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Description
Prologue

There was only darkness in the cave. Pitch black darkness. Most of the living creatures of this realm were blind, having never seen light, therefore not needing it. They mostly hunted each other by smell and echo location. It was a whole ecosystem under the rock, completely unknown to the world's surface inhabitants.

In a small corner, a flash of light illuminated the stone. It was only a flash, then suddenly terrified ears strained for the sound of rushing claws against stone. He had been careless. He couldn't afford to allow his light to be seen. What if they could pick it up? What if one of them discovered him? He'd be devoured in moments.

He shivered at the thought, but nothing came. He was alone, for now. But this cursed darkness was wearing on his nerves again. He needed his light. He crawled further into the corner, making sure to be completely concealed by the stone. Just a little light... then maybe he'd be able to relax a little... maybe...

A soft glow danced over his fingers. The lights played over hands that were not connected to any arms and slightly illuminated a dark colored face with a large nose. Dark brownish red hair fell over light green eyes that still held traces of fear.

He could not stand the dark for long, even though darkness was partially what kept him alive. He could not stand wondering if something was silently stalking him only a few breaths away, ready to pounce. He needed his light...

A tremendously loud noise caught his attention and broke his concentration. His light went out again. But that was the least of his worries. What was that noise? It had come from his left, somewhat behind him.

It sounded again. Louder this time. He crouched behind the rock, praying whatever it was would go away. It sounded like some horrible beast was trying to break through the rock. Perhaps his light had been seen through a crack in the wall. His heart pounded. He was doomed. He had sealed his fate by risking the light.

Another sound, and another, then suddenly light flooded the cavern. He closed his eyes tight, unused to this level of brightness. What was that?

Voices could be heard. They were completely unlike the growls and snarls of the creatures of the cavern. They seemed if anything, cooperative. He squinted his eyes open and tried to make out the shadowy silhouettes of the strangers from behind the rock. When his eyes managed to adjust, he could not believe what he was seeing.

Plants unlike anything he knew were growing outside an enormous hole in the wall. Light a hundred, no ten thousand times stronger than his light was everywhere. It was so intense that it had to spill into the cave where he was hiding.

He heard a growl somewhere in the cave, then the creature that had made it skittered away from the light. This was his chance. He could get out of this dark hell. Getting to his feet, he bolted toward the hole in the wall, into the light...

Description
Prologue

There was only darkness in the cave. Pitch black darkness. Most of the living creatures of this realm were blind, having never seen light, therefore not needing it. They mostly hunted each other by smell and echo location. It was a whole ecosystem under the rock, completely unknown to the world's surface inhabitants.

In a small corner, a flash of light illuminated the stone. It was only a flash, then suddenly terrified ears strained for the sound of rushing claws against stone. He had been careless. He couldn't afford to allow his light to be seen. What if they could pick it up? What if one of them discovered him? He'd be devoured in moments.

He shivered at the thought, but nothing came. He was alone, for now. But this cursed darkness was wearing on his nerves again. He needed his light. He crawled further into the corner, making sure to be completely concealed by the stone. Just a little light... then maybe he'd be able to relax a little... maybe...

A soft glow danced over his fingers. The lights played over hands that were not connected to any arms and slightly illuminated a dark colored face with a large nose. Dark brownish red hair fell over light green eyes that still held traces of fear.

He could not stand the dark for long, even though darkness was partially what kept him alive. He could not stand wondering if something was silently stalking him only a few breaths away, ready to pounce. He needed his light...

A tremendously loud noise caught his attention and broke his concentration. His light went out again. But that was the least of his worries. What was that noise? It had come from his left, somewhat behind him.

It sounded again. Louder this time. He crouched behind the rock, praying whatever it was would go away. It sounded like some horrible beast was trying to break through the rock. Perhaps his light had been seen through a crack in the wall. His heart pounded. He was doomed. He had sealed his fate by risking the light.

Another sound, and another, then suddenly light flooded the cavern. He closed his eyes tight, unused to this level of brightness. What was that?

Voices could be heard. They were completely unlike the growls and snarls of the creatures of the cavern. They seemed if anything, cooperative. He squinted his eyes open and tried to make out the shadowy silhouettes of the strangers from behind the rock. When his eyes managed to adjust, he could not believe what he was seeing.

Plants unlike anything he knew were growing outside an enormous hole in the wall. Light a hundred, no ten thousand times stronger than his light was everywhere. It was so intense that it had to spill into the cave where he was hiding.

He heard a growl somewhere in the cave, then the creature that had made it skittered away from the light. This was his chance. He could get out of this dark hell. Getting to his feet, he bolted toward the hole in the wall, into the light...