To and through the heart

They slipped into pure and total darkness. Kerosene's movements slowed, testing the earth before him as he carefully avoided rivets and changes in the earth. He did not wish to stumble here. To lose footing would not only be a shame, but it might cause him to lose pace with his pack mate. Instead, he lingered close, letting his fur brush against her own here and there so he would not lose her in this darkness.

Time was difficult to guess here. He had no idea how long it was they walked until they happened upon a vast chamber hiding within the depths of their mountain. The chamber was expansive and lined top to bottom with countless stalagmites and stalactites. "Impressive," he murmured, taken away by the sheer size of such a treasure they might not have found had she not been so bold.

He realized then that he could see again. He stepped past her look of surprised and moved further into the room. The ground was wet. If he stopped to listen he could hear the dripping of water as it rolled down the spiny teeth and pattered on the floor. Algae. He saw it then. A bioluminescent growth that fed this cave with an almost magical quality.

His nose lowered to the ground. Surely something else lingered within these halls.