The light shimmered, far away, at a distance her fingers couldn't reach, no matter how much she stretched.

Strands of her hair strayed in front of her. From habit, she pushed them away. But now, bubbles appeared to obscure her view. They popped as she pushed them away, and reappeared as she continued to flail her arms, trying to reach that light.

Her vision was darkening. She had hardly any breath left in her lungs. She didn't want to give up struggling, but her child strength strained against the weight of her garments.

The light was gone now, but it didn't matter. She could no longer see anything.

Something caught her waist. She tried to pull away, but she was too weak.

Yes, she would die, because she was too weak.

'Aura-'

'What did you call me again?'

The owner of the dark eyes, stared at her, bemused. He was kneeling in front of her, and his hand, which he had offered to her, hung forlornly in the air.

'I - I've found you?'

Erys stood up and dusted the soil from her clothes. 'No, you called me.'

'I didn't,' he protested, his voice wavering as if he was unsure of his own reply.

Erys ignored him, and walked to the nearest wall. She slid her hand over it and looked up. It would be a very long, long, long way up. And impossible too. The wall was too smooth for her to gain any foothold. 'So, did you fall into the pit too?’ Erys turned to him.

He was lanky, and slim-built, and definitely not the type to survive that fall. Erys observed that his clothes were clean.

'What did you say your name was?' she asked, narrowing her eyes. He did not look much older than her. Strange that her wind did not save her, strange that this boy was here, and well, Erys readied herself to expect more strange things.

'I didn't say,' he stood up and smiled slightly at her. 'I'm hurt! I know it's been a while, but how could you forget me? I knew it was you straightaway!'

Erys placed her hand casually on her dagger. 'Right - And now you're going to say that you know the way out.'

'Well, yes! In fact I do!' he replied excitedly. 'There!' He jabbed a finger towards a narrow hole at the other end of the pit. 'We can get out from there. That's how I got in.'

Erys strode to it and cautiously poked her head in. The air felt cooler instantly. Her guard still up, Erys stepped in and looked around. A tunnel opened up before her, and continued into the darkness.

'Wait up!'

Erys ignored him and continued on, blinded by the lack of light. The path was slightly slippery, but at least, it seemed to be inclining.

'You'll get lost! Hey!' He was practically shouting in her ear.

'I'm right in front of you,' Erys replied, irritated.

'Oh,' he sounded embarrassed.

'You don't have any lighter, do you? Oh wait, what am I talking about? You can't possibly have-I mean, you don't even know what that means, do you?'

'You mean, as in light?' the boy asked. 'As in a torch?'

'Yes. Torch.'

'Well...' Light flickered, casting her shadow onto the walls on either side of her.

Erys turned sharply to look at him. He was glowing. Now, why aren't I surprised? She turned back to the tunnel, and continued walking, pausing at intervals to study the lichen-covered walls.

The tunnel soon forked into two equally dark passages. Erys hesitated little as she entered one of them.

'Wait!' the boy cried out, alarmed. 'You musn't go in that direction!'

Erys ignored him and continued.

The air seemed to change in that single step forward. It felt hot and heavy, laced with the pungent smell of rotten eggs. Erys found herself gasping for breath. She staggered sideways and clutched at the walls.

'Aura!' The boy ran forward and pulled his arm around her waist, and dragged her out of the tunnel, where her breathing eventually evened out.

'That name…That's the name you called me just now.' Erys stared at the boy. 'Au-ra.'

'You've really forgotten everything.' He was looking at her, slightly frowning. Erys was not a great reader of human (or not) expression, but as she stared into his dark eyes, she saw an overwhelming sadness within their depths.

And, suddenly, Erys came to be very aware that he still had his arm around her waist, and that she was still leaning against him. Feeling self-conscious, Erys pulled his hand away from her waist and attempted to stand apart. But some part of her body remained inertia-challenged and Erys fell backwards. The boy leaned forward and quickly caught her wrist.

'I'll wait until you remember. Until then, just call me whatever you want, Aura.’