I walked into the next chamber, my hair tightly plaited to stay out of my face down here in the searing heat. I hated it on this level, where the very air seemed to burn your lungs as you breathed. Silver walked beside me, and didn't seem to be bothered by the heat in the slightest, despite his thick coat. He looked over at me and whined. I agreed, we'd been going for too long today, and were well overdue a rest. I nodded and slid my pack off my back, stretching and letting out a sigh of relief at the feeling of being unburdened once again. I lay out the bed roll which was just about big enough for Silver and I. I was about to start getting out some food, when I heard a commotion.
"Come here you little -OOF" This was followed by the noise of something running into a wall, and a tiny salamander sprinting at top speed into the chamber. It was hindered somewhat by the fact that its limbs were starting to cool and harden. It saw me and slid to a halt, but then looked behind it in a panic and made a decision. It scurried behind me and hid behind my pack. Wolf stood infront of it too, next to me as we prepared to face whoever was chasing this little guy. We didn't have to wait long. A short brown Courser came tearing into the room, before spotting me and sliding to a halt, much like the salamander had.
"Well hey there gorgeous."
I raised an eyebrow, and said nothing. Silver beside me growled a low, bassy growl, and I saw the stranger take note and take a step back.
"No insult meant. I'm Markas. Don't suppose you happen to have seen a little lizard run through here?"
"And if I have?" Came my response.
"Then I'd ask you to tell me which way it went."
I stared at the stranger, and he held my gaze. "What is your business with it?"
He drew himself up before answering. "Its my winning ticket, is what it is. Do you know how much I'll get for that little thing? The potion makers will pay through the nose for one of those."
He wanted to sell it? For it to be killed and used in a potion? The growl that erupted from my throat made Silver's earlier growl seem almost friendly.
"It is not yours, and will not be yours. I suggest you go on your way."
Markas stared at me, and then spotted the end of the salamanders tail, peeking out from behind my bag. "What, you think you can stand between me and that lottery ticket?" He really did try to sound menacing. It was almost sweet.
I drew myself up to my full height, an entire 3 hands bigger than he was. Beside me, Silver also made himself as big as possible, and let his jaw hang slightly open so that the sharp tips of his fangs could be seen. Markas gulped. My tail swished back and forth in fury like a lion's tail.
"Fine, whatever, didn't want it anyway." He trotted off down the nearest hallway, and Silver followed, only returning once he had confirmed that Markas wasn't returning.
I turned to the salamander and bent down, peering down at it. "Hey little guy, are you okay?"
It scurried onto my nose and gave me a little lick of thanks. I spelled the hair burning where it had licked me. "Come on, let's get you home."
It was a smart little guy, and figured out pretty quick that it could use its long tail to direct me down passageways. After about twenty minutes, we finally came upon a chamber with a pool of magma in the centre. It was beautiful, mini waterfalls of magma running down the walls to collect in a big basin. I lowered my nose as close to the magma as I could bear, and the salamander leapt off my nose onto a rock protruding from the pool. It gave me the closest thing it could manage to a grin, and then scurried into a little hole behind the pool where it would be safe.
I turned, and pressed against Silver. "Come on then Syl, let's go rest for the night."