Water slipped cold and quiet around Feldpsar's shoulders as he stepped down into its shadowy embrace. The stone beneath his toes was somehow simultaneously slick and gritty, covered with layers of unidentified algae. It took a good bit of concentration to avoid slipping while getting in.

The gentle click of claws on stone told him that Onyx was following close on his tail. She was slightly less experienced with diving, so Feldspar made sure to keep periodic tabs on her as they entered the drink. Just in case.

The water was as murky beneath the surface as it had looked above it, Feldspar thankful they had decided to bring a pair of goggles each. The last thing they needed so far from home was an eye infection.

The two split up to cover more ground. Or, in this case, water. Onyx swam her way towards the back of the chamber while Feldspar elected to peel off towards the left.

On the first pass, nothing seemed terribly exciting. Dirt, rocks, some wooden debris from the forest above. Occasionally he caught glimpses of old tubes and dead wires snaking across the flooded floor. But aside from that, nothing appeared to be worth carrying back.

It was just then that strange caught his eye. Near the bottom of the flooded room sat a mesh of iron bars forced together into a jagged black grate. He tried to peer inside, only to see nothing but an ominous black abyss looming before him.

Feldspar waved a paw to snatch Onyx's attention. In a few heartbeats the black furred tsabhua swam up alongside him, squinting at what he had found.

She wrapped her paws around two of the bars, tugging with all of her might. Only for the stubborn grate to refuse to budge. Not even an inch.

Feldspar tapped her shoulder, waving the younger diver away from the grate. No use potentially hurting yourself over something that won't budge.

Feldspar turned to check out the other side of the chamber instead. A dark shape loomed out of the murk to greet him and Feldspar expected to be met with another impassable gate. Well, not this time. The dark mouth was there, looming as if waiting to swallow them whole, but the metal teeth of its bars had been ripped away.

Feldspar exchanged a glance with Onyx. The younger tsab gestured towards the gaping hole and gave an assured nod. Whatever thing or creature was down there, she seemed certain that the two of them could take it on.

Only one way to find out.

He and Onyx both surfaced for one deep breath before swimming one after the other through the hole.

At first it was all that Feldspar had expected; dark, empty walls and a narrow tunnel leading to seemingly nowhere. But just as they were about to turn back to avoid drowning, a light came from in front. And with every stroke it grew brighter.

Before he could protest Onyx surged out ahead and Feldspar had to put in an extra bit of speed to catch up. If she was going to get herself drowned someone had to drag her back out.

Then he noticed something strange; bolts of light dancing across the stone beneath their paws. A quick glance up revealed the surface shimmering tantalizingly close overhead.

Feldspar and Onyx clawed their way up, surfacing with twin gasps. A ledge jutted out of the water and the two took the chance to clamber out. And maybe try to dry off too.

Around them lay the remains of an empty room. A single, yet bright, emergency fluorescent light lit the space around them. The far end had caved in, water swallowed up by jagged chunks of stone and earth. Feldspar just hoped that no one had been standing there when the rocks had come down.

Onyx approached the edge to peer down into the water in case any valuables were left behind. But Feldspar already knew she wouldn't find any. If anything of value had been here, it had long since been looted away.

He gave his companion's shoulder a gentle nudge. "Come, we won't find anything in here. Besides, it's probably high time we head back."