"Where is she? How did she escape the prison."

"I don't know, but she ran off with the jewels too?"

"We're going to get it if we don't find her!"

"Let's just keep looking..."

the voices trailed off into the distance, and out from the shadows she came. She looked ahead to where the two Orcs were going and a smile made its way out of the corner of her mouth.

"I'm as far as gone now."

Shayne jumped up a small cliff and scaled her way up for a better view. It wasn't easy to see in the dark cave, but right now the darkness shrouded her. She emptied out her pocket and looked at the numerous emeralds and crystals in her hand. A master thief . Shayne continued to walk in the shadows quickly, but quietly. She still had one more quest on her list, and nothing would stop her.

Six months is all it took. She precariously yet, intentionally got herself imprisoned. Everything fell according to plan. While locked behind the walls of hard stone, she would escape at night to find information. Her ears became sharp, as she would listen to the secrets of the cave. By day she would return to her cell, and pretend she never left. Once she obtained enough, she made her final escape, and now here she was.

A Troll wandered beneath her, and she stayed back creeping her way into a dark corner, now more invisible than ever. If she wanted to she could throw a knife and hit him right between the eyes, but it was too risky right now. Shayne had too much heat on her, to start causing a scene. She could be quick and no one could see her, but she still didn't want the small risk quite yet. She had more important things to do. Instead Shayne gave herself a minute, and watched him closely

The troll moved its head left, then right. It stopped, then scratched it's head. It's eyes searched it's surroundings. The troll continued to move forward. Shayne crawled down the wall, using whatever rocks and crevices she could find with her hands and feet. She edged towards it, stalking closer, but never too close. The troll stopped once more, his mind distracted. The perfect chance.

With a quick jerk of her hand she grabbed a pouch he had strapped at his side. She turned around and vanished back into the dark abyss. Once he was out of sight, she opened the trolls pouch. A bit of gold coins, maybe 100 Galoons worth. He also had some herb, wrapped in a small brown parchment. Shayne took a sniff, and realized it was Moonglow, her alchemist could make some good potions with that. One of them which would give her an ability to see in the dark, for a period of time. Useful now, but useless as she had no need for it, after the task was done.

Shayne rolled the parchment tightly, and placed it in a small pocket in her boot. She threw the money in the gem pouch, and continued climbing up the walls, to get a better view. Darkness crept all around, but her eyes slowly started to adjust. Shaynes long black, velvety hair hid her tawny colored face like a veil. Her amber eyes focused on the surrounding cavern walls. She felt the cold ore with a semi gloved hand. Her long delicate, yet somewhat masculine fingers bare, the rest of her hand gloved.

Many decades ago, this cavern had been a great mine used for its many valuable minerals. The orcs soon enough took over, making it their own. Harsh creatures with brute strength the Orcs were. Of course, something else lived within the depths of this cave. Tougher, meaner. It made the orcs appear like fluffy little bunnies. The creatures blood, was said to contain a powerful venom. This venom would add a lethal kick to Shayne's already deadly, sharp and lacerating twin daggers.

Shayne took a seat on a small ledge and pulled out an overly folded piece of parchment from under her leather chestplate. She then grabbed a thin stick of charcoal from the other chest. After unfolding the parchment, it appeared to be a hand drawn map. Shayne's hand drawn map, of this cavern. She continued to draw some more curves, then placed the map, back into her breastplate. She jumped down from the small ledge onto a smaller one, then tiptoed her way across a small bridge- like chasm. She heard a noise below. It sounded like low grumbles, and hard whispers. She climbed up a ridge and found a small hole to hide in.

"You hear, ay" one of the Orc's said. Khain speaks words of a job. He wants us to find a staff"

The second Orc grinned. Something about the way his lips curled made Shayne sense treachery .

" Yea mean the one from the Moonkara tribe. I heard word of it last night."

"Stupid elves." Mocked the first Orc. He followed with a phlegmy spit to the ground. "Magic wielders, pitiful spirit catchers. Nothing but o'bunch of tree dwelling Heathens. They don' be needing no great staff."

"To be fair Groud, we wouldn't have much use fo' it ourselves." Said the second Orc.

"You be right there, Havard. Khain himself has no need for the use of magic, or its tools. We are a proud race. We fight with might, and brawn." Said Groud.

Havard spoke up. "It's obvious, an instrument of the arts could be worth lots. New armor and weapons, plenty of food and provisions."

"Ay, heard many rumors of its true power. I can imagine many hands would want to get on it."

The orcs walked off, and their voices trailed off within the distance.

Shayne found the conversation interesting, but also preferred her daggers and might over some magic staff. She also had a great respect for the elves. Although she was a thief, she would refuse to ever steal from an elf. They gave her, and her parents a home. They took them in, without judgement, after they flew the coop of the Fraul Lunae desert. Her people were cold, and hard individuals. Their customs and politics were harsh and severe. A part of her wanted to warn these Moonkara's when her own personal duties were done.

Shayne waited until the two Orcs were out of sight, and went on her way. The faster she got this done, the faster she could get out of this cavern. She pulled her map out once again Shayne took a quick look, and tried to see which way may be the best. She had to find a way down into the very depths of the cave, but with all the twists and turns it seemed to be rather difficult.

Her stomach started to grumble, and churn. it had been a while since she has eaten. Even longer since she had a good filling meal. Prison food consisted mostly of slugs, leafs, and beetles. There wasn't much to eat here, but she could find herself a rat or shrew, and make herself a fire to cook it. Shayne stopped her adventure, for just a little bit, to hunt for a meal.

Orcs were a gluttonous bunch so vermin would be scarce. It would take time, and patience. It would also take quick hands, or at least some sort of trap. Luckily Shayne was skilled at both. She got on all fours to look for any sign of edible critters.

She crawled like a hound, keeping her senses sharp. After a thorough search around her surroundings, she found some feces. They looked fresh, and the repugnant odor steaming off them, meant they were quite fresh as well. Large, mishapen balls of black, foul excretion . If it's shit had been any indicator whatsoever, this guy ate a good meal, and had some tender meat on its bones. Shayne didn't fancy rats too much, but she didn't fancy starvation either.

Shayne continued to look around for more signs. Her ears listened carefully for any sounds of tiny feet pitter pattering, against the ground. After searching and listening for a few minutes she saw him. Hiding in a corner.

The rat looked back at her, his whiskers twitching. He stood up on his hind legs, and continued to watch as Shayne edged her way closer. Shayne hid low, and behind a wall. The dumb creature would eventually think she left, and scurry off.

Shayne poked her head out just enough to watch him. The rat went back down on all fours and headed forwards out from the corner. It's tiny legs scampered as it sniffed around for some food. It scampered closer...closer, not seeing Shayne at all. Once the rat got close enough, Shayne quietly took out one of her twin daggers. She quickly stabbed at him, like a snake catching its prey. The rat squeeked in pain, twitched it's legs, then fell to death. The affliction it suffered, short and sweet.

"Dinner is served."

Shayne took the rats tail and tied it in a loop around her belt. Now all she needed was a place to make fire. She didn't want to be spotted, so she had to find somewhere that could be hidden. If the orcs saw her blaze, they might go closer to investigate. Shayne wasn't about to share her meal with anyone. Even more so she didn't want the orcs to find her, and thus keep her further from her must needed desideratum.

Shayne stopped for a quick second to take a good look at her surroundings. She noticed a crevice leading down, about ten feet in front of her. Maybe it would also lead her down to the bottom, where the beast with the venom resided. She stood in front of the opening and looked down. She tossed a stone down, and listened for the echo back. She took another step forward, that's when the floor beneath her started to crumble.

Down, down she went into the dark abyss. Her arm broke her fall with a crunch. Shayne swore under her breath.

Excruciating pain ran all the way from her elbow to up her shoulder. The pain would have to be sufficed. Still famished, and with one motive, Shayne knew she had to keep going. At least she found a great level of coverage in this hole. The perfect time to start her fire.

With her good arm, Shayne grabbed a flint, and a small bottle of lavender colored potion. She poured the bottles contents down in front of her, and lit the liquid with her flint. Suddenly flames exploded in front of her. The heat of the fire warmed her face. The shadows from the blaze began cavorting against the solid cavern walls.

Shayne grabbed the rat and placed it on the end of one of her daggers and placed the rat into the flames. The rat started to blacken, and sizzle. It's flesh started to bubble then char. Once cooked, Shayne gulped it down. To her surprise the rat tasted much better than usual.

With her tummy full, Shayne decided to rest for a while. It didn't seem like anyone would see her down here. She curled up by the fire, closed her eyes, and fell asleep. She would eminently need much rest to gain a dior vehemence to slay the beast. She has waited long enough, and her prize couldn't be much further now.