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Five extreme cavern-divers remained.
There was Inziladun, who had mastered the art of falling feet-first, avoiding hazards expertly.
There was Sally, who prefered a more laid-back approach (literally), staring up at where she'd fallen from, trusting to luck more than anything else to keep her from hitting anything on the way down.
There was Paranoia, new to the mines of Moria, but not so new to the predicament in which they'd found themselves, falling belly-first into the bowels of Moria.
There was Lottie, the perky one, whose voice echoed back from the walls of the deep cavern as they plummeted in song, keeping their spirits up as they fell into the unknown.
Finally, there was Mira, the only one of them who'd thought to bring any weapons with her into the forsaken hole. A gleaming sword glittered in her hand (or would have, if it hadn't been quite dark down there) as she eyed the other four.
Which two would she take with her? Sally and Paranoia? Paranoia and Inziladun? Sally and Lottie? Lottie and Paranoia? Sally and Paranoia?
...
Inziladun and Lottie?
Yes, Mira mused, manuevering herself for the kill. Those two seemed like the most likely candidates. Precise Inziladun, always ready with just the right word or comment for the situation... like he was thinking overly hard on what would make him seem normal. Lottie, with her utter niceness, playing so buddy-buddy with Sally and herself, with her "just-us-girls" attitude.
It had to be one of them, right?
Inziladun was half asleep when she came close to him. Perfect. Mira swung her sword and Inziladun's head left his shoulders quite silently.... nothing. Sally and Paranoia looked on, eyes wide with hope and fear, as she pushed off the falling body of Inziladun and leapt over to Lottie.
Lottie took one look at the sword, then deep into Mira's eyes. She saw the iron-hard determination there, and her eyes widened and filled with tears.
Mira swung her sword.
Lottie's head separated from her shoulders and fell into the abyss, faster than her body, hair streaming in the wind from her passage.
....
....
....
....
....
A mournful howl filled the cavern from somewhere below them...
....
INNOCENTS WIN
Paranoia, Sally remain alive, and along with the rest of the innocents take first place.
Boro, Blind, Autume, Lottie take second place.
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Shasta– ... However, if he's innocent his famous clairvoyant powers must be taking the week off. Meanwhile, the Night-kills have been awfully effective– almost like we're dealing with a psychic wolf... - Nerwen, WW LXXV
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