"Who are you?" The first guard questioned. Melissa glanced at Karina, and back to the guards.

"I'm Melissa, and this is Karina. We request safe entry into the cave." Melissa said. Karina fluttered her bat like wings nervously.

"What is your payment?" The second guard said.

"Payment?" Melissa asked, her own bold gaze faltering.

"To get in the city for the first time, your going to need to pay us." The second guard stoically. Karina pulled open her bag. She glanced inside. There was a satchel full of gold, the map, some dried steak, Melissa's knife, and a colorful stone with a black heart on it. Whatever they took, it couldn't be that. It could never be that.

Karina pulled out the satchel and offered it to the guards. The second guard grabbed it, considered the offering, and let them in.

                                                                                         ...

When Melissa walked into the cave, her jaw dropped in shock. The whole cave was beautiful. There were glittering crystals lining the walls, glowing. Each building was either carved from stone, or made of logs from the forest. The whole place was dazzling. They walked through the streets, and noticed the wide variety of people living there. Children ran about, begging. Adults performed while others coldly avoided them. Although the cave was beautiful, everyone seemed kind of... off. The cave was not as safe as it seemed.

Suddenly, a blonde caught Melissa's attention. She hid in the back of an alley, but watched Melissa intently. Finally, the woman whispered to them.

"Hey! You two! Come here!" she commanded. Karina turned around warily.

"What do you want," Karina hissed.

"I can't explain here. Follow me, or good luck with living here," the Blonde responded impatiently. Melissa looked at Karina, who only shrugged. They followed her into the alley. She led them through several alleys before quickly rapping her hand on the side of a wall.

There was silence for a moment, before the wall opened. Or, almost opened. A small hole formed, just large enough for someone to get through.

"Come on, we don't have a lot of time. We can't risk being spotted," the girl said. Melissa glanced at Karina, and at the hole, before taking a deep breath, and going in.