Young Writers Society

The cave was cold. Freezing actually. Devlin stumbled behind Carris for a few yards as they felt their way along a narrow crevice in the rock, devoid of all sunlight. He grunted as his foot slipped on a small stone and he nearly barreled into Carris. She might have looked back to see if he was alright, Devlin couldn't see, and he figured that with what had just transpired, she was probably at mad at him as she was anything else. 

Can't say I blame her. 

But he hadn't had a choice and wrestling her to the ground. If that knight, whoever he was, had seen them, then. Devlin recalled the woman flying through the air into the creek. He shuddered. Some things were scary. Like riding a horse. But this knight was something else. Something worse.

Something magical. If that even exists.

A light flickered against the walls of the narrow passageway lighting up the last few steps into what appeared to be a small cavern. Devlin also noticed at that moment that Carris -it was Carris right?- had a definite limp in her step.

"You're limping," he offered up, his voice bouncing off the walls despite it being just above a whisper.

Carris didn't even look back.

Devlin shrugged. This girl had plenty of attitude, and he didn't have time for it. If she didn't want help he wasn't going to offer it up anymore. There were bigger things to attend to. The stepped into the cavern and Devlin started taking inventory immediately.

"Did any of the Town Guard make it out?" he asked, surveying the crowd of half-dressed, bleary-eyed townspeople.

Silence.

Devlin sighed. "Alright, listen up. We made it out, so you can thank whatever you want to for that. Now, we need to get set up for the night. I wa-"

"Now hold on just a minute!" blustered a man much overweight, pushing his way through the two dozen fellow townsfolk. "Just who are you? How do we know you're not one of those Sadorians? What the blazes is going on,"

Devlin held his hands up as the man strode to him. "Fair questions," he said. "My name is Devlin, and I'm a private in the Royal Army. And if you've got eyes you can I'm clearly not from Velhurland," he said, referring to darker skin that shone like bronze in the torchlight.

"As for the situation," and he hesitated. Would they believe his story?

"Well?" a woman demanded angrily from the group.

Devlin mentally shrugged. No sense in putting it off. "Hoden's Pass was overrun by the very same Sadorians that just burned down your town."

Now there was a commotion as all at once half a dozen questions and interjections chorused the cave walls.

"What did he say?"

"Hoden's Pass? Impossible," someone humphed.

Devlin raised a hand again. "I know that this is hard to believe, and frankly if you don't want to believe me than you don't have to, but know this: we are stuck in this cave until they find us, or we can find a way out."

"No, it's not just hard to believe," someone said from the crowd. "King Ordem swore that it was impregnable. That it was impossible with so much snow in the path."

Devlin raised his hands. "With all respect to King Ordem, it appears we were all wrong to believe that. It's not what's important right now though."

The chubby man began to interrupt but Devlin raised his tone, putting authority into his words. "We are going to figure out how to get through this night without freezing to death. Then, and only then, will we begin to discuss what to do next.

"Now, if there's any firewood in this cave then I want it stacked right here in the middle," he said, pointing to the center of the cavern, "and if anyone managed to grab blankets or shawls then I want you to bring them to her," he pointed to Carris.

Her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I need you to get a count of how many blankets we have. There are children and elderly that we need to prioritize."

"Let them figure it out," Carris said, turning to the crowd.

Devlin inhaled, holding back his tongue. "If you want to survive more than the next couple of hours then you need to stick to my orders."

Carris laughed. Laughed! "Oh, right soldier boy. That what they told you up at battle training?"

Devlin glared at her. "Do as I say or get out of the way. I'm through with your attitude. You almost got us killed twice tonight, so maybe you should start listening to someone other than yourself."

Devlin walked past her without waiting for the inevitable comeback she had ready. He tugged his jacket close to his body, more in keeping his temper aimed towards inanimate objects rather than foolish little girls. He did hesitate for a moment though. He was new to this whole authoritative position. It was the first time he got to give orders, and it was weird, strangely addictive.

I like it though, he smiled to himself. This is just the beginning.

He hesitated still. Perhaps he had been too harsh on the girl. Her life had just been flipped. But right now one's feelings weren't as important as staying alive. And that might very well depend on his leadership abilities.

As long as they weren't murdered in their sleep or froze to death first.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The townsfolk listened to Devlin surprisingly well, quickly scrounging the cave for any wood or burning material. A quick look found that there was indeed none. Devlin groaned. The cave was cold. Far too cold to survive till dawn. Going outside meant risking being seen. He had no idea as to whether this had been an unfortunate attack caused by his attempted intervention, or whether Potter's Creek had always been their intention.

Rather die by the sword than freezing.

The second task, that of retrieving and distributing the blankets to the neediest was taken care of by a younger girl who had barely said a word to Devlin but seemed to want to help, unlike her friend Carris. Devlin nodded to himself. At least someone was helping. He turned to the group, who had, for the most part, remained near the center of the cavern.

"I'll speak plainly," he said, teeth chattering. "If we don't get some heat in this cave then we'll more than likely going to freeze, blankets or not. I can't guarantee that the Sadorians have left, but we have little choice."

Probably shouldn't have added that last bit. 

"So, who's with me?"

Six men stepped forward, including the chubby man from earlier. Devlin nodded. That should be enough. Devlin led the group through the narrow passageway with the aid of torchlight, until they were near enough the entrance to hear the wind howling outside. He held up his hand.

"Listen up. They may still be out here looking for us. Now this will go against all instincts, but if you should be seen and chased, you must not, I repeat, must not lead them back to the cave, or they'll have all our heads. Understood?"

There seemed to be hesitancy in the group. A few shuffled there feet while the rest wrung their hands. Devlin tossed the torch on the ground.

"Those are your family and friends. It's your choice whether they live or die. Now, you should split in groups of three. Is there a way to reach the top of the waterfall?"

"There's a cluster of knotted tree rots on the bank. Should lead all the way up, but be careful of the ice."

Devlin nodded. "I'll get up there and see if I can spot which way the Sadorians have headed, or if they're still around." Devlin nodded, more confident now that the plan was laid out before everyone.

"Grab as much timber as you can and meet back here as soon as possible."

He stepped out into the cold and instantly the confidence waned.

Perhaps this wasn't the best idea.