Levy to the Mute

[Aofe]

"Nature will pay you back for this abuse..." I scamper off as fast as I can and take shelter in a cave. I know I can't win and with any luck the forest can be replanted anyway.

[Kaitalish]

I beg to differ.

Since I've maintained a mindlink with Aoife, I know exactly where she is. I fly above the cave and unleash a cloud of taint into the entrance.

[Aofe]

I don't know what taint is, but I know it is a cloud that everyone seems to avoid like the plague.

I slip between some narrow rocks, through a cravace and into a larger area of cave. I tunnel my way deeper into the darkness of rock and water until I come to an underground river.

I am trapped between the rushing water and the taint behinds me. With no other choice, I plunge into the water, and swim deeper and deeper hoping that the current will pull me to a safe section of cave.

I hold my breath and start to turn blue when no such opening presents itself.
I franticly swim until at last I surface in a secret section of cave.

I am safe from the taint, but trapped. Since I can not fight the current to exit from wence I came.

[Kaitalish]

Remember this well, my daughter. There will always be foolish mortals who want to play the hero and oppose you. It is always best to put them down swiftly and mercilessly, but you must keep them alive long enough to make an example of them. It is a delicate balance, and as a tsukai, you must strive to meet it. Remember, being a tsukai is far more than burning forests and d**ning people's immortal souls with the touch of pure evil. If you want to be evil, you have to have class.

[Aofe]

I am cold, and it is dark in here. I shiver against the rocks.

I need to get out of here. But how. I can not swim against the current and even if I could that bird is outside.

I contact Illusahn telepathically:
Illusahn, please I need your help. I am in a cave about a quarter of a mile from the HQ. Some bird is outside and I am trapped deep in the cave on the other side of a underground river.

[Illuusahn]

OK, I'm on my way.

Several minutes pass, and then suddenly, without warning, a massive sea serpent's head bursts from the water. It opens it lowers its head to the ground and opens its mouth, allowing me to exit.

"Let's go. Leviathan can take us away from here."

[Aofe]

I climb upon the back of the massive sea serpent and can not say that I am at least a little frightened by it.

"Um....thank you...."

I close my eyes and cling to the monster's scaley neck.

[Illuusahn]

"That won't work, I'm afraid." I say. "The water stretches too far. We walk into Leviathan's mouth, and he closes it, protecting us from the water. There is enough oxygen, and I promise he will not swallow us."

[Aofe]

Had I known that my rescue entailed travel in the mouth of a sea monster, I may have asked someone else to pick me up.

I remain quiet and try to ignore the fishy stench in Leviathan's mouth.

"I have never been inside the mouth of a sea monster before. Life is full of experience."

I lean against something for support, but jump up when I realize it is a tooth.

[Illuusahn]

Leviathan emits a sound that can only be called a chuckle. I walk into his mouth and stand on his tongue.

"Come on, it's perfectly safe."

[Aofe]

I cross my arms.

"Well I'm not afraid. I am a friend of the beasts of nature."

I cautiously step out onto the tongue as if a child with their first pair of ice skates. It is a strange surface to walk upon. Soft....spongey...maybe like walking in a bog.

Yes, just like a bog.

I step towards Illusahn trying to bolster my confidence about this ordeal. I trust Illusahn and the ....sea monster...but it doesn't make me any more at ease.

"There....I am used to this. It just takes some getting used to is all."

[Illuusahn]

A wave of fetid breath washes over us.

"You're afraid of me, mortal." Leviathan said. "But I commend your courage nonetheless."

Leviathan's mouth slams shut, enveloping us in darkness, and he lurches forward. After several minutes of rapid travel, the mouth opens, sunlight streaming into the opening.

"We have arrived." I say, stepping out of Leviathan's mouth and bowing to the Vridis.

"Thank you my friend, it is good to know that I can count on you."

[Aofe]

I step out of the mouth, happy to see day light and have fresh air.

"Thanks Illusahn, and you too Leviathan." I smile back at Leviathan and give the monster a wink.

I take a deep breath of air and stretch my arms.

"I don't sense Kaitalish or Edea, it must be safe." I leave the cave and start walking back.

[Illuusahn]

Leviathan laughs as I remove the card from my robe. Leviathan then begins to fade away, the energy flowing back into the card.

Turning, I follow Aoife.

((G'night))

[Aofe]

We return to the base, and I go to my room there. My room is slightly damaged, but the tree is starting to heal itself. I guess Grove did a good job with this place.

I change out of my clothes and take a shower to wash off the fetid smell of sea serpent saliva.

I put on a fresh night shirt and go to bed.