Inside the Cave


    After Okays told Kalira what he had heard from the bird and how it communicated with him:


    Kalira: (surprised) "Are you saying this bird talks?"


    Okays: "Yes, it speaks through blood, as I explained to you."


    Kalira: (in awe) "I''ve never heard or seen anything like this before! Did you ask if it wants to help you?"


    Okays: "Not yet."


    Kalira: (sighing) "Then what are you waiting for?"


    The voice of the bird in Okays'' head: "Yes, tell me, Okays, what do you want from me? I would be happy to help you."


    Okays: (seriously) "I want to get out of these walls, and I need your help."


    The bird: (annoyed) "Why do you always come to me for this purpose?"


    Okays: "Because you''re the only one who can help me, and I''ll give you what you want in return."


    The bird: "Even if it costs you half of your life?"


    Okays: (with a serious face) "Yes, if that''s the price of my freedom."


    The bird: (laughs) "You''re very serious! Do you think I''m a demon who takes human souls?"


    Okays: (sighing) "I thought you were serious."


    The bird: "Alright, alright. Since you''re talking about giving something in exchange for my help... what do you think about becoming my friend?"Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Okays: (smiling) "Of course."


    The bird: "My master disappeared long ago, and I haven''t found anyone to talk to. I''m happy to meet you, my name is Torrance."


    Okays: "Nice to meet you, Torrance."


    Kalira: (looking at him suspiciously) "Are you sure you''re okay? You''re talking to a bird, and it doesn''t talk."


    Okays: "You really don''t believe me?"


    Kalira: "Of course I don''t believe it. Maybe it will get hungry and eat us."


    Okays: (looking at Torrance) "Are you going to eat us?"


    Torrance: (looks at Kalira)


    The voice of Torrance in Okays'' head: "Tell her to place her hand on my head."


    Okays: "Kalira, come closer and put your hand on its head."


    Kalira carefully approaches and places her hand on the bird''s head.


    Voice inside Kalira''s mind: "Hello, miss, I’m Torrance, nice to meet you."


    Kalira: (in awe) "H-H-Hello!"


    Okays: "Do you believe me now?"


    Kalira: (raising an eyebrow) "Well, I didn’t say I didn’t believe you... but I did say it’s strange!"


    Torrance: (laughs) "It''s been a long time since I''ve talked to anyone. It’s definitely fun."


    Kalira: "So, will you help us, Torrance?"


    Torrance: "Of course! Okays promised me he''d become my friend."


    Okays: "Shall we leave now?"


    Kalira: (hesitant) "Wait! I want to come with you."


    Okays: "You can’t. You’ll make Taris worry if you leave without telling anyone. And we don’t know what we might face out there."


    Kalira: "If I wear a mask like you, no one will know I’m one of the monsters. Let’s tell my grandfather first what happened."


    Okays: (looking at Torrance) "Wait here. We’ll come back later to leave."


    Torrance: "No need for that. I’ll come with you."


    Okays: "But you’re too big. You can’t come with us like this."


    Torrance: "I forgot to tell you... I have a smaller form."


    Torrance shrinks into a small bird and speaks in a normal voice.


    Okays: (amazed) "This is amazing! How did you do that?"


    Kalira: (sarcastically) "Have you decided to become edible now?"


    Torrance: (embarrassed) "What?!"


    Kalira: (looking away) "I was joking."


    Okays: (laughing) "You got scared! So how did you do that, Torrance?"


    Torrance: "This is a skill I learned from my master. It’s one of the flying monsters'' abilities. It allows my body to expand or shrink, but I can’t speak normally when I''m in my large form."


    Okays: "This is amazing! So, is this your true size?"


    Torrance: "Yes. Now I can go with you. Shall we leave?"


    Okays: "You seem really eager."


    Torrance: "It''s been a long time since I last went to the city."


    They finally left the dark cave, heading towards Taris'' house in the city.


    Torrance: (speaking during the journey) "Okays, are you sure you want to cross these walls?"


    Okays: "Yes. I promised my mother I’d get out of here and look for my own life."


    Torrance: "Alright, I’ll accompany you. But let me warn you... there are huge monsters guarding the walls from above."


    Okays: "I know that. I think we’ll have to fight them."


    Torrance: "Don’t underestimate them, they’re really strong. If you want to leave safely, you’ll need permission from the king."


    Okays: "I don’t think he’ll give me permission. And if they find out I’m a hybrid, they’ll execute me."


    Torrance: "That’s bad... we need to find another way out."


    Kalira: "We’ve arrived!"


    Kalira opens the door, followed by Okays with Torrance perched on h


    is shoulder. They enter the hall, and Kalira heads to prepare some tea and bring her grandfather Taris.


    To be continued...