Chapter Text
"Keep to the trail, Don't stray from your group, and Mt. Ebott is off limits." that's what their camping group was told before they left camp for their hike. So then why were siblings Penny and Florence running after 6 other children on the road that climbed said mountain?
Well it turns out that telling a very curious 7 year old that something is off limits is a surefire way to make her want to go there even more. Lily thought it was part of a game. Everything was a game to her, and she loved playing games. So when the group was walking along the trail, and they passed a fork that led straight to Mt. Ebott, she was already halfway to the base of the mountain before anyone could blink, with her older sibling chasing close behind. Not wanting to get split up, the other children began to run after them. Which left the two eldest kids, Penny and Florence, no other choice but to chase after them as well.
Unfortunately, Lily was FAST. Florence was only halfway up the mountain while everyone else was only a few feet ahead of him by the time she had reached the top. But Penny was also fast, and was almost catching up to her. Florence had caught up to Lily's sibling, Seth, who had to stop and take a breather. He also stopped for a moment to breathe. The two of them quickly started walking again when they heard what sounded like Lily excitedly telling the others about something, but from where they were, they couldn't quite hear exactly what she was saying.
Florence reached the top where the others were, Seth close behind. Lily came bouncing over to them immediately, grabbing Seth by the sleeve and trying to lead them somewhere, excitedly pointing somewhere behind her.
"Seth! Seth! Look, I found a cave! I want to explore! I want to explore!" she was bouncing up and down as she tugged on their sleeve.
"No, Lily! we aren't supposed to be up here! we have to go back!" Penny was trying to get the situation under control, but once Lily has an idea, it's near impossible to get her to back down.
Lily had let go of Seth's sleeve and was moving some vines to reveal the entrance to a cave.
Seth was trying to keep her from going inside. "Lily, please, we can't be up here, and we have be back at camp soon!" They were right, the sun was beginning to set.
One of the other children, Indigo, was beginning to walk over to assist Seth. Clementine, Penny's and Florence's younger sister, stood beside Penny and clung to her side. The remaining group members, Basil and Riley, stood by Florence near the path back down.
Lily started to hop into the cave, Seth trying to grab onto her. They trip on a loose vine on the ground and topple into her, knocking them both forward.
Turns out, the vines on the ground were obscuring a giant hole in the ground.
Before anyone knew what was happening, the two of them fell, and Indigo jumped to try and grab them, but overestimated the distance and wasn't able to catch his balance in time before also falling in. Riley yelled something and sprinted over, jumping in after him. The four of them stood there, still processing what had happened. Florence walked over slowly, attempting to peek over the edge so he could gauge how deep it went.
He slipped.
He let out a yelp, but was able to catch himself on the ledge. He heard his siblings yell his name, but before he could yell back that he was okay, he heard another yell.
"CLEM, WAIT!"
Before he could process that Penny had yelled thier sister's name, he heard small running footsteps, and then he saw Clementine slide over, having misjudged where the ground had ended.
He shot his arm out to catch her. He missed.
He just stared down at where she was just a second ago before he felt someone grab the arm he was holding on with and looked up to see Basil trying to pull him back up. Penny kneeled down beside them and helped. when he was up, they all sat there, quiet for a moment, staring at each other.
Florence and Penny both began speaking at once.
"We should go get help,"
"We should go after them,"
Penny blinked at him.
"ARE YOU CRAZY? We can't go after them! we don't know what's down there!" she shouted, grabbing him by the shoulders.
"That's exactly why we need to go after them! they could be in danger!"
"And you think WE could help them!?"
"What if help doesn't come in time? We might not have another option, Penny! We need to do something!"
"Florence! I know you are worried! But I am not about to let you jump in a who-knows-how-deep hole in the ground!"
He brushed her hands off his shoulders, before standing up. Her and Basil stood too.
They all stood there for a moment.
"Sorry, Penny. But Clem is down there." Before she could formulate a response, he let himself fall backwards.