Revenge is Always Sweeter on the Other side

Dal eased cautiously onto the floor of the cavern, ears pricked for the slightest sound. His bow held ready, arrow in place, he searched intently for any sign of life ahead of him. It was a stalemate, he knew, but until he could find a way to defeat Auren, he was trapped in this labyrinth of rock and stone. He moved slowly, carefully, thoughtfully, taking several long minutes to take a few steps. Off in the distance, a bowstring snapped. Without hesitation, Dal dove to the ground just as the black arrow imbedded itself in the rock behind him. In a moment he was on his feet and sprinting towards the cliff wall. Twice more in those twenty feet did he roll to his side or duck suddenly to avoid the deadly arrows that flew at him from within the cavernous maze behind him. Without warning, Dal turned and fired towards the cavern entrance. The arrow flew at lightning speed and hit the rope dead center. In a rapid series of chain-reactions, half of the cavern roof tumbled down, essentially blocking the entrance; the only way in or out of the massive underground palace.

A menacing laugh echoed throughout the cavern. "Was that so wise, Dal Daevon? To trap yourself in the hellish paradise with me?" The sound of Auren’s voice reverberated throughout the labyrinth. "How long do you plan on running from me, little elf-boy?"

"Until eternity Auren. Until eternity." Then Dal ducked behind the cavern wall and vanished.

Auren’s smile flared up again as he moved silently from his place of concealment. He would have to be doubly careful now. Though Dal posed barely for challenge to him, he must not underestimate his quarry in the unlikely possibility that he was more resourceful than could be expected or predicted. This hunt would be like all his others though; it would end in his prey’s death.

Two hours went by, with no sign of Dal. Auren wandered carefully, arrogantly, through the maze, his senses honed in acutely on his surroundings. More time passed, and still there was no sign of his elusive quarry.

Has he escaped? Where could he be?

Auren searched intently; never stopping to rest, always pushing forward. He walked for hours hunting his prey relentlessly. At one point he realized he wasn’t following tracks of any kind, but that didn’t matter to him anymore. Only one thing mattered now, finding his enemy and killing him at all costs. Only how long would it take to find him, how long would it take Auren’s deteriorating mind to realize he was lost, desperately lost in the infinite tunnels of the underground labyrinth? How long could Auren’s mind cling to sanity before losing grip, and falling into eternal madness?

Dal waited motionless for several hours in wait of his pursuer. He was hopelessly lost, he knew, though in all probability so was his enemy. Slowly standing up, he started off again, slowly, still searching intently for any sign of his opponent. Every corner he turned looked identical to the last, every clump of rock similar to another farther on. For two days he wandered in search of the enemy, for two days he walked without stopping, only pausing momentarily to make sure he was not being followed.