"Cry for Help"
Ogar's Redemption, Part 2
by Edward Bolme
Read Part 1 "The Call of Nightmare"
This story first appeared in the Dream's End Preview Decks (not much space for expository writing on those cards).

Ulk ran up the long, climbing tunnel. Her lungs burned and her legs ached, but she had to keep moving. Nightmares pursued her, but whether they were real or her own fearful imaginings, she dared not find out.

At last Ulk stumbled into fierce daylight. She sagged to her knees and leaned against a rock, exhausted. When her strength returned, she gathered herself up and began to explore, shading her squinting eyes.

Even though she was only half way up the mountain, the bright light and perspective were dizzying. She was used to small, dark, comfortable tunnels in the dirt, not this harsh, high, rocky mountain. She was too afraid to enjoy the vast panorama.

She heard a snuffling, grunting sound off to her left, towards the sun. A dark shadow loomed over a rock nearby.

She stumbled blindly away, calling for help. Her voice echoed in the deep ravines. She could hardly run, and every time she tried to look for a path, the steep slopes made her head spin.

A huge shape swooped down out of the sky, circling about, with great batlike wings. Too exhausted and terrified to defend herself, Ulk simply covered her eyes and whimpered.

She heard a heavy crunch as something landed a few feet away.

"Who are you?" it asked. "I'd guess a mushroom-head like you isn't from around here."

Ulk hazarded one eye open. A Magi studied her as she sat. He had huge leather wings strapped to his arms, and goggles protected his eyes.

"I'm Ulk, from the Underneath," she said.

"You asked for help," said the strange Magi. "What can I do?"

"I'm looking for Grej," said Ulk desperately. "We were crèche sisters when she was with us."

"No problem," he said. He dreamed up a cragnoc to carry her, and safe in its arms, she fell fast asleep.

* * *
When Ulk awoke, she was in Grej's hut. It was small, rocky... but cozy, in a rustic sort of way. "It's terrible, Grej," Ulk said. "A great geyser of shadow has erupted in the Underneath!"

"We fear no geyser," said Grej simply.

"But it's filling the whole area with foul darkness and nightmares and--and..." Ulk paused.

Grej's eyes narrowed. "And what?" she asked, dreading the answer.

"They've got Ogar," Ulk sobbed. "She's one of them! We need your help!"

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Read Part 3 "Underdawn"