Klasina: *reaches the light* Whew. *is exhausted* This isn't what I was expecting when I signed up for a treasure hunt...

Kitty: Ooo! I could shift into a bird and fly out!

Me: Nope.

Kitty: You're no fun.

Me: Yep.

Klasina:

Ouskar: Depending on the water, we could swim up there.

Klasina: I can't swim. I think my leg is still broken. *looks at author*

Me: Right... you're supposed to have a broken leg, arm, and three fractured ribs or something, aren't you. Yet you're walking.

Klasina: Mmm-hmmm.

Me: Okay, let's call it a sprained ankle.

Klasina: Dear author, the continuity!

Me:

Kitty: *ignores Manda and Klasi arguing over injuries* @Ouskar - I don't think the water's going to get high enough for us to swim up and out. What is it, twenty, thirty feet up to the hole? *guestimating*

Jaimie: "Do we still have the rope?"

Me: "Did you get it?"

Jaimie: "No..."

Ouskar: If we get a lot of water, we can get out. If not, we're stuck. I've got the rope.

Tynx: [Stares at the hole for several minutes] We could try making the hole bigger and longer. In case it's too small, we'd be able to fit, and it would be closer to reach.

Ouskar: Longer?

Tynx: We can try extending it closer to the floor. Blast the roof apart at the right spots and we might be able to reach it then.

Ouskar: With what?

Tynx: Do we still have any of the shovels?

Ouskar: I don't know.

Alina: *scratches head and shrugs* Can you shape-shifter-cat-like-people turn into a bird and check it out? Or is that a stupid thing to suggest?...

Tynx: Brilliant idea, Alina. [Shifts into a sparrow and flutters to the hole, but collides into the ceiling first] Well, it's not terribly big, but I think we can get everyone to fit if we work hard enough. The girls would probably have no trouble, the guys might, but I doubt anyone would get really stuck.

Me: Your confidence is overwhelming.

Tynx: Ouskar, you said you had the rope?

Ouskar: Yeah, I do. *pulls it out* I'll go last to make sure everyone else gets out.

Tynx: [Shifts into a human, and almost slips] Gotta be careful up here, the roof of the cave is like a dome. Can you toss me the rope, Ouskar?

Ouskar: Yeah! *ties end of rope around a rock and tosses it up through the hole in the roof*

Tynx: [Catches it] Alright, everyone who isn't wounded climb up first. Then we can untie the rope from the rock to make a harness or something for those who are hurt.

Ouskar: I'll stay down here until everyone's up. Then I'll climb up.

Kitty: *shifts into a bird and flies through hole* *lands next to Tynx and shifts back into a girl* I'm really liking being able to shape-shift.

Klasina: I guess I have to wait till the rest of you go up so you can turn the rope into a harness... *looks sadly at injured leg*

Jaimie: "Tynx, make sure you anchor it onto something!"

Ouskar: I can make the harness out of this rope from down here. *starts working on rope with complicated looking knots*

Tynx: [Smiles at Kitty] It is great fun, isn't it? [Looks around, but sees nothing big enough to anchor it to. Wraps his end of the rope around his hand a couple times] Who's first?

Kitty: *pinks unexplainably* Yes, it is. *quickly shifts into a kitten again and creeps off cautiously to explore* Are we in another room or up above, just beyond the shore?

Tynx: Careful where you step. We're out of the cave and into glorious sunlight, on top of the cave. Once we get everyone up we'll figure out how to get down.

Ouskar: Do you need to anchor it to the rock?

Tynx: [Peers down] There's not much vertical rock to tie it to. I've got a good hold, so send on up whoever's strapped in.

Ouskar: I can send up anchors that you can hammer into the rock.

Kitty: *peers over edge* We can probably get down the same way we're getting up. *steps away from the edge and shifts into a human again* But why go down when we can go up? *points to steep, but not totally unclimbable cliff behind them*

Jaimie: "Tynx, if you're going to hold the rope, shift into something bigger! But not too big, or the cavern might collapse."

Me: "Which is bad."

Jaimie: "You guessed it."

Mind if I come in? And if so, could the situation be explained? I'm not quite sure what's going on.

We're getting out of a cave that's flooding from the tide coming in.

Ah. Thanks!

* crack opens in cavern floor * * two people are flung out *

Etattadix: Whooooaaaaaaa! * hits ground * Ooof.

Etavke: Yeeeeehaaaaawwwww! * hits ground * Owww. Oww. Ow.

Etattadix: * draws sword * * notices water coming in * So what do we do?

Etavke: First, escape that flood of water. Second, find a large open area, with lots of food. * is claustrophobic *

Etattadix: This is a wide cavern, just dark. * pulls out glowstone * See! Brighter. Where is everyone? * worries *

Etavke: Look, a rope! With people by it! * runs over to other people *


Did I understand the situation right?

I think so.

Klasina: Yes, you did. *smiles at newcomers*

Kitty: *yells down to the people still below* Ya'll coming or not? I want that rope to see what's at the top of this cliff.

Klasina: Be patient! Or shift!

Kitty: *headdesk* *shifts into a seabird and flies to the top of the cliff*

Etattadix: Up we go! * climbs rope *

Etavke: Ahh...No thanks. I'll just wait here. * looks nervously at rope *

Etattadix: Could someone with rope tie him up? He hates climbing ropes, and that would allow us to get up there. * barely hangs on to rope *

Etavke: * sputters *

Tynx: Let's see how things go before we anchor- whoa! [Nearly falls back intothe cavern as Etattadix climbs rope] OK, the anchors mght not be too bad an idea.

Me: You're going to get yourself killed one of these days.

Tynx: I already have, silly. [Helps pull Etattadix up into the open air] Welcome aboard the treasure hunt. Alina, you want to come up next? You could bring the anchors up with you.

Kitty: @Tynx - You're a zombie???

Ouskar: *pulls out the anchors* Better hurry! Water's starting to come in!

Jaimie: * works on harness *

Tynx: [Smiles and laughs slightly] No, I'm no zombie. I died in my story, that's all. I'm as alive as you or Ouskar or Alina. [Looks down] Alright, send up the anchors!

Ouskar: They're tied on to the rope! Just pull it up!

Tynx: [Quickly pulls the anchor up. Once he secures them, he drops the rope down] Climb on up, one and all!

Kitty: So it's like Kai... alive out of the story, but dead in the story...

Me: Do you have to give so many spoilers?

Kitty: Yes.

Klasina: Kai dies?

Me: Focus, Klasi.

Klasina:

Kitty: Could someone help her climb up?

Etattadix: * reaches top of rope * * climbs onto roof of cavern * Whew! Tiresome.

Etavke: * still in cavern * Can you help me up? * is worried *

Ouskar: Injured first. Klasina, are you going to be okay? Or will we need to pull you up?

Klasina: Umm... no. I don't think I'm strong enough to pull myself up.

Ouskar: I understand. Slip into the harness. Our time is running short.

Klasina: *gets into harness* I'm ready to be pulled up... I think... do I have all the ropes right?

Note: Etavke has studied in mechanics for about 2 years. His main goal is to become an architect, and so he knows about ropes, etc.

Etavke: -checks ropes- Yes, you have the system right. Pull her up!

Etattadix: Are you coming up Etavke?

Etavke: Yes, once Klasina makes it. The harness will work for me, right? -shouting-

Ouskar: Course. It might need a bit adjusting though. This was invented to be used for anyone.