size of a small Aussie, so he could likely get there if the pathway did not squeeze too thin, in which case he would not pursue any journey over his family Buster.

“So, Eliza,” Fover sat closer to her and stoked the fire with a few pieces but stayed focused on her. “We are going to be some amateur cave explorers. We can get supplies tomorrow, and for tonight, I can at least take you home so that you can set your things in order, and sleep on it to be sure that this is what you want. To be fair, you can absolutely change your mind. Call me a madman when the dawn breaks, and I will never bother you again. But, if you decide you want to be a mad woman, give me a call at my number. Could I electronically message you, or text, as the Youth these days call it?” Fover had obviously thought this through beforehand. “But please don’t feel pressured at all, though naturally,” he stopped to wink at her, “I won’t be able to fully divulge my top-secret cave exploration details with any but those on the top secret mission.”

Eliza immediately laughed. “Yes, that sounds grand. I’ll get my coat. You text me, and I will let you know in the morning. Here’s my number.” Eliza gathered her things, gave Fover her number, and said goodnight to Buster. This was the most fun she had had, and perhaps risky behavior, in a very long time. When was the last time she was possibly unsafe? Never, since her sister disappeared. Her parents made sure that her life was cushioned, made sure that she had not really needed to seek her own success for self-provision; that would risk self-harm. She had begun to work in a different direction these last few years, but she still had a long ways to go.

Fover drove her back to her home. As she climbed out of the car, she turned back to tell Fover, “I had a good time tonight, making a friend. It has been just awhile since I have really, speculated over any good conspiracy or tale. A cave sounds interesting enough to me. I’ll give you a call tomorrow by 10 am for sure if I decide I would like to be a mad scientist.”

Fover agreed heartily and Eliza shut the door of his Toyota pickup. Buster actually followed her to the window and whined after her. Eliza felt her way with her cane up the steps, slowly, back to a large blue apartment building, with a white border. Fover had not had this much of a good time in a long while.

The morning came, and Eliza decided that she did indeed want to do some mad science, and some cave exploring, with her new friend, Fover. But first she had to call him so they could go into town to get supplies. Eliza packed a bag of her own things, including a few good weatherproof clothes, too many underpants and a toothbrush. And deodorant. Last but not least, a huge pack of her favorite granola bars. She wanted to pick up some treats in town for Buster. She had always wanted a dog too.

She dialed the number. She felt her way around the brail numbers on the cell phone. Her heart skipped some beats, like she was 15 again. It was exciting though; and she did not shy away from it. It must have rung at least 4 times, and Eliza almost passed out holding her breath unintentionally and just about hung up the phone. It was time to take chances, and to take risks, while the chance was fresh. While there was a person with her that thirsted for that challenge too.

Plus, if Eliza had even the slimmest chance, 1 to 8 billion, of finding what had happened to her sister, Mel, then this was a shot worth taking. Eliza felt just a hint of hesitation in the back of her mind; would Fover support her in that question? If there was only one question, would he give it to her? She wanted to be a good person, and to talk to him about it, to at least see what he thought, consider even how he might feel or what he may want. But all she could think was whatever it took to reach Mel. Would Mel understand whatever it took to get to her? Eliza wasn’t sure was the ethical trail looked like. She would never hurt Fover, but she also needed to see Mel again, and she hoped Fover understood that, with all her heart.

“Good morning! So, had any thoughts about some crazy science experiments lately? I can bring a side of coffee with that.” Fover picked up the phone and was extremely warm.

“First coffee, then mad science.” Eliza chuckled back. “Would you like to come pick me up? I packed a bag last night with some of the necessities, honestly if you know one store with some outdoor supplies and groceries, then we should be satisfied for at least the first trip.”

“Great, you can tell me all about what treats we should get for Buster while I bring you into town so that we can pick up the last of what we need. I have already gotten some things together, basic flashlights and batteries, and some of my own guy things.”

“Oh, what’s a guy thing then?” Eliza could not help with the teasing, if it was going to be a long road, then they might as well admit to one another that they could have fun in the face of grand adventure too. After all, wasn’t that the point, to laugh while people learn along the adventure?

Fover rolled up in his Bronco. She bumped into his truck with her cane and felt the door pop open with a click while he offered her a ride. Buster was in the middle and gave her a warm welcome as soon as she buckled her seatbelt in.

“So, I figured we’d pick up two good packs, probably make sure we both have good foot wear, and get a wearable pack here for Buster. Other than that, we just need an extra spurt of nutrition backup with a few treat essentials.” Fover instructed her.

“Treat essentials?” Eliza laughed. “What is that?”

“For me, its a cookies and cream bar. For Buster here,” Fover paused to look over in the middle seat briefly, “Its likely going to be a peanut butter bar of some kind, according to the peanut butter sandwich of mine he stole the other day. What’s your treat essential?”

Eliza considered “Its going to have to be my favorite preserved fruit, mangos. I’m a slut for mangos.”

“Then we’ll add mangos to our list.” Fover looked over at Eliza, and took in how lovely she did look, even with just the simple hiking outfit she had on. Even blind, Eliza had a great sense for style. She was dolled up in a bright red flannel shirt with a soft lining, and a goose down vest over it that was black.

Within a few hours, they had managed to gather up what they needed at the local outdoor shop, with a built-in shopping area next door. Next step was the cave. They had started early enough, that they were headed to the cave with many hours of daylight left still ahead of them; and they were prepared to stay overnight for even a few nights if need be. They were equipped with space blankets, headlights, moleskin in case of rubs, flashlights, first rate medical supplies, and plenty of goodwill. They each had their own outdoor jackets and were equipped with thickly insulated ankle stabilizing hiking boots, with insoles equipped to hug the sole of the hiker’s foot through many long miles.

They finally arrived at the cabin back at Fover’s place. As they got out of the vehicle, Fover went over and made sure that the cabin was locked.

“Everything looks like it is good, and I have even made sure to let Reece know that we will be gone for a few days. I told her that we were going on a local hiking excursion, and I mentioned that we would be exploring deeper on my grandpa’s land. She does not know where the cave is, but she does know to send help if we need, in 5 day’s time. I am well packed for 3 and can survive for much longer than that if need be. 3 days should be enough to learn our secrets, or to fail quickly enough that we can go home for a good supper.”

Eliza got out of the truck and firmly planted her feet; she was ready for the adventure. “Now, have you thought about our friend, who doesn’t want any trespassers in the cave? I’m not sure how we are going to get past them, to even use all this great gear that we have put together for Buster and ourselves.”

Fover put his hand up to his chin for a moment and stroked it in a fashion like a Greek statue, almost just posed in thought. He finally spoke; “Yes, I have. I have put a net with several stakes in the bag.”

But I figured, that perhaps when this thing comes near us, when we hear the whistling, we can use this,” Fover pulled out a container of some kind, “we will dump this glitter on them, whatever or whoever it is, and it is both neon reflective in the daylight, but it is also will help us track it and snag it, hopefully into the net. If its dark outside, or grey and overcast weather, its also glow in the dark. Go figure, children’s crafts are the secret to unlocking the universe’s secrets.”

“Good enough,” said Eliza. They started their trek into the forest, and Buster was a good enough boy that he did not require a leash to stay close to them.

They began hiking, and the day itself was splendid. It was cold and bright, crisp, and ready for the anticipation for anything. Ready to see anything happen. Their steps were loud in the area, and the birds chirped away while the sun slowly descended upon their steps. Eliza walked behind Dover and followed the sound of Fover’s footsteps with her cane.

“The day is beautiful Eliza, and I must say, so are you.” Fover turned to look at her now, and complimented her simple, but still very fashionable hiking outfit.

Eliza felt herself let in a little bit of joy in at the compliment, and she felt herself touched ever so slightly by the connection with Fover. It had been a long time since she had connected with anyone. When her sister Mel had disappeared 10 years ago, her life and herself had changed and shut down completely. There was nothing left of her original self to connect to anything anymore, what had happened to her had eaten through everything she was and cost her who she was. She felt a soft heartbeat of her character and personality murmur again in herself. What was happening with Fover? She reminded herself, drawing up the walls again, that it was dangerous to let someone in. They broke things. They took things, they took trust and twisted it, and made it hard to trust anyone. They made her want to withdraw everything she was, turn off the light of who she was, and never bother trying to learn anyone again. Wouldn’t a new person destroy her just as others had before? The moment of joy was tinged with a painful reminder of how much Eliza struggled to trust anyone, other than the cute puppers she encountered in her everyday life. Sometimes she wanted to admit it might be possible to trust again; but who could she ever possibly trust again?

They hiked for a while like this, and much to their surprise, it was calm. Nothing prodded or poked them along their way to the cave, and Buster was enjoying the smells. He obviously was having the best time of his life as his tail was swish, swish, swishing back and forth so vigorously. The good times were rolling.

The sun had climbed about halfway down in the sky, and the shadows lengthened significantly since they first got out of the pickup. Eliza felt her stomach growling, and she swore she could hear Fover’s as well.

Fover nearly felt it at the precise same moment, “This seems like a great place for a rest and a re-fuel up before we make it into the cave for the evening and begin our exploration there, maybe find a place to make camp tonight. Since we do not have a fire to stay warm, we’ve lamps, and plenty of space blankets, thick sleeping bags, and tons of hand warmers. I do mean tons; its practically our own little Florida.”

They sat down in a clearing of sorts, where there were a set of larger boulders, set into the earth like they had possibly been moved there by a glacier. They set themselves down carefully on the stones; they were sore. Eliza was so tired already from navigating all the territory she had not been on before. But she was also elated to be hiking; how do you ask people to please come on a hike with you when you are blind? She didn’t feel like she could really ask anyone to go squarely because of that.

Buster laid down as well, looking all cute in his hiking vest and paw booties. They had gotten him paw protection in case his little feetsies needed extra grip in the slick or possibly moist cave.

Just as they all felt themselves getting comfortable, they heard a sound. As they tuned their ears, they listened for birds...no....crickets...no....it was almost like something was creeping overhead, as they finally identified...a faint whistling. Not a whistling that was intended for jovial song keeping on a journey, or a meandering walk among the pretty trees, but instead a whistling of something traveling efficiently in a line, directly to the destination. It suddenly made them feel very uncomfortable, and they stood up together.

Fover looked around and tried to see where the sound may be coming from. It was so faint that it could also make the beholder go mad thinking that he had not heard it.

“Fover, what is that?” Eliza felt uneasy and felt her weight shifting from foot to foot. She could hear it too, and she wanted to face whatever it was, but she could not make out where it was coming from. This was coming from a person who could hear things extremely well, especially after tuning into the dark world with only her audible sensations, as her visual ones had been taken.

A crashing came from the trees nearby. Buster sat up and started growling gently. His tone was getting louder as the crashing escalated as well. Fover stood in front of Eliza, both of them were spinning around trying to figure out where the whistling was coming from, and their hearts pacing ever faster, pumping adrenaline down their veins trying to ensure their survival from the oncoming threat.

Suddenly, Fover was smacked on the head by something and fell to the side, and Eliza was launched backwards unexpectedly. They were ok overall and got up to their feet, but now they had confirmed their worst fears; something was guarding the cave, but it could not be seen. Buster thankfully remained untouched, and he was frantically running around after something. What it was they could not see, but Buster was on a hunt.

They finally got their wits about them and remembered the plan that Fover had spoken about, and quickly Fover got to it.

“Eliza! The net, remember the net and the glitter! The stakes are in my bag, we’re going to have to hold whatever it is down! Buster has got him or it on the run, let us get this down before it comes back for us.”

Eliza felt her strength coming forward, even as she made room for the fear inside her too. She just applied it differently, and let her fear push her into effective action. She leapt for Fover’s bag, which had been sitting up against a boulder as they snacked on some nutrition bars.

She felt around, and at first her hands traveled over the wrong objects. She was used to trying to feel her way through the world, but she felt for that solid wooden surface. Finally her fingertips graced the end of a stake, and the felt her way to the bundle of about 6 small stakes and a large fishing net they had reappropriated into a monster catching net.

Eliza used the feel of her fingers to hook the netting into the notches they had placed in the stakes to hold it in place even as the creature would undoubtedly push against its boundaries. Eliza completed it and called out to Fover.

“It is ready! Here, catch Fover, please, throw down the stakes into the ground and I will try to catch the other side and push them down over here.” Eliza’s hands shook as she passed the net to Fover, who caught it in brilliant fashion and swiftly pounded the wood down into the ground.

His hands also trembled as he drove it into the ground. He didn’t want to die; he had not even found the secret of the cave. Hey, if he found the secret out and then died for it, well, he would have been a part of something amazing no one else had. But still, overall, he would rather not die.

The entire time Buster had been running in circles when suddenly he took a stance near his people. He stood his ground and his hair stood up, as this pleasant dog’s sweet facial demeanor changed to a look of hatred expressed in bared fangs. He was warning whatever was about to come.

“Eliza, make sure that Buster stays safe, pull him out of the way and then stay low to the ground and hold the stake down the best you can. If anything fails, you get away and worry about me later.”

Eliza tried to protest but the chaotic moments left no time. Fover felt his heart thunder against his chest. He did not want his friends to get hurt, and he did not want to see himself get killed either. With a deep breath, he yelled for Buster to get out of the way and he kept yelling as he threw his hands out in front of him and shoved the air in front of him towards the netting.

He felt something thud to the ground, and with stunned amazement, his hands touched solid air. It was not a concept he could hardly entertain, but yet here it was before him.

Eliza fearlessly jumped for Buster; she was extremely attached to her new canine companion already. He yelped but came with her and she felt him down underneath her belly, as she lowered herself to the ground and with all her might hung onto the nearby stakes to herself. She felt them rattle against her hands, and it dug into her hands such that she could feel the dark world around her so actively in her own world.

“Fover - do you have the glitter? I can hold it down for as long as I can, but I cannot do so for long. My arms are weakening, and my strength is waning. I will hang on as long as I can!”

Fover scrambled to his feet and ran for his now toppled over bag. The sun was about to fully set within the next half an hour, so it made it hard to find anything in the dim light without using the lights they had prepared so far. He looked and grabbed the jar of glow in dark neon reflective glitter. He could not believe in the face of science changing, foundation of understanding changing paranormal activity, that they were about to tame it and identify it with a simple small child’s crafting implement. Who says glitter isn’t for adults as well as the local youths of today?

They had done it; they had managed to stake down whatever was circling them and held it down in the net. It had stopped rattling so much now that Buster was holding a firm growling stance on it. Eliza had let their pupper up and stood herself up but as far in the clearing away from the monster net as she could.

“Fover, dump down the jar and put it on the creature so we can show us what horrific terror has been stalking both of us the last few days!” Eliza felt herself nearly choke the words out at the top of her head.

Fover poured it with firmer hands now, and stood back while the whistling turned into a whining and they suddenly softened just a little. But they still stood back with extreme caution, and a huge distaste for everything they’d both been put through now, just trying to simply get into the cave entrance. The fierce defense of the cave suggested to both Fover and Eliza that the cave must have high value. Or it made them both suspect that here really was something of a huge power source within the cave.

The creature formed to be a giant bird who was laying tiredly on the ground and now there was no whistling. There seemed to be an aching moaning or whining coming from the creature.

“What are you?!” Fover stared the creature down and loudly begged it to identify itself.

“I...” It choked out a surprisingly feminine toned word and both of them took a step back in shock that it could speak at all.

“I am Cessian.” The bird or bird like creature, as it appeared to have two horns out of her head, and appeared owl-like, tried one more time to struggle against the net but it couldn’t muster any more effort, so it lay there quietly. They felt a little sorrier for it, as they saw the thick slimy glitter just hanging off of its undeniably beautifully long feathers and wings. It was a shame they had had to do that. Why had it attacked them if it could right now hold a civilized conversation?

“Cessian, I’m Eliza.” Eliza took a step forward this time, and Fover shot her a sideways look as if she was crazy to give her actual name. Fover wondered internally if it was a demon of some sort if he were admitting at all that anything unscientific was even allowed - demons among everything else possibly admittedly now real was terrifyingly considerable.

“Eliza, I am sorry I came after you. I...” Cessian now struggled for its breath as the chest heaved to and fro like waves of an ocean between breaths. Out of her empathy, Eliza felt her way to one of the stakes and pulled it up, she could give Cessian the room to at least be in pain, as it obviously was by the terrible it exhaustion it suffered as a result of its failed effort. The creature was not just a creature, it was Cessian, and that changed the game of hunt and capture the great evil beast just a touch different for her.

“Why did you then?” Fover thought Eliza had full out lost her mind now, like the folks he saw on the cable channel commercial when they stood snuggled up against the kitchen knifes to escape the killer invading their house. BAM, they were going to be dead any second, Fover was sure of it.

“You are...you are going to the cave are not you?” Fover looked at Eliza, and she felt her way back to Fover, and held his hand. She was so glad to have his hand just then.

“We are. I just inherited this land; its legally mine and I have not broken any rules. We were not going to destroy the cave in any way or share the cave to outside sources. We mean no harm.” Fover spoke up now, and he knew that Eliza was likely even more capable than him at standing up to Cessian, he knew that she would have felt the same thing in this moment, just as their stomachs felt the same thing earlier. Fover noted in his mind, even in a tense moment like this, that Fover and Eliza had similar tastes and “feelings” of the hunger pains in general. Fover liked his woman like he liked his food, adventurous.

“I understand, I do believe that you mean no harm. I know and can sense from you both that you are not bad people. I do not mean you harm, on the contrary, I am trying to protect you. I am trying to protect everyone. But you right now because that cave lures people with the promise of that question. I know what you are after, as good as you mean and intend. Oof, ouch...” Cessian, truly did not appear to be appealing for mercy, but reflected the pain that she was in. She tossed herself slightly trying to sit up. Cessian appeared to be very feminine and confirmed as such.

“I am Cessian, Lady of Tìr an oìche sìoraì, or as your people would call it, Land of the Eternal Night. It is our Otherworld, the shimmering around us of spirits and an eternal after life presence. It is not a bad place, it is rather just a place after here, where most spirits and creatures alike, everything this universe has made demons and angels alike, finds peace. It does not choose the species of inhabitants. But it is a world that must be preserved away from the mortals, away from the Formorians, whose kind has now long ruled Ireland long after I did.

I was a beautiful lady there once, loved by an even more beautiful man, Fintanan. I was one of the manannan, a founding member of the Tuatha dè dannan. I am here protecting the portal to the world, the answers and rest for the spirits inside, and guiding spirits to that place, whether they be dead, or lost in transit, to the Land of Eternal Night.

But this man, Fintanan, he was overwhelmed by what we faced. We faced a terrible defeat, by the mortals who invaded Ireland in overwhelming force as the explored the world, and we could not help but be driven back. And in the face of trying to build a small kingdom together in the Otherworld, away from all the pain we had faced here in defeat, my dearest, cherished love Fintanan ran away from me. Away from everything we had dreamed together because everything he had expected from it had burned down in flames.

He became a shaman inside that cave, and he slipped away into the cave as a salmon through the pool of the water on the outside, now touched by paranormal circumstance, and has been trapped there ever since. He is unable to access the Otherworld because there he can get every dark answer he desires.

He can mostly figure out how to free himself from this cave. There have been so many hikers who have been lost to that cave, so many urban explorers, who had heard of the cave system from the many travelers who had seen the journal speak of the cave. I know about the journal too”, she looked directly at Fover now, “I knew about your grandfather, Felix, he was a good man. I tried to get into the cabin afterwards with my claws because I was hoping to keep the Journal from anyone else’s hands, and the curiosity of the caves from anyone else’s minds.”

She finally paused as it had taken all her collective remaining strength to share what she had with Fover.

“Fover, help me take these restraints off of her.” Eliza calmly walked away and pulled Fover with her towards the net. They took the stakes off her, and like she had listened to him, Fover found himself listening to Eliza’s advice now as well.

Cessian groaned loudly as she sat up from the wounds, she had sustained tossing herself in the net trying to attempt freeing herself earlier.

“Thank you. I really didn’t aim to hurt you. On the contrary, I am trying to save you. Fintanan cannot reach the Otherworld, and he is tricky. I didn’t see what he would do to me, and it changed my world for a while until I could ahold of myself once more.”

Eliza finally stood up and faced Cessian, finally letting herself rest on the boulder now that it appeared they were out of mortal danger, or in this instance with the lady grim reaper herself as it were since she was herself a remnant artifact of an anciently immortal time.

“I am seeking the cave for a reason my Lady; I am sorry we hurt you. But we could not see you, and you frightened us. Why could not we see you? I wish we had not had to sully your gorgeous wings with this terrible glitter slime.” Eliza felt around in her pack for a towel. At least it would be glow in the dark for Fover to see, but at least have the dignity of non-slimy feathers.

“You cannot see me, because I was given the kindness of disappearing into the mists, either in the shade of a tree for myself, or for whoever is with myself. We are underneath the eternal tree of Mother Moon. I am allowed the protection of that endless shade, or for whoever else is with me and in my protection. I defend the gates here with the key, the Sword of fhírinne misniúil, or courageous truth. Its wielder can open the gates to the Otherworld and obtain that answer they’re after.

Why are you seeking the cave?” Cessian looked at Eliza now, who was slowly breathing, but had a far-off look still, even though she was blind, it told Cessian that Eliza was somewhere else. She was far off, being forced to recall something that she did not want to.

“Eliza?” Fover called to her now, trying to pull her back from where she came. She would not return yet; her mind was stuck where it stood. Fover decided he would offer himself first to Cessian.

“Cessian, my name is Fover.” He could see her now directly as he faced her, and he knelt down near her level to get closer to her and demonstrate to her more of an equal consideration.

“I am seeking the cave because I am firstly the new guardian of the land, after, as you already know, my grandfather, Felix, passed this land on to me. I am curious about the land that I never knew previously existed.

But secondly, most deeply, lies a second driving reason. I lost someone, about five years ago. She was my mate, my forever, my girlfriend at the time. I was on my way to home to propose to her when I found her much too late from some terrible travesty that befell her before I could reach her. I found her...” Fover struggled now to stay where he was with her for fear of slipping back into the traumatic flashback. “I found her with her blood spilled everywhere, and her insides had become the outside. I called immediately for help, but there was no coming back from what she had endured. There was no coming back from losing her, I saw her fall and I held her while she died.”

Eliza had not known such pain lied within him; she had seen a kind friend who seemed to make such space for her pain. But she listened with a quiet heart, trying to listen to what he was saying and give him the space to speak further.

“I moved on the best I could, I lived, I worked, I had a cat. I did the best I could.” He looked down now.

“But if there was a chance to find out who killed her, who possibly could have done that to my precious love. But even more so.... would she have...” It was now that the strong brave Fover really did get stuck on his words, his emotions just held him under water there while he tried to breathe through the moment recalling what had happened.

“Or if I could know if she wanted to marry me.” Fover stood silent now, and simply sat silent for a minute, until Eliza found her courage to share her story too. She explained to Cessian what she had explained to Fover so much earlier.

Cessian was breathing more evenly now. Eliza offered her some water while she took in all the information. “My my, you do have reason to seek the cave. It is not natural, what has occurred in the cave. It is a perversion of reality that I still do not know why it exists the way it does. But you do seek it for a brave reason. You seek it for a true reason.” Cessian sighed long now and stared off into the distance.

Cessian said something to herself, and a shimmering appeared at her side, and a sword appeared at her side. It was the Sword of Courageous Truth, and it was the key to getting to the Otherworld, as Cessian had earlier explained it.

“The Otherworld is dangerous, and, and its where one, a Champion, must travel to ask the one question. It is only open at certain times, and you must travel there for that purpose alone. But if you do, then you shall know one answer.”

“Fintanan is a devil in his own right, and he should not be underestimated. I do not know where he is in the cave, but I do know you should be wary of him. Many hikers have also gotten lost in this cave, for no map exists.

But to you both, I now entrust the Sword. I pray for your sake you reach the source; you ask your question, seek your truth, and immediately find your way back. Do not. I cannot stress enough this part, do *not* stray from your purpose. Should you do so the consequences could be ghastly. But I hope for you that you find what you are looking for, but you should know; only one question can be asked. The tear will mend itself after it has been asked, and the portal will shut after a short time. Find your answer and come back safely.”

Cessian handed them the sword and they both held it for a minute, because there was enough sword to hold. It was extremely large to be fair, since it was held in the claws of a great giant talons of Cessian. The whistling sound before must have been made when her wings were gliding between the trees, but her cloak, given to her in the generosity after the wake of heartbreak.

Fover took it on his side for now, because of the grand weight of the sword. Eliza felt uneasy, letting him have the sword. She saw the merit of it, because she herself was just a small frame, who had a hard time carrying such a heavy weight. But she did not want to trust Fover with it, in her heart she was growing more worried that Fover was going to take the opportunity away from her to see her sister again, though she prayed that it was seeing her sister alive again.

“Go with my blessing but hasten back with my warning. The Land of Eternal Night is not meant for the living. You can find the dead there, you can find the lost there, but you can lose your very self. Do not linger, do not be tempted or driven by your own needs to consume anything whether it be drink or water. You must drive straight forward to your purpose, and do not wander aside if you should meet any other characters.” Cessian cautioned them against the grand mystery at the bottom of the chasm of uncertainty they now face. Will they be smart enough to navigate the new land and wise enough to heed her words?

“Thank you for the chance to fight for the ones we love. That is all I ask,” Eliza’s voice did not choke at all now, but instead it carried and boasted from her chest.

“We will return to you and return your Courageous Truth sword. If we were to perish...what happens to it?” Fover now held his breath while he thought about what their demise could mean if they didn’t come out of the cave. Was his life worth risking for just the answer, of a person who was probably now dead?

“The sword just evaporates back into the ethereal, back into the spring, and is returned at the main pool of water outside the cave. Speaking of the spring, it connects to the inside of the cave, and it is like the lifeblood between the Land of Eternal Night and the Here and Now. It’s what connects all the knowledge, the continuous give and take of creatures, spirits, information....it often reveals things about us that we did not know about ourselves.”

Fover had thought about his question while Cessian finished explaining; yes. Yes, it was worth it to him to get that answer. He felt now that he lived as a ghost, and both his living body and the spirit of his lost love haunted the same empty hall of memories, circling them like a drain, both unable to release and move on. He was a ghost in his own life, and as it stood, he did not feel like there was any life left to save in him as it was. He would make sure that Buster and Eliza returned to be sure.

Eliza and Fover turned to go towards the cave, and Buster followed their lead. They had wiped the goo off of Cessian as best as able, but of course now Cessian was still visible to them. Cessian inquired - “How long will this stuff stay on?”

Fover was glad to tell her it wasn’t all ending or permanent like a bad decision or a child, “It should wash off in about 24 hours, and then we won’t be able to see you Cessian when we hopefully come out of the cave.”

Eliza turned one more time to look at the great bird. “How do I use the sword? How does it get us to the Land of Eternal Night?”

“That is the mystery; no one has ever made it through the portal or found it to even try. But I do know that it must be held in genuine question of what you seek, and it is both the Answer and the Retaliator. In the hands of a Champion, or Champions, it will both protect the bearer and unlock the way to the answers you seek. A wet blade speaks more clearly than a dry one.” Cessian paused to take a breath. “Now take care, I do apologize for scaring you; I only meant to protect you as I tried to do so long ago in 1875, when the last owner of this land tried to seek this cave, and no attempt was enough to stop him.

Fover wondered briefly if a wet made blade meant one that was wet with blood? He did not want to take any life if he could help it. Eliza was startled when Fover softly took her hand and gave it a squeeze. She felt assured, and uneasy. She felt that she had found a new friend. She wanted to understand that he had a question too, but her heart had been in pain for 10 years. How could she even provide the opportunity that he may take it away from her? His fiancé was already dead; for all they knew...maybe her sister was alive. Eliza had to admit the chances were small, but maybe, just maybe she was. Fover and Eliza strode forward, ready to take on the next challenge. She trusted the hand in hers, and maybe that could be a good thing too.