P-Catacombs Chapter 30

Read Table of Content | +Kyla Scurchio
=======================================================================  “There you go Plankrun. Easy does it”
 I didn’t recognize the voice, but I felt someone lift me from the ground. A tight bandage had been wrapped around my middle while I had been unconscious. My head swam as I sat there; I kept my eyes shut trying to calm the nausea in my stomach. It was when I felt fur brush against my arm that I snapped open my eyes.
Kneeling beside me was a mouse I had yet encountered. Glowing runes covered his whole body; like tattoos they wrapped around his arms, legs, and chest. The marks even made their way down to the tip of his tail and a few across his face. It was a sight to take in. As I stared at the mouse I watched the
air around him fade and waver. More magic.
I tried to prop myself up but I felt my skin tug where the blade had cut me. I winced and the mouse pushed me back down.
“Try not to move too much for a little while.” said the mouse staring at me with a curious look in his eyes.
“Why are you helping me?” I asked bitterly.
“Because Plankrun, without you I won’t be able to make the deal of the century. You are a crucial part of my kind’s future.”
“Oh I’m so glad I could help.” I said sarcastically. “What is your ‘kind’ exactly anyhow?”
“Realm Rippers. We can move through time and space freely. I’ve seen you and your friend’s futures. You are a very important part in Gnawnia’s history.”
“Then why are you helping me?” I asked annoyed
“We don’t take sides. Though you may find my kind an enemy to the king, we are not all such. Not all of us mice are out to get you Plankrun; some of us want just as much peace as you do.”
And with that he stood, turned away from me and parted the air with his paws. The runes on his body glowed more fiercely than ever. He stepped into the blinding rip in time and space and vanished from my sight.
I sat there confused for a time, trying to piece together what all the Realm Ripper meant. I carefully tested my movements to be sure I wouldn’t pull anything the wrong way and tear open the wound again. The mouse did a pretty good job at patching me up, and just how he knew I’d be hurt was beyond me. I found the Keeper’s candle lying on the floor next to me, it hadn’t melted down at all but the light was extinguished. I picked it up and lit the wick before making my way to the stone steps.
As I slowly made my way to the steps, being careful not to cause my wound to bleed again, the light from the candle fell upon the chamber closest to me. Not feeling I was in much danger I decided to give it a look.
I popped my head into the small room, letting the candle guide me through it. In the furthest corner of the room there was a pile of discarded metal. I walked over to the scraps and knowing how each thing was useful I pocketed the scraps. In the other corner of the room, tucked against the back wall was a small little table. A chair was pushed over and forgotten.
There was a drawer on the desk that was slightly ajar. I pulled it open slowly, holding the candle up high to cast light into it so I could see better what lay inside. My eyes fell upon a small blue bead. The candle shimmered off its light blue colors. I picked it up and held it in my palm. I stared deeply into the glowing blue light the bead cast around the room. The more I stared the more waves of drowsiness washed over me. And yet I didn’t want to look away; as seemed to happen with most magical things I encountered in this strange place.
Finally I clamped my palm shut breaking the beads spell. I smiled knowing once crafted properly this could make a very useful trap against the Forgotten mice. I put the bead into my pocket and left the room in a hurry, ready to get to the stone steps and then to the Mousoleum. I had a lot of work ahead of me, and I could use that time to heal my wounds. As long as I didn’t come across any revenge seeking Lycan mice, I would be able to return to the catacombs fully armed within the week.
The stone steps carried me past the archways and columns. I hadn’t noticed the first time but each column hung a skull that looked suspiciously human. I shuddered and continued at a steady pace up the flight of stairs.
Until I reached the top I didn’t realize how wonderful it would be to get back into the Mousoleum. The fresh air felt great on my face and though it was dark it was still much brighter than the dark lightless pathways of the catacombs. It also somehow seemed safer now. After meeting up with the two Acolytes and their minion, I knew I would rather tangle with a few lycans before facing that again.
I found a small tree to camp under. I set up my shadow trap before setting to work. I pulled the spare scrap metal from my pocket along with some magical essence and the bead I had just acquired. I also opened up the ancient spellbook for magical help in forging the metals into something of power. And I figured if time would allow, along with strength, perhaps I’d craft a new shadow trap as well. And so wounded, tired, and alone I got to work.