Sous laid on the ground in one of the cave departments on her back with her body in an X sleeping. Drool came down on the left side of her cheek until she awoke and wiped the drool away. She sat up and smacked her lips a bit to get the taste of night out of her mouth.
There was a puddle of water that she went to that she used to wash up a bit to get a bit clean than what was desired. The Alpha stretched and began to wonder how Shadow was doing and if he too was on the verge of just waking up.
Sous picked up her belongings and began to continue down the path toward the top of the mountain top of the jungle. Her antennas picked up on a source, seeing glowing bodies through walls and earing light chatter and movement.
The movements were slow though, very slow, and the way they walked was like they were dragging their feet. Sous was able to get a better look when she extracted her claws and began to scale the cave's walls.
She peered over and saw what looked to be zombies of some sort and new Gladian was near by; bringing the dead back to life was her forte.
Sous counted that there was about six of them. She jumped down from the wall and with a switftness began to tear them apart. There was a problem with that. They were still alive; even with their body parts being thrown this way or that way, they were still moving.
"Now Sous, really," Gladian said, appearing on a ledge and looking over down at Sous.
Sous looked up at the woman. "Gladian, let me speak to Tany, please."
Gladian jumped down from the ledge and walked to Sous. "You've grown into such a handsome Alpha," she said to the Alpha, sizing her up and walking around her.
Sous took hold of Gladian's hands and then dropped them. Not wanting to hurt or even try to hurt the woman who really made up a good portion of her childhood.
"You know where the artifact is," Gladian said. "You can have it and Tany will come to you. She can tell you why she does what she does."
"Hacate!" Sous yelled out.
"Lives...they say," Gladian looked at her dismembered soldiers and turned back to Sous. "Must you do such harsh things to them. Now I have to put them together again!"
Sous continued on up the mountain. She moved through the winding cave passages, her footsteps echoing softly against the damp stone. Gladian's words hung heavy in the air, a mix of threat and invitation. Sous knew the artifact was near, a relic of ancient power that Tany sought.
Her antennas twitched, detecting residual energy signatures that pulsed like phantom heartbeats through the rock. The air grew colder, thick with the scent of moss and minerals, and her breath misted faintly before her.
She paused, pressing a hand to the wall, feeling the subtle vibrations of distant machinery or magic humming beneath the surface. Ahead, the tunnel narrowed, jagged formations casting long, distorted shadows that seemed to reach for her. She tightened her grip on her pack, the leather straps digging into her shoulder.
Every sense screamed caution; Gladian's zombies were proof that Tany's influence twisted life itself. Sous's claws extended reflexively, scraping stone as she rounded a sharp bend.
Sous could feel she was getting closer to her destination when she saw the change in the cave. Nothing but rock, it began to turn into an oasis of sorts. Greenery and other types of foliage began to appear with Sous now walking on grass and flowers, colorful flowers.
Trees and bushes began to appear and sunlight seeped through the large cracks that were beginning to form. It was all so beautiful.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of blossoms and the sound of birds chirping in the distance. She felt a sense of peace wash over her as she took in the beauty of the oasis. It was a stark contrast to the dark and damp cave she had been in just moments ago. She continued walking, her footsteps light on the soft ground.
She noticed a small stream running through the oasis, its water crystal clear and inviting. She knelt down to take a drink, the cool water refreshing her parched throat. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, creating a soothing melody that calmed her nerves. She felt as if she had entered a different world, one untouched by the chaos and darkness she had been facing.
Up ahead, she saw it. A large, thick tree with the greenish leaves she ever seen. There was also a boulder underneath the tree where Gortrius sat. She looked at Sous smiling.
"Nothing for me!" Sous yelled out with her arms out wide. The witch chuckled and shook her head.
"Lead the way, Sous, lead the way," Gortrius pointed to an opening in the rock in which Sous had to squeeze through. She went through it, crawling with ease and tightness until she got to the other side.
She came to a rock bridge that led to a platform that she saw an ornament, like a circular item with an immersive design. Sous ran across the bridge and picked the artifact up. She placed it back down looking over her shoulder for Shadow.
Shadow walked down the bridge and saw Sous sitting on the ground with the artifact in her arms. She looked up at Shadow who smiled down at her. She stood up and handed the item to him.
"Do you want to come with me to give this to the elves?" The Omega asked.
Sous shook her head. She was more interested in getting back home to her mate and kids. The two of them made their way out the cave, a process that took another day. Sous didn't know what to think of the three sisters.
She found herself looking back at the opening of the cave when they emerged the next morning, using little baby basilisk to head to the nearest village to clean up and eat.
They stopped at a hot spring and got undressed. They dipped their toes in to test the temperature and then submerged their entire bodies.
Sous let out a sigh, feeling the water just wash away her anxiety and aches. She reflected on seeing her three Alpha children, her mate Kara. She also even wondered how Pameon was coming along.
The hot spring water was soothing, relaxing her muscles as she leaned back against the smooth rocks. Shadow floated nearby, eyes closed, his expression serene.
Sous watched steam curl upward, blending with the mist that hung low over the water's surface. She felt a pang of longing for Kara's warmth beside her, the familiar scent of home that clung to their shared den.
The jungle's oppressive humidity had been replaced here by a gentle, enveloping warmth, and for the first time in weeks, Sous allowed herself to exhale fully, shoulders sinking beneath the surface.
She couldn't wait to be home!