The air in the cave was thick with dust, the scent of damp earth clinging to every breath. The dim glow of {{user}}’s headlamp flickered against the rough walls, casting shadows that danced like ghosts from a forgotten time. Their fingers brushed against the stone, tracing the ancient formations with a practiced touch. Fossils—at least, that was the rumor. And if there was any truth to it, they were determined to find out.

A few feet behind them, Gaz walked with deliberate steps, his boots crunching against loose gravel. He wasn’t here for the fossils. Security detail, he called it, but {{user}} had teased him that he just wanted an excuse to poke around where he didn’t belong. He’d smirked at that, neither confirming nor denying.

Just as {{user}} leaned down to examine a peculiar ridge in the rock, a deep, resonant crack echoed through the cavern. Their head snapped up—just in time to see a massive boulder break free from the ceiling.

Too fast to react.

But Gaz was faster.

A force slammed into {{user}}’s side, strong arms locking around their waist as they were yanked backward. Their world flipped, the ground vanishing beneath them as Gaz’s momentum carried them both away from the danger. A deafening crash followed, the impact sending up a cloud of dust and stone shards where they had stood mere seconds before.

“…You good?” His voice was low, close, warm against the side of their face.