Chapter 19 ：Cave

As luck would have it, Perry didn't actually fall all the way down the cliff. Instead, he landed on a small ledge that jutted out slightly from the side of the rock face. Dazed, he looked around and noticed a tiny cave nearby. All the Mushcats that had fallen with him scurried directly into the cave, which seemed to be their hiding place.

"Are you alright?" Rufus called out from above, his voice tinged with concern.

"I'm fine!" Perry shouted back, though he was becoming increasingly aware of the heavy rain that was starting to pour down. The ground was slick beneath his feet, and he could feel the mud shifting under him.

"Henry, the rain's picking up fast. It'll be hard to pull you back up now. Is the cave down there safe? If it's not, I'll come down and help you out," Rufus said, his voice edged with worry.

Perry inspected the small cave more closely. It wasn't very large, and he would have to hunch over to fit inside. Fortunately, he had a glowing crystal with him that he used to light the interior. As the soft light illuminated the cave, he saw no signs of any large creatures, just a few startled Mushcats darting deeper into the cave, away from the sudden light.

"The cave's small, but I think it's safe enough to shelter from the rain. No signs of any dangerous animals so far," Perry called out to Rufus. "You should find a place to stay dry too. Jumping down here would be too risky in this weather."

"Alright! Take this knife just in case," Rufus shouted back, tossing his knife down toward Perry. Perry managed to catch it just before it slipped from his grasp, thankful he hadn't dropped it over the edge.

"Don't lose it!" Rufus added with a grin.

"You be careful too, Henry!" Toto's voice echoed from above, full of concern even though Perry couldn't see him through the rain now falling heavily around them.

"You too!" Perry waved at them as they gradually disappeared into the stormy distance. His heart was both relieved and a little uneasy at being left alone. He turned back to the cave, crouched low, and crawled inside.

The cave, though small and cramped, was certainly better than being out in the rain. Perry took the opportunity to think about his next move—perhaps catching a few of the Mushcats would be useful. He remembered their earlier conversation and decided to ask, "System, do you recall which color of Mushcat Henry killed?"

[Based on residual memories, it was likely the red Mushcat. However, to be on the safe side, I recommend capturing a few Mushcats of different colors.]

Perry nodded, "That's true, but the problem is they're so fast. How can I catch them?"

[Didn't your notebook mention that Mushcats like sweet things?]

"Oh, right! I almost forgot!" Perry exclaimed. He quickly pulled out half of a bruised purple banana from his pocket, relieved that it hadn't turned to mush yet.

Breaking off a small piece, he placed it on the ground, hoping to lure the Mushcats in for a snack. To his surprise, none of them seemed interested in the banana. Instead, they all continued to rush deeper into the cave, as if drawn by something else.

"That's strange… why are they all heading further in?" Perry muttered, confused.

[Would host like to investigate further? There might be hidden clues deeper inside.]

"I'm curious, but I don't have many means to defend myself if something dangerous shows up. If I run into trouble, it'll be hard to get out," Perry said, cautious but clearly intrigued by what might lie ahead.

[Don't worry, I'll alert you at the first sign of danger.]The system, represented by a tiny glowing orb, floated beside Perry, almost vibrating with excitement.

"Alright, I guess it's better than sitting around waiting." Perry steeled himself, holding the glowing crystal in one hand and Rufus's knife in the other. Slowly, he made his way deeper into the narrow cave.

The further in he went, the louder the sound of dripping water became, accompanied by the soft meows of the Mushcats echoing through the tunnels. The scent of something sweet and floral began to fill the air, a mix of oranges and some kind of flower. It was a refreshing fragrance, making Perry feel unusually invigorated.

"What's that smell?" he wondered aloud, inhaling deeply and feeling a bit more energized. He followed the scent down the winding tunnel until he reached a fork in the path.

"Which way should I go?" Perry hesitated, picking up a small stone and marking the wall with a symbol in case he needed to find his way back.

[Follow the Mushcats—they probably know where they're going.]

Perry observed for a moment, noting that while there were Mushcats moving in both directions, there seemed to be more heading down the right-hand tunnel.

"Looks like the right side is the best bet," Perry said, feeling more confident. He decided to follow the Mushcats, stepping carefully down the right tunnel. As he ventured further, the mysterious scent grew stronger, and his heart began to race with a mix of excitement and anxiety, as if something important lay just ahead, waiting to be discovered.

Whatever was hidden in this cave, it wasn't just a simple Mushcat den. Something far more significant was drawing him deeper into the unknown.