An eruption sounds not far away, and a blowhole of lava shoots several feet high, firing out splotches of orange clumps. A golden membranous wing loops around me, and I press into Elan’s side. Being a dragon, she would have some natural resistance to the heat and burning magma.
The surroundings have distracted me from the lava monster's swooping hand, and it gathers us up and plunges us deep into a hole. Then the hand opens, leaving us on the black rock floor. I don’t know whether that is a blessing or a curse until I realize it's placing us in a cave, sheltering us from most of the exploding lava pits. A big gaping hole lines one side of the cave, giving us a view of a large lava river flowing directly from our doorstep.
Elan’s protective wing wrapped around me furls as the large hand pulls out of the entrance at the top of the cave, exposing the glowing pits substituting for eyes as the monster peers down at us as though we are the size of small rodents.
This monster is enormous. I'm not surprised Thor had a hard time fighting it on his own. The glowing eyes pull away, and the ground rumbles underneath us at the tempo of its large footsteps.
My eyes remain wide as I survey our surroundings, my arms protectively crossing over my chest. “Where are we, Elan?”
I don't know. But from what I've heard, it looks a lot like Muspelheim, the land of the fire giants.
I approach the lava river and peer over the edge. “It’s not Helheim? It looks like part of the underworld, a place fit only for the dead.”
The scales above her eyes bunch into a frown. I'm not sure. But wherever we are, it doesn't look friendly.
Beads of sweat gather on my forehead and neck, and I yank at the long dark strands of my hair, tucking the wisps behind my ear. The ground shakes in even vibrations again, and I gaze up at the hole, shaped almost like a wide chimney, to see the glowing red eyes of the lava monster have returned.
A feeling of hopelessness swamps me as I gaze into the glowing red pits fixed on us, seemingly fascinated by the captives in its enclosure.
I mutter to Elan, “It's certainly diligent in watching us and making sure we can’t leave. However, even if it wasn't watching, the only escape route is through that hole or past the lava river.” Keeping my voice low and my eyes fixed on the lava monster’s, I ask, “What do you think your chances are of flying past the peering lava monster?”
Sadness fills Elan’s eyes. I don't like my chances. The lava monster’s hand nearly takes up the whole of the top of the cave. I could do it in an invisible form, but you don’t have your cloak, so that kind of defeats the purpose. The monster is undoubtedly taking its job seriously.
“I still don't understand why we’re here.”
Elan sits on her haunches then lowers onto her stomach. Me either.
Dizziness washes over me, and the arrows in my quiver rattle as I sit, leaning against Elan and taking comfort in the scales poking into my side. She rests her head on her front talons, and I gaze up at the hole only to find the disturbing red eyes constantly glowering down at us.
Frustrated by being watched continuously, I yell, “Why are we here?”
The lava monster remains unmoving, the unblinking eyes staring at us.
I ask again, “Why have you brought us here?”
Met with silence, I groan. “Where even is here? Where are we?” I glower when no answer is given.
After a few moments of silence, the lava monster straightens then turns, and the ground and cave shake as something large blocks the large hole above.
I cringe. “Please tell me it didn’t just block the hole with its butt.”
Elan cranes her neck, staring at the sealed opening, the scales above her eyes bunching together. Her mouth turns down at the corners. It appears so. I just hope it doesn't have to go to the toilet anytime soon.
I shudder. “That’s so gross. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the only thing coming out of that is lava. Perhaps we should move to the side.”
We do so, and I press against the hard, rocky wall. Within moments, the heat radiating from the rocks has become too much, and I pull away quickly, the arrows in my quiver rattling. Everything seems to have additional warmth in this land, like an internal heat that radiates to the surface, causing everything to burn.
Splashes sound from the lava river, and I retreat into a dark corner as some kind of monster wades through the scorching lava river, thumping its way past the cave entrance.
- Chapter Three -
* * *
The darkness enveloping me causes the hairs on my body to stand on end. The shadows bring with them an eerie sensation as I sink farther back into their embrace, watching the four-legged monster trudge through the lava. Hard dark plating similar to the lava monster’s exterior resembles black rocks covering the creature’s body. That layer looks like the scales of a dragon but lacks their beautiful colors and finesse. Whatever the thing is, it seems to hold off the molten river's searing heat, leaving the monster unaffected.
The lava bends like thick mud around the long legs of the creature as it trudges downstream through the river. The rigid plates around its mouth pull back, exposing a threatening display of teeth. It appears to be enjoying the river's scorching heat, trudging farther and swishing its head from side to side. Throwing its head back, it lets out a roar, opening a mouth filled with burning red magma. Long black spikes trail down its back, along the spine on an animal similar to a hound, except for the burning red eyes peering our direction. Its enormous legs trudge forward, its short tail dipping its tip in the melted river.
The creature sways our way, and my hands instinctively reach for my bow and nock an arrow. Gazing down the shaft, I wonder if it would do any damage at all if I hit the creature.
The doglike creature's tail finally passes the entrance, and I breathe out a sigh of relief. This whole realm, black and glowing with red, seems dangerous and uninviting. I long for the tall marble pillars and stony mountains of Asgard. Despite not being as green and welcoming as Midgard, they are still beautiful to me. Even the lack of Thor's playful taunting fills me with homesickness.
My gaze remains fixed to the last spot the four-legged monster was visible as I pack my bow and arrow away. “What do you think they want from us, Elan?” Briefly, I gaze up at the blocked hole, where the lava monster remains. “Why do you think they captured us?”
Elan steps away from the wall. I have no idea. And if they were just after you, why did they capture me? Don't they think that I will put up a fight to protect you?
I smirk. “Don't they think I'll put up a fight to protect you?”
She lowers her head to my height, and I grab her horn, tugging at it playfully.
Releasing her horn, I say, “Not that I think either of us has a chance of defending against these things alone. I’m only at the beginning of learning how to use my magic. It’s not strong enough to use against these things.”
Elan lies on her stomach, and I lean against her, leaving the quiver of rattling arrows on my back. I'm too afraid to take them off, in case we have to move in a hurry. After several uneventful minutes tick past, I rest my head against Elan’s side and gaze up at the large backside—or whatever part of the lava monster that is—blocking the hole. The heat is wearing at me, making me sleepy even though my nerves are fully alert.