Quickly, he turned another corner, trying to throw off those that followed him. He had been hoping he would be able to just hide in the darkness, but the cavern seemed to be illuminated by a strange, dim light. Another corner, and another... the passages twisted and turned like a parasitic vine, but still, he could not throw off his pursuers.

Takarn came to a halt in a large chamber. Dead end. Panic stricken, he whirled around. Already he could hear the footsteps that were his doom. Frantically, he tried to scale the walls, futile as it was. He knew in his heart there was no escape, and it sickened him to the core. Rocks crumbled beneath his paws, and he was flung to the ground, followed by bits of rubble that rained down, cutting and bruising him.

Dazed, he lay there, on his back, looking up at the dome of the cavern. It is the end for me, he thought, staring into the darkness he would soon see forever. The footsteps grew ever nearer.

His eyes wandered to the rock face that had given way, and he noticed a strange glint was coming from one of the cracks-- the glint of steel.

A strange glint was coming from one of the cracks...

Slowly, he stood up, never taking his eyes off the shining metal. He walked, and climbed, as if caught in a trance to where the object was half protruding from the rock. Climbing up along side it, he gripped the hilt. Briefly, he wondered why, and how, the strange sword had come to be infused in the stone... very briefly. His mind told him to pull the sword out of it's stony grave, and wield it's power once more. Once more?--or at least, he thought it was is own mind. The rock crumbled away as Takarn drew out the sword easily. He examined the gleaming blade, untouched by time or wear. He stared at his own reflection in the mirror-like steel. Something was wrong. He looked the same, but...

The reflection's face changed from confusion, to a frightening grin. Hmm... a Lupe. It will suffice, I suppose...