Your eyes slowly fluttered open. Your body loosened from the curled-up ball. Still disoriented you blankly stared on.

The ground felt hard and uneven against your side. The sound of something dripping echoed loudly. The air was cold, murky and.... stale.

It took you a few seconds to compose before gulped and sat up straight.

Memories came slamming back to you like a lightning bolt. You slapped a hand against your face.

"I'm such an idiot. Why did I even think chasing after a glowing insect was a good idea!"

You reprimanded yourself. "I've found a way out of here... wherever this even is. A cave...?"

You were in a cave. It explained the loud noise that amplified and echoed and the stale air that blew.

What shocked you more was the pulsing green-tinted crystals that jutted out of the ceiling and the walls. It pulsed like a heartbeat, illuminating the dim area.

"....."

"It might be the stupidest thing I'd do but I want to touch that crystal thingy,"

So with the supremely reckless idea, you trot towards the uneven walls of the cave and stopped in front of it. You looked curiously at the green-tinted crystals that seem to pulse in sync with your pounding heart.

Whether it was pounding in excitement or fear you didn't know. You didn't have time to analyse for fear of chickening out.

You cautiously stretched your index finger and poked it. The contacted area rippled like water before resuming its original state.

"Amazing..." you breathed out.

You did it again only to see the same results. A giddy grin stretched on your chubby, baby face. A childish excitement runs through your veins.

"Holy shit. If only I had my phone," you said looking at the rippling surface of the crystal after your touch. You wanted to capture this extraordinary moment and freeze it in time. Too bad this world didn't have phones the ultimate creation of mankind!!

You cleared your throat and snapped out of your childish antics.

"Right, I'm not a child. I shouldn't go goofing around like this. I'm an adult. Imma act like one!" You nodded to yourself.

Ah, the irony...

It was a comical scene for a four-year-old girl to remind herself to act like an adult.

With new determination in your mind, you analysed your surrounding. The ceiling reached high and the walls and ground were uneven and mossy. Boulders randomly were strewn on the ground. If it weren't for the crystal you were sure you'd be encapsulated in darkness. You walked around to find a small cave different from the original one. This one didn't have a crystal on its surface so couldn't see anything other than the entrance that seem to stretch on forever into pitch-black nothingness.

Fear splashed on you at the thought of going in there. But a quick survey of the main cave made it clear that it was devoid of any exit.

Trepidation shook you but you put on a brave face and snatched a crystal from the wall and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I can do this. It's nothing but a childhood fear. One that I can overcome. There is no monster lurking in there, not like I can't kick their butts!" You let out a nervous laugh. Only to jump when it bounced off the walls and came back to you but in a more creepy tone.

"Okay... No more laughs,"

You braced yourself and plunged into the embrace of the darkness. The entrance stretched out and your footsteps echoed loudly along with your hammering heartbeat. The pulsing crystal continued rippling in your tight hold, providing somewhat relief from the utter darkness.

You finally reached the end of the corridor and stepped into another cave but this one was smaller than the previous one.

You froze. Blood running cold. Heartbeat hammering in utter fear. Pupils dilated at what you saw in front.

Stalactites and stalagmites ran through the entire cave; making small, tiny gaps between them. In the middle of the cave, at the highest vintage, a big pulsing crystal jutted out from the ceiling illuminating what lay beneath it.

You took a step back shakily. Eyes fixated on the thing.

Middle of the cave, under the direct light of the crystal, lay a gigantic pitch-black serpent. Sleeping soundlessly. It's a long body raising and falling with every breath.

"Shit, shit. This is bad!" you mumbled to yourself in panic. "I need to get out of here!"

You slowly backed away. You wouldn't be surprised if the serpent woke up at how loud your heart was thumping within your ribcage.

But luck wasn't on your side. As soon as you took another step back you tripped over the uneven ground and fell on your butt.

Thud!

The sound echoed and you started sweating. I'm screwed. I'm screwed. I'm so screwed!

You sat paralyzed, trembling as you saw the serpent open its red gleaming eyes. It sniffed the air, trying to pinpoint the source of the disturbance of its slumber.

As soon as its eyes fell, it hissed at you in a high-pitched tone. Its body is coiled, ready to spring up for you.

At that moment fortunately your body's fight or flight instincts took over and you pushed yourself up and hightailed out of there.

You could hear it hissing at you. A crumbling sound made it clear that the serpent was approaching you fast, slithering its way to you.

Adrenaline pumped through your vein boosting you to pick up your pace.

"Okay, I don't wanna die. Not like this. Not a snack to a freaking elongated leech!"

You zigzagged your way, using the boulders to your advantage. You hid behind a boulder, crouching low. Making yourself as small as you could.

"Where issss ssshe?" it hissed angrily.

It talks!

You had to clamp your hand on your mouth from letting out a surprised shout.

The serpent continued its search, peering behind boulders with its big gleaming eyes. Frustrated at not finding you, it swapped its tail across a boulder, sending it crashing to the wall.

"Come...ssss out little onesssss..." the serpent hissed circling a boulder. "I'd make...your death less painful"

Yeah, right. Like hell, you were gonna fall for that.

You crawled behind another boulder when you felt the serpent closing in.

"Whatsss a human doing...sss... in my abode," the serpent hissed raising its head, its coiled body helped it keep balance.

You were shaking at this moment. Maybe you realised that the chance of you getting out was slim to none. Tears prickled in your eyes at the amount of fear you were experiencing.

"I ..sss..found you,"

Suddenly you were sent flying away with a swap of its tail. Crashing into the wall, you crumbled on the ground groaning. You had landed near the entrance of the horrifying creature's abode.

The serpent slithers its way to you. Picking you up with its tail. "How amusssing! Itssss has been long since I ssssaw a human,"

You struggled under its bone-crushing grip.

It brought you close as it examined you. You trembled as the red eyes pierced through your soul and its warm, putrid breath fanned over you making you gag.

"Sssuch a peculiar sssoul" It's hissed. "You'd be deliciousss."

You ignored its strange comment and bit down hard on its scaley skin. It hissed in pain dropping you.

"No, definitely not!!" you screamed as you fell in your butt.

You scrambled off, ready to bolt to the other cave.

Swoosh!

You ducked in time to avoid the boulder from squashing you. But unfortunately, the boulder stuck on the entrance, blocking you off. It seem to be the intent of the serpent as it hissed in triumph. Slithering slowly to you in mock. You threw the crystal that you held tight. It hit the serpent's eyes, it hissed and blinked before looking at you in rage.

This is it. The end.

You sat there paralyzed and trembling in fear and defeat. You closed your eyes from the impending doom, praying it'd be quick and painless.

Feeling guilty for not listening to your Mom's words.

Your eyes burn with tears as fear and hopelessness made themselves clear.

This is it. This is how I'm going to die, all alone and in a place where no one will find me.

I don't want to die! Please!

......

Suddenly you felt a different presence. Different from the horrifying serpent. It was overwhelming and crushing. You broke into a cold sweat when you felt it behind you. Intimidating and dominating.

You could even feel the serpent hesitating probably sensing the presence too. It slowly backed away as the presence become more profound and dominated the tense atmosphere.

The serpent let out a panicked hiss before burrowing a hole into the wall and slithering away.

You looked at the gaping hole longingly. Wishing you too could make a run for it too but sadly you had sprained your ankle from the early collision and couldn't walk, let alone run.

You slowly crawled away from the entrance and watched it with trepidation and fear.

Boom!

The boulder exploded and pieces of stone blew. You shielded yourself with your hands. Strangely none of the stones hit you.

Meow!

You blinked at the sound. Bravely opening your eyes you looked at the settling dust only for your jaw to drop.

A white cat sat in front of peering at you curiously.

What? You were the freaking thing that scared the snake... No way!" You were still bewildered and puzzled. Looking owlishly at the cat.

How can this small cute thing be that terrifying..?

The cat walked towards you and you took notice of things you hadn't because of the dust cloud.

The cat's eyes were of different colours; heterochromia. One eye's blue while the other is light green. It had fine white fur that shone elegantly. While its twin tails danced in the air.

Twin tail...?

At that moment you knew you were dealing with another magical creature. You sighed. You had enough of magical creatures for the rest of your life.

Meow

You jumped when the cat looked at you intensely.

You tilted your head confused.

The cat continued looking at you with intense heterochromia eyes.

You suddenly felt pressured. You nervously laughed. "What? Do you want an introduction or something?"

His eyes lit up. You instinctively knew it was a male.

"Oh," You froze but cleared your throat. "Well. I'm..uh... (Y/N). Nice to meet you. And uh.. thanks for saving my life. I almost thought I'd become a snack to the snake," You let out a nervous and awkward laugh. Feeling your cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

Great, I just made a fool of myself in front of a cat!

He meowed its tail dancing in the air more excitedly.

You took it as a greeting from the cat.

"Well, now little guy what's your name?" The next moment you facepalmed. "Never mind"

"Ethereal."

"Huh?" You rubbed your forehead as a sharp pain shot through it. Were you hallucinating?

Meow!

You hissed as your head throbbed again, this time more painful than before.

Letting out a shaky breath, you stared at the cat who looked at you sharply. "Was it you? ...That's your name?"

He nodded his head.

You stared and stared before breaking out in a large grin. You stretched your hand and took his paw in a handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Ethereal!"

At least something good happened from this awful experience. You had made friends with a cat. A magical cat!

Zap!

"Ow,"

You instantly let go of his paw to look at your stinging palm. It felt like you were zapped with electricity. You were shocked to find a pattern being formed on your palm in white pulsing light.

It spelt 'familiar' in intricate, cursive letters.

It pulsed for a moment before fading away. You continued to gaze at your palm shocked and confused.

"What was that?" You peered at the cat purring and rubbing his head on our thigh. "Was it him? Familiar? Are you my familiar now?"

You swore you were going to pass out from the whole ordeal. You were physically and mentally exhausted. You couldn't enough think straight.

Growl

And you were hungry!

You rubbed your stomach to relieve some hunger. How the heck do you get out of this death trap?

You looked at the cat -- Ethereal. "Do you know a way out?" He nodded his head. Hope filled you. "Can you show me the way out?"

He didn't nod instead a bright light engulfed both of you and the next thing you know you find yourself under a tree that was directly in front of the stream.

"What--?!" You squeaked out in surprise. Gawking at your surrounding. You looked at the purring cat in your lap.

"It's your doing, isn't it?" The cat just purred, rubbing its head against your chest.

"You're awesome!" You hugged him closer feeling elated and happy.

"We'll be besties, I'm sure of it!"

Looking at the setting sun though sent a jolt of panic through you. "Mom! It's time for her return!"

"And Iseka she's gonna kill me!"

You hurriedly stood up with the cat dangling from your arm. Think, think. I have to find a reason --a solid reason-- for my disappearance.

Your mind raced with ideas and excuses you could feed to your Mom and Fat lady!

You perked up at the sight of flowers. That's it! The excuse! In that way, I could convince Mom to let Ether stay with me too!

It'd be two birds with one stone!!

You put Ether over your shoulder as you pluck out flowers in haste. Once collected sufficient, you hurriedly make your way home. Hoping your plan would pacify both of them.

You glanced behind you. You swore you felt a presence coldly glaring at you.

"Hmm?"

You tilted your head, eyes darting around the trees. "Was I mistaken?"

You jumped when Ether let out a low growl. He was glaring at one specific spot hidden among the treelines.

"Huh? Did you feel it too?" You said looking at him. Ether ignored you and continued to glare at something before shifting his gaze to you.

You were taken aback at the intensity of his stare. It was like he was scrutinizing you for something. No, more like he found you strange.

"Eh? Why are you mad at me all of a sudden?" You complaint. Ether let out a snort, before letting out a lazy sound. Whatever had soured his mood must have disappeared.

"Ah! I don't have time for this! Mom will be home!"

And you ran, not noticing how the forest distorted for a second.