Shadows flickered in the darkness of the caverns, the only source of light coming from the wavering flame of a hand held torch. The crackle of the flame mingled with the echoed clap of footsteps, giving the area a ghostly atmosphere. The caverns were a maze, tortuous in their design. The caverns themselves were relatively safe, which was why exploring the caverns for medicinal herbs was a task that could be entrusted with an academy student, but it was not without its own dangers. Only one who had lived in the depths of the underground for their whole life could hope to navigate the darkness without becoming lost. Even then, it was never wise to stray too far from established areas, lest you become a victim of a cave-in or a rare creature attack. Despite this, Ken strolled through the shadowy caves confidently, brandishing his torch to light his way. The boy made his way through the darkness. His eyes were peeled for any useful vegetation, and occasionally he would find something and crouch down for a closer look. If the herb was useful he would pick the plant carefully and place it in the basket he was carrying for that purpose. If not he would simply continue on his way. He was technically on a mission, but he took advantage of this opportunity to relax. The imagery wasn't exactly stunning here in the caverns, but the way the shadows danced against the walls was quite interesting. Plus, the quiet was welcome; things could get hectic back home.
The quiet was suddenly interrupted by the sound of scuttling. Ken froze, and cocked his head to listen harder. The scuttling stopped, but Ken had recognized the sound. It was the distinct pitter patter of 4 spindly, clawed legs. He was in the presence of a cave crawler. The boy smiled and licked his lips. He could certainly go for some juicy cave crawler stew after a hike like this. He only had to find the little bugger and he'd be eating good tonight. Sure, the cave crawlers were known for hunting down the more irritating vermin like the legionnaire ticks, but they were also considered to be vermin themselves. No one would miss a little fuzzbug, all Ken had to do was catch the beast. Gingerly placing his torch on the ground, Ken crept into the darkness toward the sound he had heard. The cave crawlers hated the light, and if Ken kept moving with the torch he would scare the thing away. He tiptoed silently, eyes darting around to try and catch sight of the hidden bug. Finally he caught the gleam of a reflective eye on the ceiling. The boy gathered strength in his legs, took a deep breath, and then rocketed himself at the wall. Using the wall as a springboard, he leaped up toward the ceiling and aimed a kick at the unsuspecting cave crawler's thorax. The creature cried out in anguish, flailing uselessly as it fell to the cave floor. When it slammed into the ground it tried to scramble upright onto its feet, but Ken was on it before it had a chance. With a well placed punch, the boy knocked the creature cold. Picking up his prize and his torch, he turned and headed home. His basket of herbs was sufficiently filled, and he couldn't wait to cook up the crawler.
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The quiet was suddenly interrupted by the sound of scuttling. Ken froze, and cocked his head to listen harder. The scuttling stopped, but Ken had recognized the sound. It was the distinct pitter patter of 4 spindly, clawed legs. He was in the presence of a cave crawler. The boy smiled and licked his lips. He could certainly go for some juicy cave crawler stew after a hike like this. He only had to find the little bugger and he'd be eating good tonight. Sure, the cave crawlers were known for hunting down the more irritating vermin like the legionnaire ticks, but they were also considered to be vermin themselves. No one would miss a little fuzzbug, all Ken had to do was catch the beast. Gingerly placing his torch on the ground, Ken crept into the darkness toward the sound he had heard. The cave crawlers hated the light, and if Ken kept moving with the torch he would scare the thing away. He tiptoed silently, eyes darting around to try and catch sight of the hidden bug. Finally he caught the gleam of a reflective eye on the ceiling. The boy gathered strength in his legs, took a deep breath, and then rocketed himself at the wall. Using the wall as a springboard, he leaped up toward the ceiling and aimed a kick at the unsuspecting cave crawler's thorax. The creature cried out in anguish, flailing uselessly as it fell to the cave floor. When it slammed into the ground it tried to scramble upright onto its feet, but Ken was on it before it had a chance. With a well placed punch, the boy knocked the creature cold. Picking up his prize and his torch, he turned and headed home. His basket of herbs was sufficiently filled, and he couldn't wait to cook up the crawler.
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