TLoS LM 40: Cave of Horrors.

*   *   *
We continue our story with Olivia and Eve. Who fell alseep in the living room, watching various Mankind movies on surprisingly modern Tv (Which Cystal had bought for her parents for their birthday, it was newer than any of the tvs in Cystal's own home!)...

"Eve, Ollie. Girls, you have to get up now..." Came the gentle voice of Glayseeya, who nudge them with her snout.
"Uhh... What? Oh..." Eve was the firt to wake up (it was easier for her, as she was being slept on by Olivia). "Hey! Ollie! Get off me!"
With her hind paws, Eve pushed the blue dragoness over her side, causing her to slip off the sofa and onto the floor.
"Hey!" Olivia spat. "I was having a really nice dream... about... something..." she then groaned. "Oh... I think I ate too much last night..."
"Yeah, I think you did too." Eve smirked. "How much was it? A pizza, two tubs of ice cream, a box of doughnuts and a tuna and sweetcorn bagel. Yep, you ate too much." Eve then realised that Olivia's grandparents were staring at her. "Oh! I'm really sorry Mrs Snowflurry. I will clean up the mess we made. I promise."
"Hmm, ok. Just make sure you do. I don't mind you making yourself comfortable here, but it would be nice if the house still looked like a house and not the inside of a skip when your done."
"Sorry Grandma." Olivia apologised, then she saw a clock. "Wait, 6:30? Why are you up this early?"
"Because dear, it's the day of Eve's next trial. And she needs to go to the Cave of Horrors... Personally, I wouldn't go within a mile of that place. But I guess that's why they called it a trial of courage..."

So, it took a while (As the two dragonesses had single handedly raided most of the kitchen fridge), but Eve and Olivia kept to their word, and cleaned up the mess they made. Then, the red dragoness had to ready herself.
"I need to get myself cleaned up." she told Olivia. "Where's the bathroom?"
"Oh, just in there." She pointed to a door. "There are en suites in most of the bedrooms, so I don't think you'll need to rush."
"Ok, but I'll try and be as quick as I can..."

Two hours (and a long soak in a hot bath), Eve dried herself off, and joined the rest of the Snowflurrys (with the exception of Olivia, who wasn't feeling too well after her gorge-fest the night before).
"I really must thank you for putting up with me." Eve thanked the dragon elders. "And I am sorry about the mess I made."
"No, it isn't a bother. Really... I just wish you and Ollie wouldn't waste your money on take-aways." Glayseeya replied cheerily.
"Indeed..." Tundra nodded. "And, I would've thought your father would've taught you how to cook, Eve. I mean, he's supposed to be able to cook, isn't he?"
"Yeah..." Eve spoke. "He went to a catering school somewhere, he doesn't talk about it much though."
"Yeah. Anyway, I wanna know about this trial I'm supposed to be watching you do." Olivia added.
"Anything could happen. but, seeing as it's a trial of courage. I expect that I'm going to have to be brave. Whatever comes my way."
"Well, you have our backing." The elder dragoness spoke.

*   *   *
Later, the young girls thanked Olivia's grandparents, and set off for The Cave of Horrors. When they arrived, they saw Ddraig, Spyro and Cynder, Cystal, Nexus and Charlemange and the guardians waiting for them.

Nexus was surprisingly quiet today, no rude remarks or boasting passed his lips. Instead, he looked... really sad; sad, weak and small. The effects of the previous trial had taken their toll on him, it was clear to see.
"Hey girls." Ddraig greeted them as the two dragonesses arrived. "So, how was the sleepover?"
"Good." Eve nodded, smiling. "Olivia ate too much though."
"Don't look at me, it's not a pretty picture..." the ice dragon groaned. "I think that tuna was off..."
"You'll get over it." Eve muttered.
"Charming..." came Olivia's reply.

The group was assembled outside a sinister looking cave. Like the first outdoor trial, the guardians had brought tents and various foodstuffs, as it would be a long one again. They sat at the mouth of the cave, waiting for the guardians to speek...