18) Eggs over easy

It took Nora under an hour to return, but it was hard to keep track of time down here. She was able to sneak past the spiders as they loosely surrounded the team. Most had retreated when they realised they couldn't get into the circle and that they weren't coming out again, others died, and a few left with bellies full of their kin.

It was a lot easier to return than it was to leave. When Nora got back she rejoined the group who were sitting around the fire. One second she wasn't there, the next she was, and it continued to scare the shit out of everyone. The shadows welcomed her like they were one.

"You really are quiet on your feet. I'm going to have to attach a bell to you or something"

Kai said, half joking, but half thinking of where to find a bell. He didn't want to get used to the shock to his system every time she appeared.

"Did you manage to get it Nora?"

Elli asked with a light chuckle, also half way thinking about the bell, remembering the videos of cats she would watch with their bells and toys on the net. Nora put out her hand with the loose gunky soil in it, much different than the hard rock bed around them. The soil was almost pure black, with a foul smell to it.

Elli took some and so did Skye, not realising how much he missed the feel of dirt. He let the roots in his fingers extend into it and let the information flood his system. He spoke as soon as he made sense of it.

"This isn't dirt, but it's very mana rich and wet."

He brought it closer to his nose.

"I think… it's…"

He sniffed it, lowered it and made a face like he just got slapped, only to sniff it again.

"Shit?"

Nora replied bluntly, not showing any of the usual signs you'd expect from someone who just carried shit in their hands for the last hour.

"They resemble bats, so it's guano."

Skye didn't know what guano was but it was a no from him. He handed his handful to Elli and let his roots fall off rather than retracting them to his hands. He felt like he needed to wash them now. He wanted to rub them against his trousers but decided to just rub them against the stone wall instead. He only had so many clothes.

Elli continued to move it around in her hand, bringing it closer to the light. Her eyes narrowed and then opened big, grabbing a small round chunk out of it and pressing her fingers lightly against it. She held the small marble between her face and the fire, letting it shine through. Something was inside it, and after another squeeze, it moved, fluttering its legs like a jellyfish swimming in the ocean. 

"They're… eggs. This is where they lay their eggs, meaning we're not at the front of the brood, we're at the back near the deepest part of the nest. They must come running when they sense, hear, smell, or however they find their way around here, when someone messes with their eggs."

She continued to look at the egg, then her eyes dropped.

"That also means there is a mother who lays the eggs. A mother that is most likely bigger than the ones around us."

At that moment, almost as if on cue, a slam echoed from further down the tunnel, bouncing off the walls all around them. And then another, and another, and another. The pace was picking up.

Kai looked around at the faces of his teammates and Nora. No one moved, unsure of the situation that was developing around them.

"Hey, do you guys wanna get the fuck out of here or something?"

They all didn't have to verbally agree, they got up and started grabbing their things quickly. Getting the fuck out of here sounded like a pretty good idea to everyone.

—

Elli came up with the plan on the fly, she didn't have time to think it out. Nora was going to lead the way and the rest would be tied to her so they wouldn't get separated, behind her Skye, then Kai, and lastly Elli. 

Elli would have the torch and keep their rear safe as they fled, one shield to block any leapers. Kai would have a shield on both arms and would be in the light with Elli, he would be blocking anything coming from the front or sides. Skye would have both hands on Thorn and would be at the very edge of the light, slightly behind Nora, who will be telling him which side to be pointing Thorn to impale anything in their way, and Nora would have the last shield.

Was it perfect? No, but it allowed them to be as fast and safe as they could ever be with what they have. They didn't have the time to prepare, they were now getting chased and didn't want to see by what.

They easily cleared their way out of the ring of protection, leaving behind a few bodies instantly that caught the attention of the rest of them. Their hunger didn't discriminate. The pace they took was above a jog but below a run. Nora was clearly stronger than the rest of them, spending each day down here fighting to survive, it was hard for her not to drag the people tied behind her like cans flailing behind a car that says "Just married." 

She didn't want to admit it, but she was scared as well, though you'd never see it from her stone like face. Her dark skin was as smooth and emotionless, only her hazel eyes left communicating what she was feeling. They darted around full of anxiety. 

They ran for a long time and the formation held, like a frate train with spikes at the front, bashing in or empathing anything they could find. Nora would call out a side and Skye would direct his spear. Things would leap from the dark and Kai would put his body into slamming them away, watching them bounce off the stone. He was much larger than anyone else in the group and had some weight to throw around.

Anything that came from behind would get batted with the torch, the most effective tool they had. A spider that got hit with the fire would not approach again. 

BANG BANG BANG.

The crashing continued and was getting louder, rocks tumbling to the ground as something tried to fit through tight spaces.

The ground under their feet became soft and the running got harder, yet they maintained the pace, just with more effort. The banging was no longer the only sound they could hear, little scraps of claws on stone surrounded them, coming from all around them.

"Don't slow down!"

Elli yelled from the back, swinging the torch behind her. The light danced off the walls of the tunnel, tall enough to hide the ceiling away in the shadows and wide enough where all 4 of them could stand shoulder to shoulder. The monsters continued to climb out of holes in the walls and lunge at the party. Most were being blocked by the shields, Skye having to quickly duck and dodge out of the way, but they weren't being overwhelmed. Not yet at least. The longer this went on the more monsters seemed to find their way to them.

They didn't know how long it would take for them to get out of this tunnel but they had to continue either way, no matter how hard the fight got. They either kept going or it all ended here anyway.

As they continued to grit their teeth and fight, spearing and bashing anything that got in their way. They were leaving a path of monsters in their track, some getting eaten and others joining the chase again. It was manageable, but just, one wrong move and the whole balancing act would topple. 

An explosion of sound rocked the walls around them. Dust and debris were shaken from the walls and a thunderous crashing sound vibrated the air. Whatever was chasing them had entered the same tunnel as them, and was moving too fast to stop itself from hitting the wall.

A shrill screech followed the crash, whipping the creatures into a frenzy, some being motivated to attack quickly to get a bite in and others fleeing down the tunnels from which they came. 

The banging became softer and faster, now on the same soil they were running on, gaining on them fast. In turn each of them were stealing glances behind them, trying to see anything in the deep darkness they left in their tracks. It was pointless, but they continued to try. 

Elli yelled again

"Don't look back, just keep running!"

She had a knack for leadership. Every time she gave a command people instinctively followed, even Nora, who was new, did as she was told. They picked up the pace now that the amount of spiders dwindled, no longer having to put as much energy into blocking and swinging. 

Nora lifted her shield and slammed a leaping creature out of the way, smashing it against the wall which was getting tighter and tighter as they continued, raising her bone like dagger in the other and slashing another in half. 

Where once four people could stand shoulder to shoulder, now only 3 could. The walls continued to vibrate and rocks were tumbling out of place from above. 

The deathly cry, like thousands of forks against a plate, got closer and closer, now only moments behind Elli. Her heart beat in her ears rang louder than the calls from her lungs to stop. She knew she told everyone to keep their eyes forward and run but for her, who was in the back, she couldn't help it. 

Her head slowly turned, pulling her body off course slightly, and she locked eyes with their pursuer. A hundred human eyes locked with hers in a second, reflecting their different colours in the light of the torch, as if they were stolen from a hundred different bodies. The flat face towered above her own, scraping against the ever shrinking ceiling. It had to be close to 10 meters tall at this point, hunched over with its legs crouched.

The skinnier front arms, while numerous, were never meant to support its weight as it dragged itself forward. The powerful back legs kicking forward one at a time, no longer able to leap. It was an awkward way of moving but in the limited space, it was the only.

Elli was instantly terrified but her brain never stopped working, keeping her eyes locked with the chaser she screamed.

"Faster!"

Without thinking the bodies of her teammates followed suit, and she was jolted forward by the rope tied to her waist. The walls of the tunnel were getting smaller and smaller with every step but the Mother Brood refused to slow down. Lowering its body it continued to use the hundreds of thin arms to pull itself forward with the help of the rocky walls. It resembles a train pulling into the station, and it is on her heels now.

The monster's eyes were being slowly pushed to the side and squinted as the little hole in the centre of its face started to unravel and push outwards like a spiral of thin pointy fangs. One large eye stayed open on the top of its head, with its deep blue hue it stayed locked on Elli.

Nora screamed from the front, her voice a faint deep eco by the time it reached Elli. 

"I see a light! We're almost out!"

Skye saw it too, in a deep darkness like this it was hard to miss, but he was more focused on spearing the monster directly in front of him to register it. Elli knew she could transport out, but the tunnel didn't seem to be getting smaller, so if she did, Kai would just be left defending the rear all on his own. She only had one idea.

The light continued to grow as they raced forward. In front of them, an escape from the endless darkness and the creatures that crawl within it. Behind them, a train sized monster slowly gaining on Elli with its mouth open, ready to eat them whole. It was now or never to act.

With all her might she turned and jumped into the air, allowing the force of her other runners to continue pulling her forward. While in the air she cocked back her arm and threw the torch as hard as she could. As soon as it left her hand she closed one eye and pinched her fingers together.

The space between the eye of the towering monster and the touch seemed to fold in on itself, shortening the distance completely. Something that should have taken 2 seconds to hit its target now did so instantly and with increased force. The eye of the beast closed to protect itself but it was too late, it misjudged the distance and now was paying the price. The torch landed dead centre in the eye and embers shot out in all directions, the fire refusing to be put out. 

Legs shot out from behind its head and mane made of ears and started to claw at its eye to get whatever was in there out. 

Thrashing against the walls as it tossed and turned, momentarily forgetting about the prey right in front of it. Elli started her descent but didn't hit the ground, instantly blinking in front of the exit and pulling her bow out of her storage. She instantly loaded an arrow and fired off into the darkness as Nora finally reached the exit herself. The arrow flew over their heads with a satisfying whistling sound.

The fire seared and the smell of burning flesh filled the tunnel, the bodies of the smaller minions being crushed under their mother, more coming out to eat their brothers just to face the same fate. Some continued the chase in their mother's stead.

As Nora passed, Elli said

"Dismiss your torch and get ready to fight"

Nora took her bone dagger and sliced the rope behind her, freeing herself from the group, sliding off to the side to let the others pass, throwing the shield from her arm to Skye and summoning her other dagger to hand.

Skye followed suit and cut the rope behind him, turning around as Kai ran past him. He took a front position and lowered his spear and shield, his lungs burning and his heart beating against his chest. He couldn't stop his hands from shaking. 

Kai instantly got behind Skye and started to summon his mana, mentally preparing for the pain he was about to feel. Ruins begin to burn into his body. If he could set up the ring of protection before they were overran, or worse, crushed by the body of the Mother Brood, they may survive.

Elli released another arrow and stepped back, then another and another, screams echoing out of the tunnel as they charged forward.

"Now Skye!"

On her command he took out the remaining seeds and threw them at the entrance, releasing mana as soon as the first spider crossed into the light. They seemed to be able to handle the daylight slightly but they flinched at it, allowing the vines of the seeds to grab onto as many bodies as they could and pull them down to the earth. He didn't let this opportunity escape him, thrusting Thorn over and over again, killing his enemies while they were blind and bound. 

Elli kept firing arrows, pinching her fingers together after each one, but she seemed to be missing the ones at the front, leaving those for Skye to deal with. Her target was much bigger and deeper in the tunnel. 

After the first wave that was stuck in the vines the second burst forward, crawling over the bodies of their brothers. As they threw their bodies forward out of the tunnel and over the wall of corpuses, Nora slid in from the side, colliding with them mid-air, bone daggers slashing through the air with a whistle of the wind. The more she slashed the faster she got, and the louder her laugh became. She was overcome by a frenzied blood lust, even if these creatures oozed a green liquid more than bled. 

Her glee was tangible and was more frightening than the monsters they were fighting, each slash more frantic, like an addict getting their fix. She would tackle a few as they leapt out and quickly tore them to ribbons, then leap back for another round. Skye continued to thrust and block anything she missed, but she didn't miss many.

Finally the mother had recovered and made her way to the entrance. Her flat head burst through the opening, sending rocks and dust flying into the air, smashing the bodies of her fallen children. 

As soon as her face was hit by the sunlight all of her eyes closed at once and she tried to pull herself back in. It must have been many years since she had to see the light of day, and that light must have been incredibly painful. She struggled to retreat, already wedged in a way where the only direction was forward, and she seemed to realise it. No longer wiggling to pull herself back she started to inch forward again. Her face covered in arrows, some much deeper than they should rightfully be. 

"Surround her and attack!"

Elli yelled while letting another arrow fly. This whole time she had one clear focus, and that was to do as much damage to the Mother Brood as possible. She was big, and she was strong, but she wasn't invincible.

Even in her blood lust Nora dived to the side and started to slash at the body of the mother, drawing deep wounds and cutting any thin legs that started to appear out of the cracks of the entrance. Her laugh became a scream.

"DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!"

Over and over, like she was willing her blood lust into reality. Skye didn't let the chant get into his head, he held his ground, pushing his spear into her flat face over and over, trying to go as keep as he could. Everywhere he stabbed ice would circle the wound and freeze it in place, becoming brittle and falling away. He felt the wood buckle and bend as the Brood Motherinched closer, he refused to take a step back, batting away with his shield any stray arms that came his way. Because he was protecting the secret weapon, and it was ready to be unleashed. 

Elli Dropped her bow and blinked forward, throwing all her weight behind her shoulder into the face of the Brood mother. Her feet planted into the rocky soil under her and she wedged herself as tightly as she could, her elbow and shoulder pressing into one of the many eyes. They had to stop her movements forward at all costs.

Kai poured all of his mana into this spell, his ring of protection, which sat somewhere between being innate and activated. It was innate to him because once it entered the world it was there for good, but he had to really work his ass off to anchor it there. Each rune that marked the earth marked his skin first, the holy fire that branded their symbols took its pound of flesh. The more flesh he gave it, the more powerful it would be.

Sweat and tears ran down his face, mixing with the blood from his teeth ripping through his lip. His nails dug into his skin and left deep cuts in his palms. His blood was boiling and then, all at once, he let out a gasp of air and released it.

He held the spell far longer than he had to and let the mana build up, the runes were dug deep into the foundations of the world. When they came to life and manifested he collapsed on the spot.

The runes instantly lit up, engulfing the body of the Brood Mother who was still wedged in the exit of the cave. A roar left her body and quickly became a high pitched scream, like a grab entering a pot of boiling water. Was it desperation or pain, hunger or an acknowledgement of her situation, no one can tell. But it was loud.

Her large body started to thrash against the exit, threatening to tear the whole cliff face apart. She pulled back to flee only to try and push herself out again. 

Elli continued to push and Nora's daggers never stopped tearing flesh from bone. Skye gave up his thrusting and pushed against the corner of her flat face with the shield, trying to stop her from gaining ground alongside Elli. Roots extended from his feet to lock him into the ground, moving mana into his legs in a desperate attempt. 

The mother's eyes would open in between screams, her human eyes locking with theirs. They were full of furry, then desperation, and finally, a sad plea. 

Her body shook violently one last time, then fell limp. She was still alive but in the worst kind of way. Not alive enough to struggle, but alive enough to feel the pain of death slowly taking over and unable to do anything about it. Her breathing was fast and heavy, then suddenly shallow. And soon after, stopped all together. 

Skye and Elli removed their bodies from hers when she stopped pushing and slowly stepped back, unsure if it was really over. Her eyes were still open and staring directly at them, but now had an unfocused gloss. The only sound that could be heard was a heavy breathing and a sickly cutting. They looked around to see what was causing it.

They peaked around the corner to see Nora slumped on the ground against the body, bone dagger still in hand slashing limply against her side. She was covered in a slime that could be blood, or could be mucus, slowly repeating to herself with every slash 

"Die…. Die….. Die"

Skye walked over gently and shook her shoulder.

"Hey… hey look at me"

Her eyes moved from the floor and met his, unsure where she was or what just happened. Her face pleading with him for acceptance and forgiveness. She was clearly drunk on blood lust and slowly sobering up.

He spoke gently.

"What the fuck is wrong with you." 

Dubs finally joined in 

"Yeah while you're at it call the phyco killer with the dagger a freak or something, spit in her face… actually no don't do that I know a few people who like that."

The fight was over, for today at least.