Neira awoke to a soft squeaking. Her body ached from the cold and the abuse it had endured in the bowels of the mountain. The mouse was back, sniffing at her pack.

She shifted and the mouse scampered off. She crawled after it, following it back to the main cavern.

It fled into a new hole. Neira carved a mark on the wall and ventured in. The further she went the larger the tunnel became until she was able to walk fully upright.

In the distance was a small, faint light. Neiras pace quickened, her eyes fixed on the light. It swelled as she approached, to the size of a small melon.

Scritch scratch

She held her breath, holding the light out as far as she could. The sound got closer, a rapid scrabbling of claws on stone. Into the dim light came a flurry of mice running toward her.

Neira took a quick step backward and tripped on the uneven stone. The mice fled past her, several running over her legs and feet. They rushed back toward the central cave, leaving an air of dread in their wake.

Neira pulled the dagger from her pack and got to her feet, creeping toward the distant glow. As she drew closer it became apparent that the source of the light was not an exit. It was another jewel encrusted cavern, filled with its own luminous stones.

Up above her was a cluster of huge stalactites. They dangled precariously from the cavern ceiling. Neira eyed them, making a quick escape from under the pendulous fangs.

There was a second opening in this cavern that was emitting its own dim glow. She moved toward it, squeezing the dagger until her fingers hurt.

There was a rustling sound and she stopped. Her body trembled, frozen in the gloom. Had the sound stopped? Or had just been drowned out by the drumming in her chest.

She stared at the opening. A fierce curved beak emerged, topped with a pair of gleaming amber eyes. Eyes that were locked on her.

The beast stepped forward, coiling low onto its tawny front paws. The Sak ruffled the feathers on its head and neck, releasing an ear splitting skree.

The sound broke through the fear rooting Neira in place. She spun around, rushing to get away. The creature burst out of the tunnel, barreling after her.

It closed the distance within seconds, coming up less than a foot behind her. Claws caught on her pack, knocking her into the wall. A crackling clatter sounded overhead drawing the attention of both predator and prey.

Neira scrambled to the side as stalactites rained down over the place she had just been. The Sak screeched. A large stalactite had fallen on top of it. Struggling against the heavy stone it let out a shrill cry.

Neira crawled forward to recover the knife she had dropped. The beast thrashed against the stone with a torrent of furious growls and squawks.

Neira inched closer, moving slow and staying out of reach of its terrible claws. It's tail flicked about in agitation. On the tip was a lotus blossom.

According to the tales Neira had heard, cutting off the blossom would kill the Sak. She crept around behind it, clutching the dagger with trembling fingers.

The Sak cried out, writhing under the mass of stone. Neira hesitated, watching its desperate struggling. The soft yowling it let out made her heart ache.

The creature fell still, filling the cave with a low keening. Tears pricked at Neiras eyes. She squeezed them shut, burying her face in her hands. With a deep sigh she set the knife on the ground.

Still cautious of the razor sharp beak and powerful claws, she stayed on the backside of the Sak. She began lifting the stones off the top of the pile. The keening stopped, the Sak was alert and still.

Neira kept clearing the stones, anxiety gnawing at her thoughts.

“Please don't eat me when you get free.” She muttered.

She strained, pushing off the final stone. The Sak leapt up, but collapsed again with a shrill cry. There was blood on its fur, and a jagged gash in its side. It glared at Neira, feathers raised, and gave a warning shriek.

Moving slowly, with her arms out in front of her, she worked her way back over to her pack. The Sak watched her, a crackling growl filling the space between them.

Neira opened the pack, bringing out a waterskin and a few strips of meat. The feathers on the Saks neck lowered, the growl getting softer. It watched Neira, looking from her face to the food in her hand.

She crouched low, holding out a peice of the meat and moved in closer. The Sak raised its feathers again, growling louder, and snapped its beak. Neira paused, lowering her eyes and moved in again.

With the meat just a few inches from its beak, Neira paused once again. The Sak nudged at the offering, giving a short chirp.

Neiras arm shook, fatigue weighing heavy. It snapped up the morsel, gulping it down in an instant. Neira fell back in surprise. No longer growling, the Sak watched her in silence.

A second strip was received with even greater enthusiasm. Amber eyes watched expectantly as she pulled out a third peice. It was accepted with a bright chirrup.

Neira poured some water into a shallow hole. The Sak dipped its beak in the water, sucking it up. From the wound in its side came a subtle glow. Neira watched with wide eyes as the flesh knitted itself back together.

The Sak looked at its side. It rolled onto its feet, clearly delighted. Neira laughed as she watched it chattering and cavorting about.

It turned and padded over to her. She held out her hand, squeezing her eyes shut. Something nudged against her palm. Opening her eyes she saw the creature pressing its beak into her hand.

It slid under her hand, blue grey feathers slipping between her fingers. Neira released the breath she had been holding. The Sak settled itself across her lap, nuzzling its head against her.

Neira smiled, stroking it's dappled fur.

“Given how big you are, I expected you'd be much heavier.”

A deep rumble started low in it chest and it closed its eyes. She spent several minutes petting the creature before it sat back up. It was looking intently at something in the inky tunnel behind them.

Leaping up, it shot off into the darkness. Neira heard a scrabbling sound and frenzied squeaking that ended in a crunch. She gathered her things and started off toward the tunnel on the far side.

There was a soft padding sound behind her. The Sak came up alongside her, licking the blood from its beak.

"Hello there.” Neira smiled as it rubbed itself against her arm. “You feel like coming along with me huh?”

It really was a massive creature, the head of a hawk but the size and body of a lion.

"Well if you're going to hang around, I suppose it would be good to give you a name.”

She stroked its fur as they made their way together down the tunnel. It was a golden color with dark brown spots almost like a leopard.

“How do you feel about Tawny?”

The Sak chirruped at her and bounded off ahead.

“I guess that's as good as a yes.” Neira laughed.

Unfortunately the tunnel was a dead end, leaving the pair to make their way back to the main cave once more. Neira took the opportunity to refill the waterskins.

She took a long draught of the water, releived when it healed her assorted wounds as well.

Tawny followed along with her as she chose several more paths. After returning from the third dead end Neira flopped on the ground next to the altar. She looked up at her chimerical companion.

“I don't suppose you know a way out of here.”

Tawny chirped, plucking at Neiras clothes with her beak. She walked to another opening and stopped, looking back with those piercing eyes.

Neira stared back a moment and then followed her. Down through the winding darkness they went. Tawny whistled and trilled as she pranced ahead.

The stone beneath them softened into sand. A warm breeze floated through the air. There was light ahead. Neira laughed, running toward the exit.

The sunset had never looked more beautiful. Neira stopped just outside the cave. The bright light made her eyes water after so long spent in the dark.

“Tawny, you got us out!” She wrapped her arms around Tawnys feathered neck. “oh you clever, clever girl! How about a treat?”

Opening the pack she pulled out another strip of meat and some dried fruits. Tawny snapped them up with a gleeful chirp. She butted her head against Neiras arm, eliciting some affectionate feather ruffling.

“They really are remarkable creatures aren't they?”

The voice that spoke was deep and smoky. A man stepped into view, an easy grin on his face. He had a mane of dark hair that was coiled into thick almost matted strands. It faded to a soft grey at the ends like well burnt ash. There was an otherworldly beauty about him, something magnetic and warm.

“They are wildly intelligent with incredible speed and power. But who would have guessed they were so affectionate.”

Tawny screeched at the man, prowling forward with a fierce gaze.

“Who are you?” Neira eyed him with suspicion.

The stranger gave a slight bow, still grinning broadly.

“I am Akua the Fire Demon, my lady.”