A Silent Guide

Ezra stood up, brushing off his clothes as he glanced around the chamber. He wasn't sure how long he had been there, but the dim light filtering through the space gave it a timeless quality.

His sharp eyes scanned the intricate carvings on the walls, the lingering golden glow of the glyphs, and the faintly flickering torches.

He stretched his arms, a lingering soreness reminding him of his earlier ordeal. As he took a tentative step forward, the massive feline rose and padded after him, its movements silent and fluid, its bright blue eyes watching him closely.

"So… you're like a guardian of this place, huh?" Ezra said, glancing over his shoulder at the creature.

The feline stopped mid-step and nodded, its ears perking up slightly as if confirming his suspicion.

Ezra blinked, momentarily thrown off by the clear response. "Wait, you can actually understand me?"

The feline tilted its head, then nodded again, this time with a slow, deliberate motion.

"Great," Ezra muttered, running a hand through his disheveled white hair. "First I stumble into some ancient, glowing death trap, then I get chased by you, and now I'm having a conversation with a giant cat. This is definitely not how I imagined my day going."

The feline chuffed softly, its expression almost amused as it continued to follow him, its massive paws silent against the stone floor.

Ezra sighed, turning his focus back to the path ahead. "Alright, big guy. If you're the guardian, what exactly are you guarding? And why didn't you, I don't know, try to stop me from poking around?"

The feline remained silent, its gaze unwavering. Ezra frowned, realizing he wasn't going to get any direct answers.

"Figures," he muttered, stepping over a cracked section of the floor. "Well, don't expect me to clean up this mess if something goes wrong."

With how things were going, Ezra realized he had to get back and check on Shirley—and preferably find some breakfast while he was at it. His stomach growled loudly, prompting a groan of frustration.

"Do you know where I can get food?" Ezra asked absentmindedly, glancing at the large feline beside him. Then he froze mid-thought and shook his head. "Wait… why am I asking a cat for food? This whole thing's ridiculous."

The absurdity of it all was starting to wear on him, and he turned around to start retracing his steps—only to stop dead in his tracks. In front of the feline sat a massive plate piled high with bread, wine, fruit, and roasted meat. It was as if it had appeared out of thin air.

"What the heck? Where'd you get this?" Ezra asked, his lavender eyes wide with disbelief. He had many questions to ask .

The feline didn't answer, of course. It simply nudged the plate forward with its nose, sitting patiently as if waiting for him to eat. Its crystal blue eyes gleamed expectantly.

Ezra hesitated, suspicion flickering in his mind. But his growling stomach quickly won the internal argument. He grabbed a loaf of bread from the plate and took a cautious bite. The taste hit him immediately—soft, warm, and perfectly fresh, as though it had just come out of the oven. His hesitation vanished, and he devoured the loaf in seconds.

"Good girl," Ezra said absentmindedly, though he wasn't entirely sure if the feline was a girl—or even cared.

The creature seemed to understand, though. It let out an excited chuff, leaping slightly in place and purring loudly. Ezra couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to rub its ears. The feline pressed into his hand, its purring growing louder.

"Wow," Ezra muttered, shaking his head.

"You're actually useful."

The feline beamed—or at least, that's what it seemed like—its large tail swishing back and forth as Ezra continued to scratch behind its ears. For a moment, the strange chamber didn't feel so overwhelming. Instead, it felt almost… welcoming.

"Alright, big girl, let's finish up here and get moving," Ezra said, grabbing a piece of roasted meat. He bit into it with a grin, his spirits lifting despite the chaos he'd been thrown into.

Ezra quickly piled the remaining food into a sturdy basket he'd found nearby. His stomach was full, but he wasn't about to let perfectly good food go to waste. He slung the basket over his arm, glancing at the feline, which was watching him with a curious tilt of its head.

"One more question," Ezra said, finishing the last bite of roasted meat and wiping his hands on his pants. "Do you know how I can leave?"

The feline tilted its head at him for a moment before standing gracefully. Without hesitation, it walked ahead, its movements fluid and purposeful. Ezra raised an eyebrow but followed, watching as it led him toward an area of the chamber he hadn't noticed before.

The cat stopped in front of a large section of the wall, seemingly indistinguishable from the rest. But as Ezra approached, he saw it—a faint outline of a massive gate carved into the stone, its edges adorned with intricate designs similar to the glyphs from earlier. Vines and moss clung to its surface, nearly obscuring the ancient craftsmanship.

The feline pawed at the base of the gate, its crystal blue eyes glancing back at Ezra expectantly.

"You've got to be kidding me," Ezra muttered, stepping closer. He placed his hands against the stone, feeling the cool, rough texture beneath his palms. The gate didn't budge.

The feline made a low chuffing sound, almost as if encouraging him. Ezra sighed, planting his feet firmly on the ground. "Alright, big girl. Let's see what we're working with."

He pushed harder, his muscles straining as he leaned into the gate. At first, nothing happened. Then, with a deep groan, the massive stone began to shift. Dust and debris rained down as the gate slowly creaked open, revealing a dark passageway beyond.

Ezra stumbled back, catching his breath as he stared at the opening. The feline padded forward, stopping just inside the threshold and glancing back at him.

"Of course, you're not even out of breath," Ezra muttered, brushing dirt off his hands. He stepped forward, peering into the dark passage. "Alright. Lead the way, furball."

The feline flicked its tail and padded deeper into the passage, its white fur glowing faintly in the dim light. Ezra followed, the heavy gate sliding shut behind them with a resonating thud, sealing the chamber once more.