A Snowed In Hunt

[Enrique]

The stranger approached him and offered information. More than Ricky expected to be honest. Ricky wasn't taken aback by his approach. He wasn't threatening. It didn't mean the stranger wasn't dangerous though. He very well could have been. He didn't see much of anything in the houses above the entrance though. That didn't mean that his quarry wasn't there, it just meant he hadn't noticed, but still, Ricky was stuck down here. Ricky also knew the hunter he spoke off. That had to be Nox.

"Well then, that certainly is good to know," Ricky said with a smirk. He looked down a passage, leading deeper into the tunnels. "And if she is in these tunnels, where would you think she is? Deeper?"

[Sasha]

Sasha shook his head. "Not much deeper. Probably in an old nest. People don't go far in -- it's dangerous. More dangerous than here. Monsters and less decent folks." Though it had been a while since he'd seen any of them. There was a rumor they left for the topside. There was also the mythic snake people, though they were likely hibernating in their home this time of year. Snakes and cold ya know...

"I think some cannibals had a nest down that way. And I know the rabid dog things have a spot down there." Sasha pointed down the other direction. "But most of them are empty, but with the weather the monsters will seek safety too." Sasha looked down both ends of the tunnel his own words making him anxious. That was true, they'd come down here to stay warm too.

[Enrique]

The stranger seemed to know his way around. Not only that, but he knew about the creatures that made their nests down here. He was a survivor. The fact that he knew the dangers and wasn’t running from it meant he was capable of defending himself. Still there was a cautious nature to him. Probably didn’t like a fight, but was willing to do so if push came to shove.

”Well we are in quite the precarious situation then aren’t we. Stuck in tunnels with things that want to eat us. Likely no way out.” Ricky said with a slight grin. ”Of course if you want to get out, I’m more than willing to assist.”

Ricky meant it too. He wasn’t sure he’d leave at this point, but it might not be a bad idea. A buzzing of his wallet got his attention and he looked to see a message from Marta. The text simply said something exciting had just happened, but she didn’t elaborate. Still, it made Ricky smile that she was doing well.

”Name is Ricky,” he said to the stranger. ”Which way do you want to go?”

[Sasha]

Sasha's eyes went wide. He wanted to go with him. Most people looked at him and knew immediately what he was -- trash. There were a rare few but they worked the same circles as he did -- or at least they didn't thumb their noises as the low lifes that they were catering too. Not that Nox and Oriena were particularly fond of him either way but at least they didn't treat him like trash -- and Oriena... He sighed and left that thought alone. "You want me to lead you?" He didn't mean to say it out loud much less in a shocked way. He wasn't sure if it was the surprise of being included or the fear of actually walking into a monster's lair. They both registered but at different times.

"I don't know." That was a lot of decisions to make. But then he remembered he could summon the fire at will now thanks to Oriena. That was a good thing. Though he touched the back of his head, it was still tender and the divits were permanent now. "This way." Sasha pointed. "She's not back the way I came, nothing said monsters live here."

[Enrique]

The man seemed more surprised that he had asked than anything. There was fear there too. He was an interesting guy to say the least. Ricky didn’t know what to think of him. ”You know these tunnels better than I do. Doesn’t hurt to have a guide. When we get closer - you can point it out and go if you’d like. I don’t expect you to go into the lion’s den.”

The man seemed a little skittish - but moreso about people than monsters. Ricky wondered about him. He moved to follow. ”Give me a good rundown about this woman. Anything on how she acts - rumors or any more.”

[Sasha]

Sasha sighed. "You need to kill the light. You'll attract them. You're eyes will get used to it. It's not completely dark. Someone put in little beacons." Sasha knew who had. He walked the tunnels every day. Everyone in the camps knew how to spot the safe routes now. He never even said he was doing it. But every morning he walks the length of his routes, and every evening before his shift at the club. He's like a fucking clock.

"They say she eats people. Her nest is usually covered in bones of people. At least that's the rumor. Most people who meet her don't escape. But they could have stumbled into any of the creatures' lairs down here. Even the cannibals leave bones down here -- though the good ones bury them. You're a hunter like him. Aren't you? No one in their right mind hunts these things. Rumors or not."

Sasha walked in the darkness and knew that if you took a left you could get to Kallisti. If you took a right you'd find yourself deeper into the bowels of unsafe territory. "If you go left you'll find where he lives. A couple a blocks and anyone's safe who wants it. This way is where she is." He went right. "You can turn your light on now. And go first the monster nests are down this way." It was a long dark rough stone with gouge marks in the cavern walls. "The the evil things are gone so it's just normal ones now." The Ascendancy had cleared the tunnels of the worst of them. We'll him and Nox and some of the nine -- Sasha hadn't been in the tunnels that day. He was sorta glad.