The first beast.

Three flickering lights bob through the darkness; here and there the lanterns blast light onto rough-hewn walls to glint off moist rock and stone. In the gloom its clear that some massive machine has cut through the ancient sandstones and granite, while here and there mud spills from cavities and soft earth in great swathes to fill the curved floor with a gently ebbing stream of silt. Small pebbles and detritus floats along with the water.

The men slowly walk through the tube as if surveying a rail tunnel, “Look at the cut marks gents.” Tom says while inspecting one of the walls with his hands.

“What do you suppose tunneled this out?” henry adds after a moment’s silence, his hand holding the lantern aloft to light as much as possible.

Drawing his hand down the wall at a forty-five degree a angle, following the ridge marks, Tom answers, “Some sort of machine; a bore or mole they’re sometimes called, you may use it to dig small vertical tunnels; usually hand operated, nothing quite as grand as this though.”

“Quite so!” Albert exclaims, his hand holding the bright lamp high to illuminate the upper reaches of the tunnel. “I’d estimate twelve foot in diameter, quite a marvel I must say.”

“Big enough to fit armored vehicles, foot soldiers, pack animals and enough equipment for an invasion.”

“Too right Henry.” Tom says as he steps back from the wall, “Too right.”

The three men resume their slow walk down the tunnel, here and there stopping to look at the cut marks and the occasional natural cavity that the tunnel passes through. One such cave, three or four times larger than the man made tunnel, extends high above their heads, the roof of the great chamber only hinted at by flecks of light reflecting off moist stalactites clinging to the roof.

As they progress through the natural opening it becomes clear that no obstruction is too much for the massive digging beast. Huge columns of have been stone chewed away or toppled as their bases were destroyed. One such case shows a massive, ancient stone pillar with a perfect twelve-foot hole punched through its center, wheel tracks follow the hole through to the other side, as does the slurry of liquid.

The men proceed slowly, their feet making the only sounds, a dull grinding of gravel from their leather soles.

Marveling at the immensity of the hole, and more so at the size of the stalagmite, they don’t notice as the winged beast drops onto the end of the tunnel, a huge bat like terror, it leather wings blocking the way and terrible maw grinning through the darkness.

Flicking his light to the left Henry glances a row of white teeth and piercing green eyes looking back at him, as if tripping on an edge he stumbles backwards grasping for his friends.

The beast screams in delight at the terror it’s brought. The dancing light flickering like a strobe across its visage displays an open jaw and grinning teeth in two overlapping images that’s only purpose, it would seem, is to terrify.

“What the hell is that?” Henry yells as he falls backwards over his companions, Albert and Tom look towards the tunnels end, a serpentine neck twists and turns into the space with snapping quickness.

The men hurry back along the path, their feet slipping and sliding on the loose stones and mud while the creature writhes its way into the tube behind them.

“Back to the main tunnel!” Albert yells above their footfalls.

“No!” Tom bellows while turning on his heel, “We’ve got to traverse this room, there’ll be another tunnel at the end of this groove.” With that he unhitches the rifle from his pack, a quick twist of the wrist is all that’s needed. Pulling the bolt back he takes a bead on the things chest.

Click!

The rifle doesn’t fire.

“Oh hell!” he yells into the gloom, the beast draws closer, its cold eyes flashing in some form of knowledge.

Fumbling for a shell Tom spills his hip bag of ammunition onto the floor, the myriad of shells falling like rain, his voice yelling an unspoken word in frustration.

A blob of spittle hits his face while releasing the faulty shell, a new one, that he’s managed to save, grasped firmly in his hind.

Bang, bang.

The double shot of two handguns fill the air; the smell of burnt gunpowder coalesces around his head, he continues to push the round into the rifle.

More shocked at the sound than hurt from it, the beast reels backwards, its snake like neck craning around the opening of the tunnel. A hiss escapes its clenched jaw before it strikes again towards Tom.

Bang, bang.

Another two shots ring out as Henry and Albert step forwards, each one now standing besides their friend. Drawing the triggers again two more shots fill the air and the beast withdraws into the tunnel and out of the light.

The sound of the thing recedes into the darkness, the final sign of its departure that of the massive leather wings beating the air.

Breathing heavily Albert crouches to pick up the ammunition around Tom’s feet, “I think you’ll be needing this!” He says with a smile.

“I think I will.” Tom responds, “Thanks chaps, not a good time to loose ones head.”

“Lets hope that never actually happens my friend.” Henry adds with a smile, “Now lets get out of this nasty hole and find those bastards!”

⚅⚀thoughts