Berinu Chiba was one of them. She had a degree in archaeology and another in anthropology and was well suited to this work. She was very excited about all this. Japan being formed from volcanoes, it was natural that there be lava tubes somewhere as well as volcanic fissures. An earthquake opening a path to such was one thing, but it had been the artifacts that had gotten a park ranger to contact them.
Pre-Feudal Era work, perhaps by the native ainu tribes? Carvings of a vast eye among other motifs that called out to her scientific curiosity.
"All these symbols tell a story, much like European cave paintings," said Berinu. "See here - these would represent the Ainu armed with primitive spears and bows."
"What is THAT then?" asked one of the others, named Jiro Ito. He pointed to a large ragged circle from which two clawed hands seemed to be reaching.
"Probably refers to something further in," said Berinu thoughtfully.
"You know," remarked Tamahiro Chiba, "I've been in a couple of dozen caves and tunnels like this. This is the first time I've ever really felt spooked by it."
"Oh, I already figured out why," said Berinu to her husband, picking up a rock and tossing it against a wall. There was a dull thump as the rock bounced off and a barely audible sound as it hit the floor of the cavern. "There's something about the rock here or the shape of the chamber that deadens sound. We know instinctively that being in a cavern like this ought to make echoes and amplify noise."
"Hmmmm," said Tamahiro, moving to inspect the rocks closer. He was a geologist and so was quite intrigued by this explanation.
"You stay here, dear, the rest of you come with me, I want to explore this vault and see what's down there before we start cataloguing." Berinu glanced at her husband briefly before turning to the task at hand.
On the Spirit Plane, they gathered.
This area was a vast primeval forest that stretched out thick and verdant. On one side it was bounded by a deep ocean. On another, sandy desert. On the single mountain thrust up from within that forest, there were layers of ice and snow on the greatest heights that never melted. Just below the ice was the gathering area, a large concave segment that resembled a crudely fashioned ampitheatre.
Mars used her form as a flame-feathered phoenix, soaring to the meeting place. and landing on the summit of The Mountain. "I have found an avatar."
The others stirred, some merely shifted in their sleep but there were others awake.
"I have not. I am still trapped with a guardian set over me," said one of those awake. "Though the demon is old and weak from her long duty, she is still enough to slay a mortal."
"There is more. I feel the darkness gathering. They will come soon," said the phoenix.
"This is just all so wrong," muttered one of those in the back in her sleep.
"I wonder why she keeps saying that," said the maiden in blue.
"She's schizo," offered the phoenix. "In any case, I'll try to get my summoner towards your prison. He can't handle many more than myself - at least not yet."
"It's still a contact to the mortal world," pointed out the maiden in blue. "You can find others who are worthy."
"I just hate being rushed," complained the phoenix. "That always ends up badly when we're rushed."
"Dear, is that you?" Tamahiro asked as he heard someone moving up the ropes. "You're wrong about the stone here. Typical volcanic mix - I can't find any special qualities. What the - I can see my breath? Why is it so cold in this cave?"
The ropes stopped creaking.
"Berinu?" asked Tamahiro, hoping something wasn't wrong.
SLASH!
"The name, my dear, is Beryl," said the former Berinu, licking blood off her claws.
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(Posted Tue, 14 Jun 2005 10:08)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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