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Finally able to leave the blinding ice behind them, eyes adjusting to their new surroundings, they came to a nervous halt. Gaping at what was laid out before them; the low stone ceiling caused even Hiccup to stoop. Ska'i was colder than after they emerged from the vertical river, with the only shining light coming from behind them, and an arched doorway at the far end.
"Of course, the way out has to be across the cavern," Snotlout heaved a sigh.
"Uh, guys?" Fishlegs sounded shakey. "You might want to come and look at this."
With caution, they joined him on the precipice edge. A sea of stalagmites lay sprawled out before them, tightly packed together. And there was no clear path through them at all.
"Didn't Fishlegs say they needed the upside-down stagla-thingys to even form these?"
"These are rocks, not stalagmites," Fishlegs answered Tuff. "I doubt these were even put here naturally, but I can suspect that they were made naturally, by some over-exposed water-ring process. If you look closer, the rings around them are completely straight. But they're not all evenly spaced. I'm guessing this was done somewhere that holds a lot of water, with a type of draining system to refill. This was man-made, controlled."
"Okay, how these rocks got their rings, is all fascinating!" Snotlout hollered. "But unless we don't find a way over, we will be trapped. Forever!"
He was right. Ska'i couldn't see a way over. Maybe a riddle would help.
"Uh, what if we just look for a riddle?" Tuff suggested.
Fishlegs squinted toward the far side of the cavern, Hiccup scanned one wall, while Astrid ran her hands along the opposite for a trigger. Disorientation messed with Ska'i so much, she couldn't see anything across the pointy rock abyss. Choosing to skim the tip of her boot against the giant slab of stone beneath them, she had faint hope there'd be an easier way to get past all those stalagmites, such as another trapdoor, leading to an underground tunnel.
"Oh hey, Ruff! Dangle me!" Tuff exclaimed with eagerness.
"Okay!" She agreed, without asking why.
Before Ska'i could interfere - or request something more sturdy - Fishlegs announced, "Hey guys! I found it." This one was chipped into the ice, above the doorway. He read aloud:
A ruthless leader, they say is full of pride
Rule by fear, or you'll have to climb
This kind of thing should come with a price
Instead, all you have to do is rise
"We can't swing across, like last time," Ruffnut brought up.
"No, the same thing rarely happens," Ska'i mumbled.
"We'll have to do as the riddle reads," Hiccup finalized. "Climb."
" 'Climb?' Climb how?" Snotlout was skeptical.
Shaking his head, he explained, "As careful as we can, moving around those rocks. Tuffnut had the right idea, in asking Ruffnut to dangle him over the edge."
"It'd be a lot safer if we were able to tie the rope to something," Astrid mused.
"Uh, there are rocks at this base," Tuff pointed out. "We could climb those to the bottom."
Exchanged shrugs, were followed by exchanged glances. The procession went: Tuff, Ska'i, Ruffnut, Snotlout, Hiccup, Astrid, then Fishlegs. When they reached the floor, it reversed, and they found themselves on the cavern floor rolled and thrusted in high waves, as though a stormy sea had been frozen motionless. Fishlegs had to lead them around bigger rocks, seeming to take them more out of the way. The water rings that were left behind, were so rough and sharp, that when slightly brushed up against, they would leave deep marks on the skin. The repetitiveness of squeezing between them would cause an instant wound. Blood was soon unintentionally smeared as they passed, like a warped type of trail they were leaving behind.
Snotlout constantly cursed under his breath; the low morale energy physically seeping into the air. Her head down, movements automatic, it was no surprise bumping into Tuff.
"We're here," Ska'i heard Fishlegs murmur.
Necks cracked, using the dim light to squint at the juvenile attempt at the immense, steep staircase. Rather, it was more like lopsided juts coming out of the wall.
"Oh, you're kidding," Ruffnut guffawed, her adventurous nature even seemed drained.
"Look. Whoever made this, whoever put those rocks here, must have known people were to be expected to use these," Hiccup tried reasoning.
"And live?!" Snotlout screeched.
"Let me go first," Astrid nudged forward, careful to keep from adding to their scratches.
"Take the rope," Hiccup instructed, in good faith that she'd make it up there.
No one protested; they were too drained, or couldn't think of another plan. First placing her fingertips on the wall for a good hold, her boots followed, feeling around for grip. Everyone remained silent, most likely out of fear she'd break her concentration, watching her inch up. After a few feet, she spoke, "Alright, guys. It's rough going. But I think this can be done!"
"Great. Ruffnut, you go next. We'll go the same order as the last riddle."
"They're more like trials," Ska'i mused. The guys stared at her. "You need to have the knowledge and endurance to decipher and push through them."
The look on Hiccup's grim face, confirmed her thinking, "How are you doing, Astrid?"
"Peachy!"
Ska'i focused on finding the finger grips and footholds, soon discovering the wall leaned back terrifyingly at some angles, twisting at others. A jovial cry of relief came from the top; Astrid made it. Although she was grateful the stone wasn't like a smooth type of onyx, the repeated motion and exertion were causing her fingers to become slippery. Before she knew it, she was trembling. Right as she felt she couldn't go on for one more handhold, Astrid's commanding voice barreled through her mind: "Forget this - Ska'i, just grab onto the rope!"
Her fingers slipped, but she managed to stop a freefall down to the sharp rocks below.
"Just hang on!"
Ska'i panted, closing her eyes, and squeezing onto her literal lifeline. She couldn't muster enough strength to haul herself up, even with the occasional bumping of her body against the stone stair wall. Only when feminine, yet strong, hands pulled her over did she allow herself to unclench. They began to insist that she rest in a far corner, but she firmly shook her head, wordlessly holding fast to the rope with them, in case any of the boys needed help.
Thank their gods, the rest ascended the stairs without a hitch. When Fishlegs crested over, Ska'i let the exhaustion she was fighting, flood her in an overwhelming wave, and she collapsed on the cold floor. Tuff rushed to embrace her and cup her trembling hands, rocking softly back and forth. Ska'i was too hyper-aware to fully relax, so when they caught their breath, she pulled both of them to their feet.
Despite their physical exhaustion, everyone knew they had to keep going.
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