Descent
Posted on January 30th, 2019 by Ilaihr

Within the blackness of the cave, extended a labyrinth of tunnels; the away team would have been hard pressed naviagting them. As Ilaihr rode a top the bear he had befriended, his eyes closed and his mind open, he could see so much; there were more of this bear’s kind here, so many more. At first the light of their lifeforce shone only a handful at a time, but as he was carried deeper and the tunnels became more expansive, so too did the lights in the darkness.

Ilaihr gasped. “There are… thousands of you…”

His companion let out a low rumble in the affirmative, but Ilaihr could sense the trepidation in the creature’s voice; it’s ears tucked back, and it’s head lower to the ground.

There was movement beyond the gloom, the bears were repositioning throughout the cave complex, many moving to a large central chamber still deeper within; but others were amassing at the entrances to a number of smaller chambers and interconnecting junctions, all on the route Ilaihr and his companion were taking.

Ilaihr cast his gaze around him, sensing at the walls, and every time they passed an opening seeing the faces looking back at him the darkness. “It seems we have attracted something of an audience.”

Ilaihr’s companion remained silent, simply continuing to plod through the cave system, carrying Ilaihr on it’s back.

Suddenly, Ilaihr shuddered, finding himself having to support himself on the bear’s shoulder for a moment. Then another shudder, his neck twisting inthe pain of a burning stabbing sensation in his head. His companion stopped in it’s tracks and started chattering at Ilaihr, showing concern.

“I… understand…” Ilaihr clasped his head. “Keep going… my boy.”

Reluctantly, the bear continued onwards; where the tunnel began to widen. Ilaihr still rolling his head as he dealt with intense waves of pain, opened his eyes, seeing a dim, flickering light up ahead. The walls began more visable to the eye, and so Ilaihr cycled between his vision and his sight, but steadily becoming overwhelmed by the massive input of stimuli. Finally, the tunnel became a grand caverous chamber; protrusions and shelves of minerals laid out along the walls, pillars of rock stretching to the ceiling high above. The walls covered with markings, beyond simple sharpening and digging; there were simple patterns, and as the light grew stronger, petroglyphs could even be seen.

Ilaihr cast his eyes forward, lifting himself up and focusing his mind. At the centre plain to see, was a fire, warming the whole chamber, bathing it in a soothing radiance; the smoke billowing to the top of the cavern before seeming to dissipate. As Ilaihr and his companion approached, there were countless eyes on them, snouts flaring at the scent of this intrusion; the largest of the bears letting out a growling chitter, the closer Ilaihr came to the central flame.

Ilaihr patted his companion on the shoulder, then slowly let himself down to the ground, sliding down the creature’s sheen coat. He stepped forward, his cane tapping on the floor as he did so, before casting his hand over the fire; feeling the warmth in his fingers. The rumblings behind him grew louder as he did so, and his companion grew more uneasy, and the flooding of sensations Ilaihr had experienced, grew. Then, an eerie silence broke. A beast suddenly materialising before him.

Ilaihr’s cycled between his senses; it wasn’t often he was caught off guard like that. His antennae twitching under his hood. The creature was like the other’s; ursine, but it was atleast three times the size, the fur around it’s neck ruffled and spiked almost into a mane of quills, and it’s canines elongated into sabres. The cave floor vibrated, as it took a single, lumbering step forward. It locked it’s eyes on Ilaihr’s, seeing passed his hood, as he could see beyond the cave entrance.

“I see.” Ilaihr lowered his hood, garnering a curious look from the hulking bear; before looking to his companion. “I believe I understand now.”

The hulk rose up onto his hind legs, and waved it’s paw over the fire. As Ilaihr looked back, the flames twisted, whipping up into a small firecane, raising up to the ceiling of the cavern, and falling like water, before breaking on the shore that was not there and forming shapes in the air. As the shapes moved, the great bear waved it’s paws, the others all began to call, with the same low drone, their heads raised up; even Ilaihr’s companion.

As the old Andorian watched the spectacle above him, the waves of pain he had experienced subsided, the shapes becoming forms and the forms gaining life, and a story started to unfold, a voice sounding in Ilaihr’s mind.

Demons from the sky – Strange objects fall down from above, upon the bears.
Many taken, many die. – The Object lift the bears up as they slumber, and those that wake are slaughtered.
The cave, it called. – A bright light shine from the mouth of the cave.
The first Nəme was born. – One of the bears grows in size and strength.
Stand against the Demons. – The great bear stands firm, roaring at the objects from the sky.
Nəme says the cave makes us strong. – Bears all across the great ball of the world journey to the cave.
THE CAVE MAKES US STRONG! – The objects begin falling from the sky, crashing into the mountains.
The first Nəme falls. – Exhausted, the great bear lays down within the cave, with it’s last breath lighting the central flame.
We protect the land, and when we are in need, there is always Nəme. – A cycle begins to repeat, a great bear always coming, be it famine or disease, but always from the cave.
The new Demons, shall not prevail. – The unmistakable image of a Soverign Class starship.

The fire dies down, back to it’s original shape and size, as the great bear drops back to all fours; nose to nose with Ilaihr, and roaring; joined by it’s bretheren. A sound that would be audible throughout the cave system and beyond it.

Ilaihr simply stroked the great bear’s snout, and looked into it’s eyes. “I understand. I know what this place is now.”

The Great Bear grumbled.

“We are not here to harm you, or to take you.”

It snorted in retort.

“Yes… they would attempt to decieve you.”

It growled.

“There is something they want here; it is also a beautiful world, for which many would find an excellent home.”

Its roared again, snarling.

“The cave is sacred. I know. They do not want to live in the cave.”

It then made a number of complex chitters and chirps.

“Many of those I have come with, are fascinated by peoples and creautres of all shapes and sizes. Many would be more than happy to allow you to pass through the new colony aslong as no one is injured.”

The great bear pulled back, and began circling the flame.

“I did not insinuate you would be pets. This is your world, and you are free to roam it as you please.”

It looked at Ilaihr, then to the other bears, before letting out yet other call, this one different from the others. As it did so, they all stood, slowly making their way to the exits; Ilaihr’s companion lowering itself for him to mount it again.

Ilaihr chuckled, climbing back onto his firendly bear. “This will be… shocking. We should get to my friends before your kind leave the cave.”

His companion groaned, seemingly curious.

“They are limited. There’s no telling how they’d react.”

Grumbling again in the affirmative, Ilaihr’s companion made haste, followed shortly behind by the Great Bear – Nəme.