84 Return

They had been traveling for several weeks in the tunnels. Due to burrowing monsters and any attacking the rear of the caravan where Leo and Iris couldn't help, they had lost almost a hundred dwarves. This didn't dampen their spirits though, as they expected to lose many more in this dangerous move. The bigger problem was the dwindling supplies of food and water. They were able to use certain monsters for extra rations, or find an underground river, but with no certainty if a monster would be edible or if there was a river they couldn't help but be concerned.

Leo on the other hand, was starting to feel the pressure from being underground so long. He figured he wouldn't be as affected if he moved at his normal pace, but he had to wait for the caravan behind him. Iris was similarly feeling it, as she grew up in a forest without any sort enclosure. This was the first time she was so enclosed for so long, and she didn't like it. They were getting noticeably better though, as according to the maps they might only be down there for another day or two at the most.

{let's call it a day, Iris and I will scout ahead and see if the exit is nearby.} when they heard his words the dwarves became noticeably excited, as even though they loved being underground it was a different story being in the labyrinth. As they all started settling for the night, Leo and Iris started rushing ahead. Though they couldn't leave, the rush of the wind as they swiftly made their way through the tunnels was enough to calm them somewhat. They moved through the darkness, and Leo spotted movement ahead. He signaled Iris and they stopped to examine the monster. It was a large hairy animal, that had two horns on its head, that wasn't that caught Leo's attention though.

"That's a horned bear!" Leo exclaimed with excitement as he recognized the scent. If it was a horned bear then it might mean that it wandered in somewhere and they were closer to the surface than they thought. Iris swiftly drew her bow, and loosed an arrow at its head. Even in the dark of the cave the arrow found the eye she aimed at, and the bear went down with only a weak groan.

After they brought down the beast they returned to the caravan with the carcass, and explained the situation. After leaving it for the nights rations, they returned to exploring the tunnels to find the exit. The two had spent over an hour searching, and only barely caught the scent of fresh air. They became even more excited than when they found the bear, and rushed towards the scent until it started becoming stronger. After several more minutes, they saw light ahead, and finally for the first time in well over a month saw the sky above them as they left the cave.

Leo and Iris were ecstatic as they were finally "home". They breathed in the scent of the trees, the smell of the breeze going through them. They listened to the animals in the brush, and the creeks gurgling nearby. Neither one realized how much they missed the mountains until they had returned. Leo and Iris looked at each other, and suddenly felt emotional as he held her face and said,

"We're home." Before kissing her passionately. But as much as he wanted to go further, the two held themselves in check as they both reluctantly returned to the cave to report the exit. After a little more than an hour of travel, they found the night camp again and reported what they found to Agmundr.

{we found the exit, a little over an hours travel for the two of us, so about a days march from here. Let's rest up for the night before we finish the journey.} Agmundr also became noticeably excited,

{really?! Then we can finally see some sunlight again! Believe it or not, after being in these caves for the last weeks I've had enough of being underground for a while. Too much extra stress being on guard all the time.} Leo laughed as he understood what Agmundr meant.

That night everyone slept easily as some of their tensions were loosened when they heard they'd be able to leave the next day. Leo and Iris also got the rare chance to sleep all night as several dwarves insisted that they'd wake them if something happened.