Mary-Cade Mandus - Skin Deep

Toddy paused and sniffed the air again, but his nose had not misled him - Amadeus had definitely entered the cavern. Cautiously he approached the craggy aperture, stretching his neck to peer into the inky blackness beyond. True, his father had cautioned him against going into the Deplorable Caverns but he'd never actually forbidden it. Besides, the child reasoned, Amadeus would not have gone in if there were any real danger. He hesitated a moment longer, then, taking a deep breath, dashed inside. Once within, the feeling of apprehension dispelled and his excitement with the game rekindled. Amadeus' scent trail was sharp and easy to track and Toddy sped through the cave - there was no way to become lost.

After an hour, just as he was becoming fretful, he found his quarry. Not that the older boy was visible, for the small chamber Toddy had entered resembled an ogre's chaotic orthodontia so crammed was it with freakish rock formations and stalactites, but Amadeus' scent was highly concentrated in the space. It was behind one of the stalactites that Toddy's nose told him the boy was hiding. As added proof, a current of air had set a scrap of cloth in motion and it signaled around the edge of the milky incisor-like shape. All business the child crept swiftly forward. As he rounded the stalactite, a figure darted out. Knocked off his feet Toddy fell against the slimy rock and the momentum pitched him backwards. Where the stalactite had appeared to back into the chamber wall a hidden crevice rifted the floor and it was into this that Toddy fell.

The air whooshed from his lungs when he landed and Toddy lay upon his stomach, stunned. More bewildered than hurt; he rose to his knees and tilted his head up. The fissure wasn't very deep but the walls were slick with damp and unblemished, offering no toe or hand holes. Rocks littered the floor, none of which were large enough to provide any elevation. To Toddy's relief Amadeus' head appeared above the rim. Climbing atop the largest rock and standing as straight as he could on tiptoe Toddy stretched his hand up toward his friend.

It would have taken minimum effort to reach down, grab the small hand and lift the child to safety but Amadeus made no such attempt. Instead he stared at the hapless little figure for a second or two then drew back out of sight. Toddy gaped uncomprehendingly at the vacant spot. He tried to comfort himself with the thought that Amadeus was seeking something that could be lowered into the hole upon which he could climb up, but try as his ears strained they could detect no sound of scavenging nor could he catch his scent. Afraid to admit he'd been abandoned Toddy sat down upon the rock, his eyes riveted upon the crevice rim, and waited for Amadeus to return.