[Chr24] Ice Caves | The Frozen Chase

The Frozen Chase

The frost-covered walls of the cave shimmered with a ghostly blue light as Jean led the group through the winding tunnels. His breath hung in the air, the icy chill biting through his heavy coat. Behind him, Chance fiddled nervously with his flashlight, the beam wobbling over the jagged ice formations. Zane and Rowan trudged in the rear, their hooves clacking against the icy floor.

“You sure about this, Jean?” Chance asked, his voice trembling slightly. “A golden Polar Bavee? Sounds more like a fairy tale.”

Jean grinned without looking back. “Fairy tale or not, the payoff’s worth it. Do you know how rare they are? One sighting can make your name legendary.”

Zane adjusted his backpack, his sharp golden eyes scanning their surroundings. “Assuming we don’t freeze to death first. These caves are treacherous.”

“Quit whining,” Rowan said, his tone gruff. “We’ve faced worse. Remember the Spectral Ravager in the cliffs?”

“Yeah, and that was terrible too,” Zane shot back.

Suddenly, Jean froze, holding up a hand for silence. In the distance, a faint glimmer caught his eye. It wasn’t the ice reflecting their flashlights—it was something golden.

“There,” Jean whispered. “Do you see it?”

The group strained their eyes. Sure enough, something faintly golden glinted far ahead, half-obscured by a veil of frost.

“That has to be it!” Jean said, excitement tinging his voice.

They quickened their pace, the icy air slicing at their faces. But before they could get closer, a low rumble echoed through the cave. The ground beneath them began to shudder violently.

“RUUMMBLLEE!”

“Move!” Rowan shouted, but it was too late.

The ice cracked and splintered, giving way beneath their feet. All four of them screamed as they plummeted into darkness.

Jean hit the ground first, landing with a muffled thud. The others followed, groaning as they tumbled onto what felt like a massive, soft pile. Jean pushed himself up, brushing powdery white feathers from his coat.

“Feathers?” he muttered.

Zane coughed, spitting out a stray plume. “What the hell is this?”

Chance shined his flashlight around, the beam revealing a vast chamber filled with grey and white feathers. But as Jean’s gaze moved to the icy walls, his blood ran cold. Deep, jagged claw marks gouged into the ice told of something massive—and dangerous—that had been here.

“Guys,” Jean said, his voice low, “we’re not alone down here.”

The others followed his gaze, their expressions shifting from confusion to fear.

“Whatever made those marks,” Rowan said grimly, “isn’t something we want to meet.”

“Too late,” Chance whispered, his flashlight trembling in his hand.

A guttural growl reverberated through the chamber, sending chills down their spines. Out of the shadows emerged a massive creature, its body a mix of ice and stone, with jagged, crystalline spines running down its back. Its glowing blue eyes locked onto the group, and a low, menacing snarl rumbled from its throat.

“A Cave Glacial Twiwa,” Zane breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.

The Twiwa stepped closer, its talons clicking against the icy floor. Its hulking form filled the chamber, blocking any clear path of escape.

“Run,” Jean said, his voice firm. “Now.”

The group bolted, scattering in different directions. The Twiwa roared, its voice echoing like thunder as it gave chase. Jean sprinted down a narrow tunnel, his feet slipping on the ice. Behind him, he could hear the creature’s talons scraping against the walls as it pursued him.

“Jean, this way!” Chance shouted, waving his flashlight from a side passage.

Jean veered toward him, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the Twiwa’s massive talons. He and Chance stumbled into the passage, panting heavily.

“Where are the others?” Jean asked.

“No idea,” Chance said, glancing nervously back toward the main chamber. “We need to keep moving.”

Meanwhile, Zane and Rowan had taken a different route, sliding down an icy slope that ended in another cavern. They landed in a heap, groaning as they untangled themselves.

“Where’s Jean and Chance?” Zane asked, looking around.

“Doesn’t matter,” Rowan said, pulling a flare from his pack. “We have to find a way out before that thing catches up.”

The Twiwa’s roar echoed through the tunnels, closer now. Rowan lit the flare, its red light casting eerie shadows on the walls.

“This way,” Rowan said, leading Zane toward a narrow crevice.

Back in the main tunnel, Jean and Chance found themselves cornered. The Twiwa loomed before them, its icy breath fogging the air. Jean’s mind raced. They needed a distraction—something to buy them time.

“Chance, give me your flashlight,” Jean said.

“What? Why?”

“Just trust me!”

Chance handed it over, and Jean hurled it past the Twiwa’s head. The creature snarled, momentarily distracted by the clattering sound.

“Run!” Jean yelled, grabbing Chance’s arm.

They sprinted down the tunnel, turning sharply into another passage. Ahead, they saw Zane and Rowan crawling through the crevice.

“Wait for us!” Chance called.

Rowan turned, his flare illuminating their faces. “Hurry up!”

Jean and Chance dove into the crevice just as the Twiwa’s talons raked the wall behind them. The creature roared in frustration, unable to fit through the narrow space.

“That won’t hold it for long,” Zane said, his voice tight with fear.

“We need to find another way out,” Rowan said, extinguishing the flare to conserve its light.

The group pressed on, their breaths labored. The tunnels twisted and turned, each passage looking more treacherous than the last.

Finally, they stumbled into a massive cavern, its ceiling glittering with frozen stalactites. At the center stood an enormous pillar of ice—and atop of it was the golden Polar Bavee.

“There it is,” Jean said, awe in his voice.

“Forget the Bavee!” Rowan snapped. “That thing is still after us!”

But Jean couldn’t tear his eyes away. He stepped closer, his gloved hand reaching out to touch the ice.

Before he could, the Twiwa crashed into the cavern, shattering stalactites and shaking the ground.

“Jean, move!” Zane shouted.

Jean snapped out of his trance, diving out of the way as the Twiwa lunged for him. The creature’s talons struck the ice pillar, cracking it.

Rowan grabbed another flare, lighting it and hurling it at the Twiwa. The creature recoiled, its glowing blue eyes narrowing in anger.

“That won’t stop it for long!” Chance yelled.

“Then we bring the roof down,” Rowan said, his voice grim.

“Are you insane?” Zane asked.

“It’s the only way,” Rowan said. “We’ll use the Twiwa’s strength against it. Get to the far side of the cavern!”

The group sprinted toward the far wall as Rowan lit his last flare. He threw it at the Twiwa, taunting it.

“Come on, you overgrown owl cat!”

The Twiwa roared and charged, its massive body slamming into the ice pillar. The cracks spread rapidly, chunks of ice falling from the ceiling.

“Now!” Rowan shouted.

The group dove into a side tunnel just as the cavern collapsed, burying the Twiwa under tons of ice and rock. The ground shook one last time before falling silent.

The group lay in a heap, panting and covered in frost.

“Did we…?” Chance began.

“It’s done,” Rowan said, his voice weary.

Jean looked back toward the ruined cavern, a pang of regret in his chest. The golden Polar Bavee was gone, buried along with the Twiwa.

“Was it worth it?” Zane asked, his tone cutting.

Jean didn’t answer. He simply got to his feet, helping the others up.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

The group stumbled through the tunnels until they finally emerged into the icy wilderness. The pale light of dawn greeted them, and for the first time in hours, they felt the sting of fresh air on their faces.

They had survived—but the legend of the golden Polar Bavee would remain just that: a legend.