The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 171

Zane POV

We had entered a very large cave.

It was massive.

Inside this area were homes of different sizes, three stories high, all dug into the walls, the homes were just holes in the walls of the cave, and other than a curtain covering some of the back part, it was an open plan, no privacy for anyone.

I presumed there were beds behind the curtained parts, and the centre of all of this was the eating area. Women were preparing food on open fires, lots of people wandering around doing assorted chores, they wore clothes from the early 1800’s. I felt I had stepped back in time, though I could see many things about today’s technology, the housing and clothes and general well-being was not of our era, and there seemed to be an interesting water well system of some kind for drawing up water, though it was more of today’s type of engineering, than the old-fashioned way to draw water.

To say I was stunned, would not really cover how I truly felt, and holding back a comment of some sort was more difficult than I expected, what I was seeing was beyond imagination, and when Alex said he had people in his pack who had never seen the surface, seeing this I could imagine many here have not ventured above, not that it would be safe around here with Gladys about, and the harsh snow of winter, that would be blanketed the ground above at the moment, completely blocking them in down here, I could understand not wanting to leave in winter. The temperature was pleasant, never really changing much below ground, heating was not needed, the only fires were for cooking and heating water, I assumed.

The whole huge area was mesmerizingly beautiful, and I was interested in exploring it more, but knew Zeek most likely would not like it being his home.

As I looked around, I could see where more additions were made, and I had the feeling that this was most likely only one of many caves they had like this one. The craftsmanship that carefully caved out of the walls had strength and fine details using the changing rock colours, making an array of different holes that was a person’s sleeping area a natural colour scheme, so pretty, I am lost for more words on how I felt at seeing past the era they live in and enjoy the magnificence of the craftsmanship of this creation.

I heard one of the Blue River warriors growl close by the word I dreaded to hear at the moment. We needed to get to my girl and now this, how will the warrior cope with such a change in culture?

Mate!

I was not sure how Zeek would feel about that, and I mind-linked the warrior to keep it together. We were here for Madison first.

If Zeek had heard the growl of the word “mate”, he did not show it, as he continued to lead us around the cave and towards another tunnel, at the far end.

When we reached the tunnel, we entered without hesitation, and soon found ourselves in another large cave.

This one was closer to the outside as the temperature had dropped significantly.

To one side of the cave, huddled together and chatting away amicably were Zakary and Alex and a number of warriors. I did not expect Alex or Zakary to be there. I thought they were just sending warriors, but I was relieved to see some familiar faces, and I could talk to Alex about the warrior who has found his mate, and maybe have Alex chat to him about staying there or taking her back to his pack.

I understood Alex was more up-to-up-above-ground people interaction.

This Zeek looks like he would be against such a notion, though I have to remember not to judge him, based on what little I know, I did that with mum and Aunty Gladys. I won’t be trusting or judging too fast this time around. I still have lots to learn about the hierarchy of the Deep Earth people, to get a better understanding of why this group live like this and whether other groups are like this way too.

‘Greetings Zane and the Blue River warriors.’ Alex greeted them with a broad grin.

‘Greeting Alex and Zakary, and warriors of the Deep Earth.’ I replied in kind, and my response broke any tension that had grown and the groups of warriors between Alex and Zakary cheered and went to shake hands with the Blue River warriors.

Alex and Zakary came to me and Alex shook my hand, and pulled me forward into a hug and we patted each other on our backs, and then Zakary did the same. Zeek’s warriors, watching this interaction, helped them relax around them and they joined the other warriors in greeting the Blue River warriors.

The large group of warriors bonded in a wave of welcoming hugs and changing each other’s names, making me proud of the Blue River warriors.