Rose, Ellie and Lily

The crisp mountain air nipped at their faces as Rose, Ellie, and Lily stood at the mouth of the cave, their gear slung over their shoulders. The entrance yawned open before them, a dark abyss that seemed to whisper tales of forgotten secrets. Rose adjusted the strap on her pack, her tall frame towering over the others despite her very pregnant belly, which protruded beneath her harness as she glanced down at the map.

“This is it,” Rose said confidently, her voice steady as her sharp yellow-highlighted scales glinted in the fading sunlight. Her grey tail flicked behind her, betraying her excitement. “The article said the women disappeared somewhere deep inside, but if they made it this far, so can we.”

Ellie groaned dramatically, planting her small hands on her hips. Her pale skin glowed against the dim cave entrance, her big green eyes sharp with skepticism. “Yeah, because the best idea is to follow in the footsteps of people who vanished. Brilliant, Rose.” Her eyes darted pointedly to Rose’s belly. “Shouldn’t you be resting instead of waddling into a death trap?” Her big green eyes darted to Lily, as if expecting backup.

Rose let out a low chuckle, her confidence undeterred. “I’m pregnant, not broken, Ellie. Besides, I’m not about to sit this one out just because you’re scared of the dark.”

Ellie huffed, her green eyes narrowing. “Scared? Hardly. I just don’t want to be the one dragging your lizard butt out of here when you can’t fit through a passage.”

Lily, standing silently to the side, glanced between them. Her tanned skin bore crisscrossing tan lines where her clothes had shielded her from the sun, and her quiet demeanor made her seem smaller than her 5'7" frame. “Maybe we should turn back if it’s too dangerous,” she said softly, her voice hesitant.

Rose placed a reassuring hand on Lily’s shoulder, her strength radiating even in the simple gesture. “We’ve got the gear, the skills, and each other. We’ll be fine.”

The trio switched on their headlamps, their beams of light cutting through the inky blackness as they ventured deeper. The walls closed in, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. Shadows danced around them, and the echo of their footsteps seemed to mock their progress.

Hours passed as they explored, crawling through narrow passages and descending into deeper chambers. The thrill of adventure pulsed through Rose, while Ellie’s sarcastic quips became less frequent. Lily remained quiet, her movements hesitant but steady.

Then, it happened. A low rumble, distant but ominous, sent vibrations through the stone.

“Wait,” Rose said, holding up a hand. The sound grew louder, closer, until it became a deafening roar. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and before they could react, the walls of the cave seemed to collapse around them. Dust and rocks filled the air, and in the chaos, their headlamps flickered wildly.

“Rose? Ellie?!” Lily’s voice, panicked and barely audible over the cacophony, was the last thing any of them heard before the dust settled and silence returned.

When the rumbling stopped, they were alone. Each had been thrown into different sections of the cave, the darkness now their only companion.

Rose clenched her fists, her sharp claws scraping against the stone floor. She shook off the debris and stood, her strong frame unshaken. “Alright,” she muttered, determination flashing in her golden eyes. “Time to find them.”

Ellie, on the other hand, sat frozen, her small frame huddled against the cold wall of the cave. Her arrogance melted into fear as she hugged her knees. “Rose? Lily?” she called, her voice trembling. For the first time, she wished she wasn’t alone.

And Lily... Lily sat in silence, her body trembling. Her quiet nature had always been her shield, but now, in the suffocating dark, she felt its weight. She whispered to herself, “Just keep moving. They’ll find me. I have to keep moving.”

Unbeknownst to the three, the cave watched silently, its secrets waiting to be unveiled. Their journey had only just begun.