"The violet shard?" Ham mutters, "what's a violet shard?" His question directed at the beings behind the barrier. "There are many crystals that lay in the darkness, emitting a blue light of energy." The high voices squeak, "We simply ask that you bring us the shard that glows violet." I Nudge Ham lightly, "I think they're talking about the light crystals." Although I didn't know the blue crystals had the power to hold energy I wondered what the voices wanted with this purple shard. "How are we suppose to find this violet shard, where is it?" I mused looking at the barrier. Through our journey in the pit, I've only come across the blue shards, and they hang high from the ceiling but I never came across one that glowed violet. The voices chattered to themselves again in their strange language before the high pitched voice squeaked once more, "that is of no concern to us, simply find and bring it to us, then we will allow you into our barrier."

Ham glanced at me, my face showing a rather annoyed expression, how the constant squeaking from their voices didn't annoy him I don't know. For I grew tired from the chatter. Ham sighed shaking his head before, giving me a now worried look. The task of finding a shard in the unknown tunnels with no leads didn't sound appealing, in fact, it sounded foolish to me. "What do you need with this violet shard?" I bark the annoyance growing in my voice. The barrier was quiet for a moment before speaking, "watch your tone Galendale Evorales from the City of Curuz, we have no problem simply frying you." The threat didn't scare me as a disgruntled look remained plastered on my face. "What we do with the shard is no concern of mere dwarves, simply bring it to us.

Then you will get what you want." Perhaps Ham wasn't one to lose his head from a mere insult, I didn't possess the same calm demeanor as him for the squeaky voices were grinding on my patience, my spine began to tingle hot as I began reaching for my hammer.

Before giving me the chance to speak my mind Ham intervened, "You have to have some clue as to where to find this shard, running around in the dark looking for something we have no clue about is asking for trouble." The voices muttered to themselves once again in laughter before speaking, "We may have some clue as to where to find the violet shard, but before we tell you, dance for us." I was surprised my anger quickly subsiding from the outlandish request, looking at Ham he too showed a face of astonishment and confusion. "You...want us.....to dance?" Ham muttered slowly before the high pitched laughter began again. "Yes Ham Oinkers, show us how a pig of Toradain dances." I scoffed briefly causing Ham to glare at me with a growl. "You can't be serious." I mused, the laughter continuing. "If you want information on the shards location, you will dance before us." Closing my eyes I sigh lightly, "I say we take our chances running around in the dark."

I personally didn't know the ways of dancing and didn't see the need to embarrass myself amongst unknown creatures. Ham, on the other hand, shot his hands in the air and began hopping on his left foot as he twirled in a circle. It was amusing to watch as he lept in the air with his arms extended forth before landing on the ground into a kneeling position. The voices constant laughter ceased as he put on his performance. Unlike his heavy and brutish appearance that all dwarves possessed, he was light on his feet as he skipped around in front of the entryway, grunting every so often as the sweat flew from his face from the countless twirls until finally finishing his performance with a bow. The voices were silent as Ham remained bowed slightly panting. "Where did you learn to dance like that?" I whispered to which I got no reply, he was still catching his breath.

Light smacks started to sound from the other side of the barrier before I realized they were clapping, raising his head I could see the embarrassment on his face as his eye's continuously darted from me to the barrier. Grunting I joined in the light applause, only clapping slightly. "A very good performance indeed, Ham Oinkers from Toradain." The squeaky voice chirped, "Galendale Evorales from the City of Curuz, please show us your dance." The eagerness in their voices present. Looking at Ham he had a slight grin as he watched me perhaps looking forward to the disaster of a performance I would put on. Lifting my right leg in the air I attempted to imitate Ham's performance, but my body didn't move right. Spinning in a circle my eyes quickly got dizzy before I began to stumble around the area bumping into a nearby statue. The stone unstable it collapsed toppling on top of me sending dust and dirt through the area.

Poking my head out from the pile I hear the hysterical laughter from the high pitched voices along with Ham as he rolled along the floor his laugh-heavy in the air. Pushing the rocks aside in agitation I stumble out of the wreckage before appearing before the entry once again. "Ok you got you dance, now tell us where to find this violet shard." I growl patting the dust from my trousers, Ham picking himself off the floor still continued to giggle lightly to himself as the beings from beyond the barrier spoke, "There are many shards that hide within the darkness, all of different color. These shards grow together creating a multicolored flower known by my people as the Flower of Life, each color of the flower being a shard and each shard representing a petal. For the shard on the flower represents one element brought into creation by the All-father, holding the power of that very element at its core. Of course, there are only a few of these flowers throughout the tunnels of the underground, residing in the place where all flowers are found." Raising an eyebrow Ham mutters, "And where is that?"

A light sigh could be heard from the barrier followed by annoyed muttering before the voices spoke again, "A meadow, of course, there are many meadows under the earth created by the All-Father." Taking in the information I think about everything that the beings beyond the barrier have said feeling doubtful, for I have never heard of a crystal having the ability to harness an element in its core let alone an underground meadow. Ham gave me a skeptical look before muttering a thank you to the barrier as we headed off, "How much of what they said do you think is bullshit?" I mutter lighting my dwarven fire. We exited the desolate fortress pausing as I stared in the seemingly endless darkness. "They didn't have a reason to lie to us, they are the ones who need the violet shard." Pondering Ham's words I nod in agreement before heading off in the darkness, walking towards the small light from the room we had rested only a few hours ago.

"Where do you reckon we're supposed to find a meadow? Is that even possible? Since....you know we're thousands of feet underground." There is no way sunlight could reach the depths of the Pit I too wondered just where we were supposed to find a meadow underground. "Maybe we should go back and ask the barrier?" Ham suggested before I grunted at him in disapproval, "No way am I asking that thing for anything, their just gonna have us dance again, maybe even sing.... the bastards." Ham released a small giggle, most likely remembering my feeble attempt to dance, the small blue glow slowly growing we proceeded closer to the familiar room. "Why are we going back this way?" The confusion clear in his voice as he spoke in my ear.

"It's the only place that I've seen any shards, there could be a clue where to find a meadow there," I mutter, Ham nodding his head in realization and agreement we walk through the small hole. The blue crystals still lay suspended from the high ceiling, the room the same as we left it. The prowler bones scattered through the area of the far tunnel, and several pillars reached the ceiling possibly ensuring that the many tons of earth didn't come crashing down on our heads. I stared at the ceiling looking for a clue as to where this meadow the barrier spoke of, with the indefinite amount of shards my eyes couldn't focus clearly. Them being so high and cluttered together so closely I couldn't make out anything. Ready to give up Ham barks from the far corner of the room, "Gale I see something! There's a green glow over here!."

Scampering to him, he points at the ceiling. Looking up I only see blue shards, "I don't see no green glow." I mutter disappointed before he pulls me closer, "You gotta look real hard it's right there! Follow my finger." Shrugging his hands off I look up once again, squinting my eyes in the direction he's pointing at I see the faint green glow within the blue. "I...I see it"! "Not bad for a pig huh!" He mutters, a large grin plastered on his face as he smacks my back. "Yeah, yeah not bad now find a violet one. I'm dying of thirst." I mutter with a smirk.

We walked through the entire room, tripping occasionally over our own feet as we stared at the shards high above our heads. Every hour or so we would see another colored shard and after several hours we spotted six different colors. 1 White, 2 red, 1 green, 2 yellow, 1 brown, and 4 black, but no matter how hard we looked we couldn't find a purple. "My neck is killing me," Ham moaned stretching his neck. "How is there not one purple in there," I muttered sitting beside a pillar. "Those things in that rock must be taking me for a fool". Ham let's out a heavy sigh hanging his head. "Let's take a break and start again after we get some rest" he suggests, agreeing I lay down on the hard warm stone staring at the ceiling. "You take first watch," I muttered before drifting off to sleep.

"Gale! Gale wake up!" Ham whispers frantically. Darting up I reach for my hammer, "what is it?" I mutter lowly staring at Ham. His eyes glued towards the tunnel we fought the prowlers, "I hear footsteps." Looking towards the dark tunnel the light clicks from boots echo. Glancing at Ham briefly we nod to each other as we approach the tunnel hiding along the sides in wait for whatever creature approached. The steps were slow and heavy, and it wasn't just one pair but a few each one echoing over the other. Sweat dripped from my palm as I lay in ambush, The seriousness dripped off Ham his eye's glued to the entrance. A red light glowed from the entrance as a figure exited the tunnel, and I didn't wait as I swung my hammer at the figure.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Stooooop!!" The familiar voice shouted. Looking at the source I'm greeted by a frantic Bolmer. Shielding his face with both hands, he held his breath. My hammer only moments away from splitting his skull. Pulling back my arm he lets out a sigh of relief, "Wha....what the hell Gale! Are you trying to kill me?" he proceeded to bark, clearly upset. Looking at his he was covered in a greenish-brown substance, his custom fitted red tunic and sleek blue trousers now gave off a horrible stench. Holding my breath the regret of not "accidentally" hitting him grew the more he continued to whine. "You should be thanking him for not spilling your brains on the floor." A deep voice grumbles as two other dwarves exit the tunnel, "I told you there were tracks of someone coming down this path before us and you still went off ahead." The dwarf muttered, the voice also similar I looked at him and recognized him from my herd. Unlike Bolmer he wasn't covered in filth, he wore high brown leather boots with similarly brown trousers that possessed many pockets. His grey jacket had burn marks riddled all over the left sleeve, and his large pack was still strapped tightly to his broad back but unlike before his gigantic hammer was now covered in what I assumed to be blood.

The other dwarf I didn't recognize he stood a few feet taller than your average dwarf, his chin broad and square I was certain he had hard hands. He wore a mustache without a beard which was a bit odd for a dwarf but it strangely suited his brown tunic and simple trousers. Looking at Ham he didn't know the dwarf and simply shrugged as I raised my eyebrow in his direction. "Hey, are you listening to me!" Bolmer barked loudly, "We almost died because of your idea to walk across the lava!" Standing only a foot away I couldn't help to turn my head away in disgust, holding my nose I take a few steps back before glaring at him. "Why the hell do you smell like goblin shit?" I growl, before Ham wrinkles his nose. " That's what that smell is?" he mutters backing away.

"Try walking in a tight tunnel next to that..." The deep voice grumbled staring daggers at Bolmer, the smell not seeming to affect him. "It's all your fault!" Bolmer continued stomping closer causing me to step back, "If you didn't have us go that way we wouldn't have gotten ambushed by those snakes! And I wouldn't have ran into those goblins!" Sighing slightly as to not inhale too much of the stench, "You're a man now Bolmer, you agreed to walk across the river, so stand by your choice." I mutter, looking at him my eye's began to water, burning from the putrid smell. Bolmer simply clicked his tongue before glancing over at Ham, "Who's that?" Ham showed a face of horror as Bolmer began to hobble towards him, the smell increasing in strength as he drew near.

Ham looked at me his eye's pleading for help to which I replied with a grin, "that dwarf right there is Ham Oinkers."