Hunting Thingamajigs

Michael just smiled. He knew Brian. Brian had reason to be driven. His family depended upon it. He didn't know whether Brian had inherited the drive from his parents or whether it had come from being raised by Robert. He knew that, now, even with as bitter as the fight had been with Khaat, Brian was not prepared to let her go. And even if he had been, Michael knew Brian would never leave her in the clutches of an evil wizard, a dark vampire. No matter what. But neither of them was sure that she wasn't bewitched. There was something about the whole region they were in. He remembered Remus's words. They weren't for nothing. Remus rarely made the effort to reach across the veil to say worthless things. "Web of lies...web of lies...." It echoed in Michaels' head.

He got out a box of sandwiches and passed one to Brian and passed the box around. He turned his energy to checking the gear. He would eat his own sandwich in a moment. Michael got out the gear and began carefully checking it for whenever they needed it, while Brian got out the maps of the caverns.

Jim sat and watched Michael's face he saw confusion and worry knowing it was more than that he was also worried but said nothing only sat and watched noting the looks on both men's faces. Cassidy rubbed her aching feet then sat back finally finding her feet stopped throbbing Jack kept his eyes open and stood up walking around to look down at the caves below he wondered what was inside that kept all the cave mysterious along with the man Escabar and his attraction to Khaat, that was something Jack was very worried about. Jack heard a noise in the jungle but as he turned to look found it to be nothing but a monkey.

MIchael finished checking everyone's gear and saw Brian was reviewing the maps still. Michael had no doubt that Brian had committed every little squiggle on the map to memory and was drilling his mind to, hopefully, be infallible. But he had, mindlessly, eaten the sandwich that Michael had given him.

Michael flicked his wand at the waterbottle to chill it again for him, and Brian hadn't realized that just the small charm had been used against him to get him to not only eat but to drink as well He'd done it without thinking. It was the first he'd eaten since he and Khaat had fought.

"Come sit with us," Michael said to him gently. He wanted Michael to rest. "Review your plan with us. We need to know where we're going and what we're getting into." Brian knew he was right. He picked up the maps. sat down with the others and opened the maps again.

"Shall I presume you're all familiar with standard symbols used to map out caves?" Brian asked them.

Jim looked and watched as Brian seem not to notice who had given him the food and just ate he also saw when his bottle was chilled again. When he walked over Jim moved to let him sit and nodded " I am that's for sure , jack, Cassidy?" he asked and both nodded they did understand the symbols. every one waited and sat hoping something would happen soon the sitting around was driving some to distraction even Jim had become a little frigidity sitting on his log with his water bottle in his hand as he sat sipping it and glancing around.

Not everything that Brian knew they were going to need to know were marked on the map. Most of it was completely uncharted. The symbols were rather old, and it gave only the most basic of outlines of the caverns. But it looked to Brian like it was going to be deep enough that it was likely to have stalagtites and stalagmites. And he and Michael both knew that it could be very dangerous if people weren't careful.

Brian ordered them to lifeline themselves together before they went down into the caverns. He explained the map and told them to light their wands well. He wanted them to stay close together and not go venturing off. He didn't know if there was anything there or not, but there seemed to be a lot of mysticism about the caverns. It seemed like the logical place to start.

Cassidy picked up the rope and began tying each other together with enough rope between them that they could still move freely. " ok so we split into two teams or stay as one group?" Jim asked Jack stood ready his wand held tight in his hand as did Cassidy her hair now tied back in a pony tail ready for business and a fight should one happen. Jim looked at the map again noting certain symbols he could make out the others were just nonsense to him but he knew Brian would understand them , or so he hoped seeing they were about to enter a bad looking cave.

"One," Michael said, not sure what part of staying together Jim had missed. He figured he better answer before Brian had time to get short tempered. "Tying yourselves together is fine, but you might want to consider climbing belts?" he said. The last thing he wanted was for any of them to drop into a hole and not have anything to help them out. He picked up the climbing belts and handed them out. "And use your caribeaners and secure your harness to the rope--not tying the rope around your waist. If one of us falls, the rest of us will be hurt if the rope is tied around our waists."

Brian already had his belt on and had slung a pack on his shoulder--one of climbing spikes with a hammer in it. He was ready. It didn't take Michael or Angus or Sergio more than a moment to put on climbiing harnesses.

"Anybody not worn one of these before?" Angus asked.

Jim undid every one and handed them the harnesses "Sorry, Guess were showing our inexperience now hay." he said stepping into his harness and clipping it closed around him. He moved to look at Brian and nodded " yeah I do" he said as he helped Cassidy into her own and clipped it making sure it was tight enough Jack's he checked and moved to Michael " would you double check mine for me? " he asked him knowing it would be better for a second to check. Jack clipped the rope to the belt and looked at Cassidy.

“It'll be ok” he told her and she smiled at him and nodded.

Michael checked Jacks' harness and tightened it. He had felt like it was too loose. Brian was checking his carabeaner to be sure he was clipped properly to the line. "Excuse me, Jack," Michael said gently. He went to Brian.

"I trust you to lead us in everything but this, Lad," Michael told him quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder. "I'll lead, if you please. Angus, take the anchor."

"Sergio and I will," Angus said, as he and Sergio clipped onto the opposite end of the rope from Michael. Brian moved his clip to allow Michael to take the lead.

"Double check your clips," Michael ordered. "We shall have no accidents today."

Every one did as Michael requested and checked their clips each telling him it was fine. " lead on Michael " Jack said as he looked at Cassidys back hoping things would not happen but it would be smooth sailing . Cassidy took a deep breath in and glanced at Jim and back at Jack." it'll be fine" he told her and smiled again Cassidy wasn't so confident she hated enclosed spaces but she was not going to show it. " stay with us you'll be fine." he said again, cassidy held up the rope.

"Don't really have a choice now do I " she said and chuckled looking at Michael for the signal to head out.