Troll
Zima, in terror started backing up, not realising there was a twig until she heard the snap. Of course there was a stick, she scorned herself silently, hoping beyond hope that if she stayed perfectly still the trolls would go back to whatever they were doing.
"Run!" yelled Yae, a moment before the first of the trolls burst through the edge of the trees and began to give chase as Zima ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Yae held onto the cub's back through sheer force of will as they sped through the undergrowth, but the troll was ever so slightly faster, and she could see two more just behind it.

"Over there!" squealed Yae, "On your left!"
Zima scanned the wall of jagged rock she was running besides frantically.
"What? I can't see anything"
"I saw a gap in the rocks up ahead, you're just going to have to trust me."
"And what, dive headfirst into the rocks?!"
"Exactly." She gave a nervous laugh, "On my count. Three, two, one.."
Zima grimaced and did the sharpest turn she could as Yae yelled "Now!"
Zima tripped and Yae went tumbling off her back.

(Troll!troll in the dungeon.....sorry i had to) Zima's face contorted into a disgusted face."Uhg why do they smell?" she asked crouching down next to her friend,"Apparently they're too big to wash anywhere so they use mushrooms to mask the smell".The little luneamara squiggled and squirmed."What are two children like you doing watching the Granits gathering?" a voice asked from behind them making them both jump.Zima turned around startled to see a lupora behind her."Who are you?!" she asked terrified."I think you two came looking for me,so you should know who i am" he said lying down to their level."Why don't you tell me your names?" he asked softly."I-i'm zima" she stuttered out shaking.He laughed at her reaction,"Their's no need to ben afraid little Zima..." he looked to the lunamara,"It's good to see you again Yea" he nodded.She grinned,"Told you i knew him." she smiled."And most people think all lupora's are in blood cults and packs." she seemed proud she knew about the topic.The hunter stiffened and stood up,"Don't move...the trolls don't recognize you" he told Zima.He walked over to the trolls and looked to be explaining the suituatuon."How does he talk to them?" Zima asked Yea.She shrugged in response.

Trolls

Zima caught her breath. She had heard of trolls before. Her mother had warned her of them. Long before Zima was born, trolls destroyed at least 10 vulnyx cities. She crouched, ready to spring out if she needed to. But she then realized that Yae probably couldn't fight.
"Do you think you can fight?" Zima whispered quietly.
"I can try," replied Yae, shrugging.
Zima tried to slip Yae off her back as quietly as possible. But Zima accidentally stepped on a twig. Snap! The trolls turned in their direction. Zima closed her eyes as she prepared for battle.

Troll

The smell was horrific. A pungent odour that would make even the powerful griffi shudder. Yae wriggled up onto Zima's nose and looked up over the bush. Two trolls armed with thick oaken clubs stood there grunting and pointing at nothing in particular. Yae watched their movements before whispering "We could try and outsmart them. I mean, look at them! What are they grunting about? Their IQs can't be that high." Zima nodded (which nearly sent Yae flying off her head) and peered over the bush once more. They were still stumbling about, swinging their clubs for no real reason. "Okay... what's the plan?". Yae thought for a moment and finally opened her mouth to speak when they heard one of the troll's thundering footsteps getting closer to their hiding spot. In a panic Zima stumbled backwards, causing Yae to fall off her head and onto the moss covered ground. The troll looked straight into Zima's fear filled eyes and grunted aggressively as it stepped straight over the bush, nearly crushing Yae in the process. Suddenly, the shadow of a small sylesti appeared behind them. Could this be the hunter?

Troll

Trolls
Zima shuddered at the whispered words. She slipped behind a tree and tried to calm her racing heart. What was she thinking, coming to a place like this!? She took a deep breath and pictured her sister, she could be alone and afraid, possibly more afraid than her. Think! Ideas started racing through her head, what could she do? How could she get away?

You smell that? a husky voice said. Zima held her breath. Yeah another voice sneered in response. Like freshkitty meat! a troll jumped out from right next to her. Got ya!The troll that had exclaimed lunched for them. Zima scrambled up the tree she hid behind, her claws digging into the soft wood.

What are we gonna do!? Yae exclaimed who had somehow stayed on her back. I dont know! Zima replied as she climbed up to a branch.

She quivered and dug her claws into the branch in fear. Come down! a troll yelled, Were hungry! another snarled. There were three of them, and two of us.

A flurry of wings startled Zima and she turned, only to see a large bird of prey before it snatched her from her perch.

Day 5 Prompt

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Please put the word Cliffhanger at the top of the post so I know that you are replying to the current version of the story.

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By Wavypavy


Zima, in terror started backing up, not realizing there was a twig until she heard the snap. Of course there was a stick, she scorned herself silently, hoping beyond hope that if she stayed perfectly still the trolls would go back to whatever they were doing.

"Run!" yelled Yae, a moment before the first of the trolls burst through the edge of the trees and began to give chase as Zima ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Yae held onto the cub's back through sheer force of will as they sped through the undergrowth, but the troll was ever so slightly faster, and she could see two more just behind it.

"Over there!" squealed Yae, "On your left!"
Zima scanned the wall of jagged rock she was running besides frantically.
"What? I can't see anything"
"I saw a gap in the rocks up ahead, you're just going to have to trust me."
"And what, dive headfirst into the rocks?!"
"Exactly." She gave a nervous laugh, "On my count. Three, two, one.."
Zima grimaced and did the sharpest turn she could as Yae yelled "Now!"
Zima tripped and Yae went tumbling off her back.

Cliffhanger

Yea slid into the gap."ZIMA!" she yelled on the other side.Zima headbutted the hole,"I-I'm too big!" she yelled to her friend."I-i can't get through!"She turned to face the trolls hissing.one bent down to her level."D-DON'T EAT ME!" she screamed.The troll laughed,"why do you think we'd eat you?" she chuckled softly petting Zima's head."You haven't hurt us".The other troll appeared behind her."What is is Granite?" it asked.It seemed to be smaller than the one named Granite.The small one was speckled with red and grey."is it a kitty?" he asked wanting to get closer.Zima backed up more against the rock."have the eaten you yet" Yea asked from the other side."Your freind seems to have morbid thoughts about us" she chuckled gingerly picking Zima up.Zima went stiff when she did.Yea poked her head out."Whoa!" she eyed the trolls. Granite laughed,"Seems like the stories the hunter said he'd spread around have been working." she looked at the small one."What?So you don't eat people?" Yea asked."no,That's silly,we eat minerals" she took the smaller on from behind her."This is Sulfur." she told the two.

Cliffhanger
The trolls quickly had the young Sylesti surround, outnumbering the small creatures easily. As the lumbering monsters lurched forward to examine their prey, a creature ducked in and out of the shadows. Only Zima noticed this tiny movement with her sharp eyes.
Just as a troll was reaching out to grab Yae, the creature in the shadows darted out and leapt onto the back of a troll, easily knocking it down onto its back, for everyone knows, once a troll is on its back, it will almost never get upright on its own again.
The nimble Sylesti jumped from troll to troll, knocking each over and causing havoc. Using the moment, Yae and Zima ducked in between the rocks to hide. As they ventured farther back into the tunnel, the fighting grew quieter, and before the two knew it, they seemed lost.

Cliffhanger



A large Ny'Vene stood near the edge of the corner, startling both Zima and Yae. The Ny'Vene barely even acknowledged the two before calming walking towards the ever nearing troll.

"Wait!-" Zima yelled, but the larger sylesti was already around the corner.

"Do you think they'll be able to handle themselves?" Yae asked Zima nervously.

"I... I don't know."

Suddenly, the noises of the charging troll stopped. The purple Ny'Vene walked around the corner, bearing a couple wounds. She lowered her head so it was level with Zima's.

"Are you hurt, small ones?"

"N-no, we're not." Zima said nervously.

"Why are you here within the grotto?"

"We're looking for the Hunter." Yae said, peeking from behind Zima.

"The Hunter is what you seek? That is rare." The large Ny'Vene straightened herself. "I am one of the few to know where they are. You are too weak to be inside the Grotto by yourselves. Follow if you wish."

"Are you taking us to the Hunter?" Zima said, attempting to keep up with the mysterious stranger.

"Yes and no. Only few are able to meet the Hunter. Your motives must be pure, and truthful. Only then will the final path appear."

"What's your name?" Yae asked.

"That is for you to decide. We are never know by a single name, but many. You may simply call them nicknames, but for us who reside here, they are as real as the first one given to us. Names are gifts, and we take none lightly. They are apart of who you are."

Cliffhanger





Groaning came from Zimas right as Yae picked herself up off the ground of the small cave. Outside, the confused grunts told the two youngsters that the trolls were still searching for them, but had no idea how the pair had disappeared.

Taking on trolls is pretty daring for those of your age, said a voice from the shadows of the small cave. I wouldnt even risk fighting one without the Hunter by my side.

Slowly, the sylvorpa came closer, his glowing antenna making little difference in the lighting of the cave, while Zima could hardly contain her excitement.

You know the Hunter? Can you lead us to him?

So bold for a cub, not to even ask the name of the sylesti you have barged in on in the middle of the night. For a second, he watched as Zimas ears dropped, before the sylvorpa smiled, his face finally betraying his amusement. You two are the most entertainment Ive had in weeks since the Hunter hasnt had time for normal adventures.

Zima got back her courage with a helpful nod from Yae. My sister, Zuri, is missing. We really need to see the Hunter.

I see, mused the sylvorpa, his head tilted in a thoughtful way. Follow me.