All four of us stepped as one into the dark water that covered the entire floor of the cistern we were in. Just like the last time I was here, the dark columns stretched in every direction as far as the eye could see, seeming like a gigantic forest made out of stone. The last time I was here, I was unprepared and things didn’t go too well. But I’d learned my lesson. This time, myself and my entire party were equipped with the massive great swords I’d found, even Cal had one strapped to him. We also had Bear’s pygmy drake, Wizard, flying overhead to keep a lookout for any movement in the water. Cal was with me the last time we were here, but the others weren’t, so before we’d entered the room I had warned them of the creature that lurks beneath the water. Last time I hadn’t been alert enough, but this time I was ready.

‘Come on now, remember what I said – we need to keep close together.’

I was met with a chorus of ‘I know’s.

I didn’t know why the creature wasn’t moving yet, but I trusted Wizard to alert us as soon as it did. I’d spent hours training him alongside Bear to ensure that he’d know what to do. We kept striding forwards – the more ground we could cover before the creature got to us, the better.

We passed the halfway mark with no cause for concern, and just as my tense muscles began to relax a little, I heard Wizard give the short sharp squeal we’d trained him to do. Instantly, myself, Dyn, and Bear unsheathed our swords and flanked Cal, continuing to stride towards the exit. This approach was twofold – firstly, it would stop Cal from running ahead and becoming an appetizing target, and secondly it meant that those of us who were more used to fighting could take the lead, regardless of which direction the creature came from.

A few more steps, then Wizard let out an ear-splitting screech – the signal that the beast was about to be upon us. One, two, three…. And the fight began.