Page 169 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“Jeffry, scout from the sky,” Julian ordered. The half elf didn’t need to be told twice. “John, keep an eye behind us.”
The rogue disappeared. Far off, one of the trees started to shimmer. And then another. Jeffry flew until he was a third of the distance between us and the trees.
“It looks like … magic?” I thought aloud.
By then, it was more than just the trees; the entire horizon moved with a long line of silver. Above us, Jeffry spun midair and sent us a panicked, all-capital message over the chat log.
[RUN!]
No one questioned it, immediately activating their various fast-travel abilities. A Haste potion was good enough for me. I quaffed one and booked it after the rest of them.
[What is it?]
Julian asked, to which Jeffry sent back,
[The dungeon level is a terrain challenge. We have to outrun the Flash Frost. If it touches you, then you’re as good as dead.]
Visha sent,
[Terrain floors reset as soon as there are no more living challengers, so we can pop back and pick up anyone who isn’t fast enough. Right, Tully?]
The paladin didn’t reply, and I couldn’t help laughing. Even in this situation, he wasn’t checking his chat log. Luckily, John piped in with the location of the portal before anybody got too tired. It was a madcap sprint to the finish, but everyone made it through.
Even Tully.
CHAPTER 92
Burrowing, Biting, and Paw Bashing
Julian
They took a moment to catch their breath after they made it through the portal.
“You were cutting it a little close there, weren’t you?” Tully slapped Jeffry on the shoulder, hard.
“I made it, and that’s what counts.” The half elf stood straighter and placed a hand on his sword. Julian drew his own blade.
They were standing in a dark, cold cavern. Stalagmites rose from the floor haphazardly. The walls were stone, with white ice that crept up to about Julian’s knee height at the base. A few feet forward, the cavern exited into two tunnels. Icy wind blew from the one on the right, and everyone re-equipped their winter wear.
“I say we go left.” Tully said, motioning in that direction.
“Well, I say we go right,” Visha snapped, an edge in her voice.
It was unlike the elf, who usually maintained a stricter level of indifference. Tully stopped and stared at Visha, then hesitatingly said, “Uh, alright?”
“I like walking with the wind,” Pram reasoned. The selkie smiled, missing the tension.
“We’ll have John scout both and make an informed decision after,” Julian stated.
The rogue vanished as instructed. A short while later, John’s chat arrived.
[There are no monsters to either side. Or signs of battle. Should I go further?]
Julian usually restricted how far any one person should scout, as there could still be monsters further along. There was also the chance that the other partyhad cleared things ahead of them without leaving a trace … or they’d already left the dungeon.
“We’ll start on the right,” Julian announced, reaching a decision. “And follow the wind.”
“Did we want to rest first?” Jeffry broached. “Let half the party get a full recovery?”
