The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 170

Zane POV

As we were closing onto the rocky meeting spot, I could see Zeek waiting nearby.

His gaze was on my arrival, and he nodded in greeting to me, then his gaze perused the men that arrived with me.

We stopped in front of him and waited for him to give us some directions.

‘This way.’ Zeek announced and turned to the rocky outcrop, and disappeared into the rocks, making me rush to catch up and see where he had disappeared, and found an opening that was so well hidden, that until I was actually in front of it, did I see it, the rocks blended together so well that it camouflaged the opening, it was so well done, and wondered if the Deep Earth people had created it or nature had put her skilful hand to this, as rocks fall around this area all the time.

The entrance was an optical illusion, and unless you knew it was there, you would walk right past it.

I walked into the opening and the space was just enough for me to fit in and turn around.

I walked two steps and then did a sharp right turn, took two more steps, then a left turn, then three steps and a right turn again. It was like this for about ten times before we stood in an opening where Zeek was standing waiting for us to arrive. Once we were all in the small opening, Zeek pushed what looked like part of the wall and it moved inwards and we all followed Zeek into the next tunnel. This tunnel was four people wide.

Once we were all in the tunnel, Zeek, who had waited at the opening for us all to pass through, pushed the wall back into place.

The walls in this tunnel were smooth and the finish was as good as any wall in an above-ground home.

Zeek took the lead again, and he moved at a fast pace, a quick jogging pace, not quite a run, but close to it, as we followed him through this wide tall tunnel, and it was beyond imaginable that this was below ground, it could easily go right under my home and I would have no clue, what was happening below ground and my respect of these people grew exponentially as we moved quickly and quietly through these tunnels.

Occasionally, another tunnel appeared either left or right, also as large and wide. After nearly an hour of this jogging and doors appeared along the walls, doors of stone. I was starting to recognise the differences in the tunnels, and not once did the air get stale, a gentle breeze flowed in the tunnel, and about every ten steps, a large glowing stone was on the ground giving the light to the tunnels we were rushing silently through, the stones have been lighting our way since we entered this large tunnel, that seemed to have gone on for quite a long time, though not exactly straight line, but no more quick turns. Like when we first entered the cave entrance.

Zeek slowed to a walk and we reached what looked like the end of the tunnel, but knowing how they have stone doors, I guessed another entryway would soon be opened. Zeek waited till we were all close to him before he turned and pushed what looked like part of the smooth wall that turned outwards. He waved us through the door, before he followed us in and closed the door behind him. This tunnel was not as wide, and the walls were not smooth, but that did not make it any less spectacular. The breeze was clean, the stones lined the ground but further apart, maybe fifteen steps apart.

As we moved down this tunnel, we passed lots of other connecting tunnels.

Openings could be seen down the connecting tunnels, and I got the impression that some of the other tunnels may lead to sleeping chambers.

We continued at a brisk pace, and time was lost on me. Besides, other than counting how many light stones we had past, I had no idea if we had been down here any hour or longer, and I lost count on the stones when they became fifteen steps apart, all we could do was blindly follow Zeek.

I noticed the tunnels were changing, they were slowly getting larger and walls were getting cleaner, smoother, and I wondered if that was a clue we had reached the next Deep Earth pack. Zeek glanced over at me, when he slowed for me to come beside him.

‘We are on my home land. I trust you will respect our ways and not interfere with us. If you see something you do not agree with, keep it to yourself.’ The way Zeek spoke told me I was not going to like something I was going to see soon.

I nodded my understanding and Zeek sped back up and took the lead again.

We reached another dead end, and Zeek took one look at me and I knew this was where I would not like what I saw.

I mind-linked my warriors.

‘We are about to enter Zeek’s home, do not react to anything you do not like, we are not here to judge, or criticise, so please, stay strong, we are here to Madison, keep that in mind.’ I felt the men give me their agreement and I took a deep breath before we entered through the new opening Zeek had made.