~Second half to C3:Pi~

Ravin will admit that the depth of the cave’s floor was farther than expected. The impact jarred his legs. He ignored the feeling like it was second nature.

It took longer for his eyes to adjust to the darkness than he would’ve liked. The walls were lined with smooth, spiked stone. Rubble scattered about the floor from the cave-in. From what he could see anyway. The moon’s glow did nothing this far down. Illuminating only the entrance. Not that he needed it, of course. Ravin knew darkness better than he knew himself.

Hidden by the shadows lay the boy. His stride hastened the closer he got, his steps never waving despite seeing the state of the boy.

He paused, hearing the boy’s plea. He reached out, a touch slower than he had before, brushing the wet hair out of the kid’s face. Watching his eyes fall shut. That hand turned to cradle the boy’s head while the other went under his knees. Ravin nudged the boy’s head to rest upon his shoulder before lifting the light bith off the ground. Ravin grunted as he lost balance. Ravin glanced down in confusion.

The bith was light. There was light and then there was light. Well, some boys are thin during their younger years, especially one, he countered himself. But they didn’t even weigh so little.

The shadows curled around them, the darkness hiding their embrace. The lack of light enhanced his hearing so that he could listen above to watch for the danger lurking. Their chaos grew with each murky step, spilling over the edge as they stumbled upon the cave-in.

“Holy-. Hey Boss, come look at this,” a voice called out, inching closer to the hole.

“What is it now? I swear if it isn’t them….” The 2nd harsher voice trailed off, joining the first.

“Think they went down there? It would be a good hiding spot,” the first said. It was quiet for a moment.

A dark silhouette peaked out over the edge before safely backing away.

“No,” the 2nd replied. ”They’re not that stupid. At least not enough to corner themselves without an easy way out.” The boss walked off into the forest ignoring the first.

“Oi! Where are you fuckers at? This ain’t a game of hide and seek, ya dingos,” a deep voice shouted through the rumbling night.

Sirus groaned, cursing the heavens as he turned to the dark forest where the big oafs' voice originated from. Why did he get stuck with these imbeciles?

The first, Tallon, snickered. “Gosh, Charlie must be madder than fire to be cursing like that. He’s usually a pretty polite fellow.”

“Well since you like him so much, you can be the one to go find him and tell him to shut his trap,” Sirus glared at Tallon who shrugged beneath the deadly gaze. “Once you do head east. Nay chance they have at escaping this bloody forest is east towards Arearis. He won’t risk getting caught by the Mozarian guards again. Or being thrown into Isendeare.”

“Every bastard in either deserves to burn,” Tallon chuckled, walking into the foliage away from the crater.

“That you and I can agree on,” Sirus said, lip raising a hare before falling flat once more.

His head snapped to the pitch-dark hole. A shuffle with the rocks ending as soon as it began. One moment became two and so on. No other sounds accompanied the first. He took a step closer to peer into the void.

A squirrel jumped out of the darkness having used the edge as a launching pad. The furry shook out its dusty fur from the cave-in before scurrying back to its home.

Sirus watched the critter go, his tense shoulders relaxing a smidgen. He hmphed at the sight, leaving the miserable place behind to search for his loathsome partners.

His figure faded into the night till his steps could no longer be heard. Those few bleeding minutes dragged on till he was sure the coast was clear. Ravin sighed in relief, pulling the boy close to his chest on instinct.

It was pure luck they hadn’t been caught. This kid seemed to be cursed with the worst possible timing. A small twitch of the muscle. Enough to knock the boy's foot against the stone wall nudging some rocks out of place. It didn’t help that Ravin had been following the walls slowly out of sight of the hunters.

The men were gone at least. Ravin moved to the right where a break in the some appeared. It would be a tight fit, but it was better than going back out there.

Without a second thought, he ventured into the maze of caves. A place untouched by the beauty of light. Pure in its origins, untouched by the world of man. Until now.