[At the far end of The Living Forest is another series of catacombs where the lower level demons reside within the Demonic Lairs.]
Thomas and his faithful companion, Tess, had left the Living Forest behind hours ago and are now navigating the maze-like passages that make up the catacombs that cover most of the Underworld. It has been less than an hour since he had been struck by the ingenious idea to use his magic to track down Xerxes, conjuring a ball of green light that bobs only a few feet ahead.
"Pretty soon this will all be over and we can set you right." Thomas looks down at the feline in his arms. During their journey, he had switched between carrying her and allowing her to walk beside him though never for too long out of fear that something may happen. Besides the Charzin demons and the trees of the forest, their journey has been fairly uneventful.
"Though I gotta say, Tess - or Roxie. You know, it's going to be difficult to adjust to that once your human again." The apportating witch shakes his head at this fact. It would be weird enough to have a full grown woman standing before him that he has carried, cared for... changed in front of. The last though is an odd one and he isn't quite sure how he feels about that.
"Anyways, as I was saying. I just love how things pan out." He directs his attention to the ball of light as he rants. Not for the first time during this trip, mind you. "Everyone else gets to deal with demons and such back home. Above ground. But no, not Tommy boy. He gets to visit the Underworld. Sounds like a shit end of the stick if you ask me... oh!"
[The ball of light stops suddenly then quickly traces the area around a cavern, marking the spot for those it guides with a slight green flare. Then, its task completed, it fades into nothingness.]
"Well, looks like we're here. You ready?" Thomas looks down at the feline in his arms, fully expecting her to reply. In fact, he takes the look she gives him as a negative and nods his head in agreement. Raising his eyes to face the cavern that separates him and his destiny, Thomas can't help but feel very alone all of a sudden. "Me neither."
The young witch, with a flair for the comedic, stalls in his approach. This sort of thing takes commitment. It takes balls. (So grow a pair already!) Responding to his own pep talk, Thomas nods, gearing himself up for the coming battle and begins his approach. "Right. I can do this." Breath. "I can do this."
Continuing to carry Tess, Thomas speeds up slightly, hoping to out run his nerves as he enters Xerxes' Lair.