[Mattius]

Jack touched the cut on his head with his middle and index fingers before bringing his hand to his eye level to look at the blood. In a few seconds he didn't have to as it started running into his eyes,

"Erm guys," he said, "could one of you give me a hand with this!"

Anuion turned to look at the boy and quickly reached into his pack and brought out some stitches. Jadae put pressure on the wound so that not as much blood was lost and then the elf began his work, painlessly sowing the skin on Jack's forehead back together. When he was done the blond-haired lad was left with a neat row of stitches of the buterfly variety.

"Are you okay Jack?" Asked Arethin. Jack looked up at the big man.

"I think so, the pain seems to have totally gone!"

Jack jumped to his feet feeling so revived that he began to lead the group through the dangerous cave, seemingly forgetting what had just happened. So happy he was that he began to hum to himself as they wandered in the gloom.

They didn't have to walk far before they faced another problem. In the gloom Jack had fallen over some sought of chair and long couches covered with dust and spiders. Jack picked himself up and rubbed the eight legged things off before looking around.

"Looks like a problem," he sighed.

"What is it?" Questioned Angalos.

"The path splits here, into three seperate routes," Jack walked into the doorway of each one before speaing again. "One goes up, one down and one straight on."

The group gave a collective silent sigh. They all knew what this meant- they would have to split up. And seeing as though Rosfin had not reached the caves with them, someone would have to go by themselves.

"We are going to have to split up then," Jadae said, "and draw straws over who is going to go alone."

They stood in a circle, each holding one of the random straws they had cut down just prior. The atmosphere was tense and no-one wanted to go in one of the doorways alone.

"Okay, one by one reveal your straws," Jadae said. Slowly Jack then Anuion, Arethin, Jadae and Angalos opened their hands. Angalos looked down at his tiny straw- he would be going alone.

The groups stood at the doors together- Jack and Anuion would be going straight on, Jadae and Arethin to the lower level and poor Angalos would be heading upstairs alone.

"If any of us find anything," began Jadae, "then head back to this room and wait for the others- we will meet back here in a few hours and be careful!"

"Good luck everybody," whispered Angalos as he walked into the darkness.