It's Freakin Bats

Night had fallen a lot faster than any of them anticipated. The three paras had been journeying out from one Urban area to the next city hoping to escape the troubles of the past... yet a new problem was fresh on the horizon. The air now nipped cold and the sky shifted from warm pinks and yellows to dark and inky blues. The clouds that had once brought them relief from the scorching sun soon became their enemies as it enveloped every star and left them but a foot or so ahead in their limited vision to see. 

"Reuger.. what are we going to do?" A very timid Doe asked, pressing close to him now. Her little outburst warranting an annoyed 'whinny' from the older Arizona. 

"So quick to worry you are. Always panicking as soon as trouble comes." She huffed indignantly, "you should have picked a better mate." Her ire now tossed at Reuger.

Reuger said nothing, though the tension between them in the dark was palpable, leaving Arizona to end her little rant for the evening. 

"We keep moving." Reuger finally spoke. And so they did. 

Before long a towering mountain range stood before them, with a strange cavern- human made by the looks of the wooden beams and railroad tracks upon the ground. Approaching cautiously, Reuger accessed the first ten feet or so of the entry, and having found no smell of Predators within, determined this was going to be shelter for tonight. 

Arizona walked in without so much as a worry, though Doe was still tentively dancing at the door, trying to will herself inside despite everything within her telling her not to. "Doe please, it's dangerous to stay outside any longer. You may attract Predators at this rate." He stated firmly, though his voice was soft enough for the likes of his skittish mate. 

Doe nodded in acknowledgement, though it took her a few moments more before taking the plunge into the mine shaft with the other two. To her surprise, it was even colder in here than it had been just outside. Shakes soon took over- though she quickly cuddled up to Reuger to share warmth as they stood firm a few feet from the caverns entrance. 

"Not the best accommodations we've had while traveling. But, we will just have to weather it until dawn breaks." Reuger spoke again, his hot air turning to fog in the freezing air. "You both act like this is anything bad. So used to the high life in the city with your pick of shelters. Out here life is rough." Arizona chimed in again, shaking her head at the two who were woefully unprepared for a trip like this. 

"We weren't all built like you Az-" Reuger rebutted quickly, "but that's why we keep you around." He smirked, warranting a snicker from Doe and an equally annoyed eye roll from Arizona. 

"I wonder how deep it goes-" Arizona mused to herself, looking deep into the depths of the mine, though she was unable to make anything out. Yet, they would be standing around for a while, maybe she'd just explore a moment. 

A few more yards into the mine and an old cart, now turned over and abandoned lay. Some rocks of some kind spilled out over the tracks. A small switch with a button lay closeby as well- connected by a long chord that ran along the walls and ceiling. 

"Don't wander off too far." Reuger called out, though Arizona didn't care much what he said, she kept exploring as she pleased- that was until the lights came on. 

Having accidentally stepped on the button, the mine suddenly burst to life, illuminating the lonely dug out caverns in an ominous orangey-red glow. Even brave Arizona found herself bucking at the sudden brightness, though her fear quickly faded. 

The one who really got hit most was of course Doe, who's eyes were now pressed completely shut - as if out of fear that a predator awaited her further in- even in the light. Reuger was ready to reassure her, nudging her slightly with his hip and nose, though he quickly stopped as he spotted a pair of eyes staring back at him. 

It was a hard thing to spot with how dark it was, even now with the sporadic lights illuminating the mine. A little creature hung upside down,it's dark beady eyes now open and looking right at them. It was small though, nothing more than a sparrow... yet, something about it and this place felt off. 

"Hey Arizona, I think you'd better come back." Reuger spoke, his voice calm though clearly concerned. However, when she didn't respond, he began to shout a little louder. "Come back Az-" 

Still no response. 

"Arizona!" Reuger finally yelled... 'oh now I've done it.' He thought, as the one little creature hanging from the ceiling suddenly burst into action- screeching and flapping a pair of wings they hadn't been able to see until now. 

And if that wasn't bad enough, there was more of these things. Their eerie screams echoing down the shaft as they were accompanied with the violent flapping of hundreds- if not thousands of wings. The sound caused Doe to violently shake now, Reuger trying his best to console her, but it was too late for that now. 

Like a dark cloud filled with a million eyes, the swarm of bats erupted from the depths of the mines, forcing Arizona, Reuger and Doe to run for the exit. But, there was no escape from the hoard. The loud flapping of their wings and screeching drowned out their own screams and terror. Many of them landing on top of the trio as they fled into the open night air. 

Doe was the first out, running like her life depended on it as she felt scratches and bites along her body and back. Tears streaking down her face as she went. 

"Doe! DOE! It's okay, you can be still now!" Reuger called after her, trying his best to keep up with her as she ran. 

"I can't! I - I can't! I'm, we're going to die!" She bellowed, running still at a breakneck stride. 

"Stop and look! They're going!" Reuger insisted. Doe put on the breaks quick, her chest heaving as her gaze finally hit the sky. The stars could be seen now, as was the swarm that had enveloped them within the mineshaft. 

If it hadn't been such a terrifying affair, it could almost be described as beautiful. Doe quickly embraced Reuger once more, still shaken and cold, but alive. Arizona soon caught up with the two, a dumb grin upon her face. "Should've stayed in the city." She remarked with a little chuckle. 

"Oh no Arizona! There's one on you!" Reuger shouted, and to his surprise it was now her who was panicking. She bucked and snorted, attempting to tree herself from the flying demons of the night - only to come to a quick halt, realizing Reuger and Doe had the last laugh. 

"Ha ha, so funny." Arizona said with a huff, mumbling under her breath 'freakin bats' as she made her way back toward the mine. 

"We aren't seriously heading back in there are we?" Doe now asked, poking her head round to watch Arizona walk off. 

"The likes of Arizona scared them off, we should be safe this time around." Reuger responded simply, ushering her to walk back with him. 

"What even were those? I've never seen one." Doe practically whimpered as she faced having to go back in again. 

"I think Arizona said they were freakin bats..." 

"Well.. they freakin suck." Doe muttered. 

"Indeed they do." He chuckled to himself.