“Ow ow ow ow ow,” I muttered under my under my breath. I probably had a gazillion splinters in my hands. Yet somehow through the excruciating pain they climbed.

I slowly inched upwards. Sweat dripped down my body, my hair sticking to my forehead.

I wiped my forehead with my sleeve. Glimpsing at myself through the reflection of my watch I scowled. Goddamn I looked like a drowned rat.

My once voluminous, wonderful hair was plastered down by sweat. Droplets of the sticky liquid smothered my face. And don’t even get me started on the effect the humidity has on my beard. It looked like a porcupine for gods sake!

“Your gonna fall!”

I let out a bellowing groan. Not only did I look terrible but I was stuck with this devil.

I look downwards at the little demon. Leaves slapping my face, I narrow at my eyes at the speck of a girl. I could barely make out her brown curls and blue dress.

“I’m not gonna fall!” I yell back.

I grunt, my arm reaching out for another branch. Pulling myself up slowly I’m met with a stare. Six wonderfully terrifying eyes watching me.

I looked at the small thing. It was similar to a tarantula. It was this creature that only appears in the cavern realm. I used to have one back at home. I stuck a finger out at it, patting the spiky hair.

“Hey little fel-“ another pair of eyes. Another six pair of eyes stalked behind the little creature.

I clenched my eyes shut. I already knew how this was going to go. I couldn’t run from my new fate.

I tuck my face in my arms as the splintering screech split my eardrums into pieces. I clutched onto the branch as the acid like spit stabbed me. But one. Just one little dropped. Landed on my poor splintered filled hand. Ending it all.

My eyes fly open. My hands scratch at the bark. My legs kicking back and forth, letting pieces of bark fall behind me. My eyes glanced from branch to branch. Anything to catch me. Luck however...was actually on my side for once in my goddamn life.

I grimaced, something slimy stuck to my fingers, but I was able to grab a hole that was in the tree. I sigh. It was a gross feeling with the slime thing but it was better than falling.

“I TOLD YOU YOU WERE GOING TO FALL!”

I take that back. I wish I fell to my death.

“It’s not gonna happen again. If it does it gonna be because of your bloody mouth!”

I swear, even though I was so far away from her I could hear her evil laugh. Chills ran down my body as I continued.

I think I’m gonna have a heart attack. I take another deep breath in, clutching my chest. Holy shit. I sat on a branch that stuck out of the tree. Away from it’s mess of leaves and critters. Once my breath normalized I took the time to admire the view before me. I regret it. The sight only made me have to learn how to breathe properly again.

I knew the cavern realm was beautiful. The tales I’ve been told by mother was always about it’s beauty more than the actual plot itself. But up person? Well I’ll be damned.

Mountains caved the forest in. Trees with every color on the color wheel was there. Fields with Gorgeous landscapes held onto the animals that ran across it.

I took a deep breath and reached into my pocket. I felt a warm ball of fluff move into my hand. A small chirp following it. I held it out to the world before us. The little birdie hopped around my hand as if it owned the damn place.

“You ready little guy?”

“Don’t fall!” I growled. Although the voice was much more faint it painfully ringed in my ears. I huffed. Looking at the bird i asked again, “are you ready?”

It opened its wings and jumped out of my hand into the air. It dropped. An inhuman noise dropped out of my mouth with it. I threw my hand, desperately reaching for the bird that continue dripping to its death.

‘Don’t fall,’ Tracy said. And fall I did.