So, there I am again ^^
So here comes Chapter 6 and FINALLY it gets exciting xD
Hm ... well, I have the feeling that it's time to explain Michael's motives, but unfortunately you still have to be a little patient xD
But still to come! ... sooner or later xD
So, I hope you enjoy reading ^ __ ^

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I followed Michael through the dark cave.
Except for our steps and our breathing, it was completely still, just like the day before.
I was slowly wondering how long we would go through this cave, I was already tired of the constant darkness, outside at least the stars would give us some light if we were to travel at night as before.
I wondered whether Michael had really only left so late in the evening because of the snow, or whether it was because, as I suspected, he was wanted and therefore couldn't allow himself to travel during the day.
Maybe he was afraid that someone would recognize him?

I was torn from my thoughts when the ground suddenly seemed to shake a little and I heard that dull rumble again.
Michael also looked worried, he looked up at the ceiling, which was quite high here, how high I couldn't say, because you couldn't see it because of the weak light.
Then everything happened very quickly. There was a loud crash, Nox tore himself free and galloped away, frightened. Michael was with me in one jump and pressed me against the wall of the cave, protecting me with his body from the now pelting boulders. I looked over his shoulder, startled, more and more boulders detached themselves from the walls and fell down.
It seemed to me as if we were standing there for hours, but for sure it was only a few minutes.

When finally no more stones fell down and it was quiet again, Michael stayed that way.
I looked into his bright green eyes, my heart was beating up to my neck, whether it was because of the shock or just because Michael was so close to me, I can't say.Michael stayed that way for a moment, seeming to want to make sure it was really over, until he finally took a step back and released me.
I thanked him a little shakily and looked around in the weak light of the torch that Michael was still holding in his hand.
"Damn it." I heard him say after a moment and followed his gaze.
The way we actually wanted to go was pretty buried. We went a little closer there, but the path seemed to be completely buried, not the smallest gap could be seen there.
Suddenly Michael bent down and pulled my bag from under a few stones. Either Nox had lost her or he was down there now.
I felt sick at the thought of it.
Michael looked at the gigantic pile of stones for a moment, then he shouldered my bag.
"We have to go back whether we like it or not. Let's hope that it wasn't spilled even more," he said. I nodded and slowly followed him as he turned and walked with me in the direction we came from. He didn't turn around again.
Now the path looked completely different, there were boulders everywhere and in some places something had broken out of the rock walls.
We walked side by side in silence, it was strange not to hear Nox's breath and his footsteps next to ours.
I had grown really fond of him by now and just didn't want to admit that I had just seen him the last time.
Even if he was just a horse, I mourned him. But I pulled myself together, after all, he had been Michael's horse and not mine. I looked at Michael.
He looked thoughtful as always, but I also thought I could see a little sadness in his eyes. We went on in silence, how long I can't say, but I think it was quite a long time.
Finally Michael stopped and put the backpack down. There were no more stones lying around here, apparently it had only been shaking back there.Michael lit another torch from my pocket and put it in the holder on the wall. Then he silently took some blankets out of his pocket and handed them to me. Almost unfriendly, he wished me good night and sat down, leaning his back against the rock wall, then closed his eyes. I looked at him for a while longer that he hadn't been overly friendly, I didn't blame him.
I sighed softly and finally closed my eyes to sleep, and it really didn't take me very long to fall into a restless sleep.
All night long I dreamed weird stuff of collapsing caves and Nox as he ran for his life and was finally always buried by the falling stones.

*****

When I woke up the next morning, I felt exhausted.
That night had been really awful. Maybe I shouldn't have slept at all.
Michael still seemed to be asleep, he was still sitting on the rock wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his head bowed.
I sat up quietly, then went to my bag and took out another torch, which I lit too, since the other two had almost burned down.
I sighed softly and looked around, I almost expected that I would see Nox standing somewhere, but of course that was not the case.
I got some food out of my bag and had breakfast.

Shortly afterwards Michael opened his eyes.
"Tomorrow." He only said briefly.
"Tomorrow." If I said it was emphatically friendly, then I continued eating.
"Don't you want to eat anything?" I asked after Michael had just watched me eat for a while, but made no move to eat either.
"No. Who knows how long we'll be stuck here. We should divide our supplies well, and I'm used to getting by with little food. Just eat." He said, he sounded a little friendlier again.
I nodded. "OK."I said and ate something, then I packed the leftovers again.
I hadn't eaten very much, I didn't want to fill my stomach if Michael didn't eat anything. We sat in silence for a moment, then Michael finally got up.
"Come on, let's move on." He said, he had fallen back into his cool tone.
I sighed and got up.
Michael pressed one of the torches into my hand, he took the other one and my bag. We went off and the whole time we just kept silent.
The silence couldn't be borne as well as usual, Michael made a pretty cool impression the whole time, so I didn't dare speak to him.
It seemed to me as if we were walking in silence through the darkness for ages, when I finally got tired and Michael stopped and put the bag down, I had the feeling we had been walking through for days.
Sure, we had actually walked as long as usual, but this day just seemed so endless.
I had lost my sense of time for a long time anyway, I didn't even know whether it was day or night.
I was really happy when we were out of this cave again.
Michael sat down on the cave wall and I lay down on the floor a bit away from him to sleep.
If I slept the time would at least go by faster.
And hopefully Michael would be in a better mood the next day. I understood that he wasn't exactly happy that Nox was dead, but I still hoped his mood would improve.
For the second night in a row, I fell asleep thinking of Nox.

*****

When I opened my eyes the next morning I felt a lot better than the day before.
Contrary to my expectations, I slept well and when Michael, who was already awake, wished me a good morning, he really sounded normal again, if not friendly.I also wished him a good morning, after breakfast we went on again.
I can't say exactly how long we went, as my sense of time left a lot to be desired, as I said, but at some point we came to a junction.
Michael turned left without hesitation and I followed him. Shortly afterwards the air grew fresher and we seemed to be getting closer to the exit.
Inwardly I was already cheering, the narrowness of the cave was not for me, even in the mountains outside the cave I had the whole time the feeling that the mountains were sliding closer and closer together and were about to crush me.
Michael noticed my euphoria, and when I looked at him even a small smile crossed his face.
I smiled too, glad that he was apparently in a better mood again.
We went on, but it seemed to be a long stretch before we reached the exit.
When we turned a corner after a while, I was pleased to see that it was light at the end of the hall. I wanted to go a little faster, but then I noticed, confused, that Michael stopped.
"Why don't we go any further?" I asked, blinking at him in confusion.
"Because we have to take a break anyway and we are protected in here in case there should be a storm." He said and sat down on the rock floor. "The area here is known for the changeable weather," he added.
I sighed and, albeit reluctantly, sat down next to him on the hard floor.
He was right, but I was looking forward to going outside again.
Now that I was sitting, however, I felt myself getting tired very quickly, so I lay down and shortly afterwards I was already asleep.

*****

I woke up when Michael lightly touched my shoulder.
He had his hood back on. I looked up at him questioningly."What's happening?" I wanted to know.
"Nothing. I just think you've slept enough." He said and smiled briefly.
I sat up and looked at the exit of the cave. In fact, it seemed to be getting dark.
Only now did I notice that Michael had covered me. "Oh thank you!" I said, and thanked me again when he gave me my breakfast.
Again he didn't eat anything.
Maybe he had already eaten when I slept.
When I had finished I stretched briefly before getting up and packing the blankets.
Michael got up too, he took the bag from me as he had the day before, shouldered it and started walking.
I followed him, my mood was great.
Michael, who noticed it, smiled slightly, but said nothing.
He really seemed to be the silent type, but I had noticed that over the last few days.

When we finally reached the exit of the cave, the sun was about to set.
Suddenly Michael stopped.
I stopped next to him and was about to ask what was going on when two men emerged from the bushes with swords in their hands.
I glanced at Michael, who kept his eyes on the men.
He took a step forward and stood protectively in front