Darvek sprinted through the maze-like network of tunnels, tearing the thick silky web from his face as it collected and tangled, becoming ever more abundant as he continued to run deeper within. His companions no longer had reason to keep from turning him over to the Industrials. Nothing to gain and everything to lose. Their entire way of life, as it were.
He heard Frex's voice echo throughout the twisting series of caverns but could make out little of what he was saying; 'Th.... Darvek! I.... and... run on me? You ha... I... kill... you... stop... running... ods!'
Darvek continued to run, the sounds of his metallic feet loudly scraping against the hardened, stone floor being heard from miles away. He would need somewhere to hide and quick. It had been months since he'd stolen enough oil to loosen up his gear. As Darvek continued down his winding path, the walls appeared to grow further apart, as if leading on to something much larger in size. He would soon find out.
Forgetting about the Slig following closely behind, Darvek stopped dead in his tracks. It was a sight to behold. An enourmous central chamber, dome like in structure, covered by the sticky, deep-purple coloured web. Seperate tunnels and passageways are connected from all angles along the walls, an extremely complex network system. But this wasn't what had caught Darvek's attention. Attached firmly in place by web, pulsating egg-like formations surround the chamber, accompanied by hundreds, if not, thousands of nesting Paramite, whom did not seem to be too pleased by their intruder.
Frex soon followed up behind coming to a halt as he neared Darvek's possition. He opened his mouth to speak before he noticed the present situation.
'We're...'
'Yeah, we're screwed.' Darvek answered.
__________
Elsewhere, at the entrance to the caverns...
Calvarr's motionless body lay propped up by Flaxis' hands. Another black out. These were beginning to become a little too frequent during times such as this. Too make matters worse, he had unwillingly picked up another, far more irritating companion.
Sal pointed in the direction from which he had come. 'Wooh, boy! They're here!' he chuckled, almost delighted to see the entire Slig platoon hurtling toward them. Flaxis dropped Calvarr's body to the ground and prepared for battle, however hopeless his odds - but the Slig kept on running, past Flaxis and into the caverns. Of course, it wasn't him they were after. It was Darvek.
'Oh, I see how it is. A race is it?' Sal shouted out, completely oblivious to his surroundings, 'Well bring it on, chumps!'
And with that, Sal bounded off through the entrance, in persuit of the fleet. Flaxis paused for a moment to consider his options, his mind playing emotional air-hockey with itself. He no longer had obligation to this Darvek fellow. As a matter of fact, his own safety and that of the village would be better off without him around here. He had half a mind to just turn back on all of this and go his seperate way. But Sal - however annoying - the kid clearly had no clue what he was up against. Still, he was but one Mudokon amongst a tribal population verging on hundreds. It was a tough call to make...
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