Treasure of the colossal and the great wave cave.
The underground lake shimmers and ripples as the two large eyes blink once, then sink back below the waterline. Logan looks at Ariel and they both scramble away from the water’s edge. The underground cavern is large. They are sitting against the stone wall of the cavern and although it is dark, there is enough light for Logan to see they are in a bit of a fix.
“Did you see…”
“Yes! I saw them”, Ariel gasps out the words, while trying to catch her breath. “Huge eyes! And they were looking straight at us”, now they are both staring at the lake in front of them. Except for the faintest trace of ripples, it appears to be calm and serene.
“Go see if it’s still in the water.” Logan looks at Ariel with a little grin on his face.
Treasure of the Colossal
“You go look in the water! I’m not going anywhere near that lake.” Ariel’s eyes are wide and her voice rises as she speaks. Logan can no longer hold in his amusement and he laughs out loud. The echoes throughout the large cavern are so odd in the large chamber, that it causes Ariel to giggle. The added sound creates a second echo and now the large underground cavern is virtually alive with giggles and laughs.
A few minutes later, after the large cavern grows quiet again, the strange radio that connects them to the enigmatic giant waiting just outside the mountain, crackles to life.
“Hey, what’s going on in there? Did you make it through the door okay? Where are you?” The strange radio falls silent and so does the large underground cavern. However, Logan and Ariel are now exploring the small shoreline where they swam after landing in the underground lake. Not only is it empty and barren, but also it has no exit, and ends abruptly at the cavern wall. They appear to be trapped on this with nowhere to go except back into the water. Ariel sighs heavily. Then she grabs the radio.
The Colossal
“Actually, no. We did not make it through the door okay.” She rolls her eyes and continues, “Apparently someone forgot to mention a certain terrifying fall, into a certain underground lake!” Logan watches Ariel gather up steam, the giant is about to get an earful. “And we are trapped down here now. Even if we swim, there’s nowhere to swim! What’s the meaning of this?” The radio remains silent for a few moments and then an unexpected response from the giant, only deepens the mystery.
“You mean you haven’t found the Great Wave Cave yet? If it’s still there, it will be in the Great Wave Cave.”
They continue searching the small piece of land. Surely they missed something. In fact, they are so intent on finding a passage way, or an exit, they are unaware of the return of the eyes. Which are now silently watching them. At last, after a few more minutes, Ariel sees them easing noiselessly through the water. It startles her so much, she freezes.
The Great Wave Cave
Unable to move, or utter a sound, she watches as the eyes rise up out of the water from the depths of the lake. This time they continue rising and it becomes evident they connect to a very large sea creature. Although similar to a fish it clearly isn’t a fish. Ariel knows she is right because most fish don’t smile, and this creature is smiling broadly, as it rises from the water on it’s extra legs.
“Logan, I think you need to see this.” Ariel tugs at Logan’s arm, her eyes never leaving the strange creature that is now just a few feet away from them. Logan brushes her hand away. He has found a strange symbol on the wall of the cavern. And he is studying it intently, for signs of the treasure.
“Ariel, look at this. It’s some kind of strange creature drawn on the wall. And look! It has big eyes just like those we saw in the water a few minutes ago.” He traces his finger along the carvings in the wall. Ariel watches the creature rise from the water and continue moving toward them. She tugs on Logan’s arm again, and tries to squeak out a scream while the big eyes watch them, and the creature advances even closer.
Treasure
The creature stops two feet away from Ariel and calmly looks right at her. At the same moment, the radio crackles to life again. They both jump as the giant’s voice startles them. “Hey, what’s going on down there? Have you found the Great Wave cave yet? It’s under the water, just in case you didn’t know.” Ariel makes a mental note to seriously question the giant’s instruction giving skills later. If they ever get out of this place. Then the giant adds a very odd detail. “Hop on the fishalobs back when you see it. That’s how you get in the cave.”
Finally Logan turns around, and Ariel laughs heartily at the surprised expression on his face. Logan immediately tries to scramble away from the creature, but before he can, the creature laughs at them. Heartily. In fact, it sounds exactly like Ariel’s laugh. Then it turns around, and sure enough, there is enough room to hop on its back. After some hesitation they gather their courage and hop up onto the fishalobs back. Immediately the fishalob races into the waters of the lake. Logan and Ariel hold on tightly.
Treasure
Once they are in the middle of the lake the fishalob kicks its mighty tail. The force of the tail kick is so strong that an enormous wave forms behind them. It grows and grows until the entire lake becomes a wave. And there, under where the water was, is an enormous cave. With Ariel and Logan holding on tightly, the creature races toward the cave entrance. Within moments they disappear into the cave. Fishalob, treasure hunters, and all.
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