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The group skidded to a halt and peered down into the scar in the valley. Filled with water, the clear liquid was nearly invisible and the group could see deep into the crevice, enough to find there was no river bed. The cliff simply kept dropping further down into the abyss. The distant sounds of the pursuing horde of ice zombies played behind them, drawing closer, and closer.

The rogue dropped a stone into the water and it fell far out of sight. Then the ripples ceased and the glass-like surface returned. "We could jump?"

"Grug swim!" yelled the goliath, still panicking over the impending undead in pursuit.

"You'll freeze!" Father Barr admonished.

"Soooooo... what are you all staring for?" came a voice from the deep. It was high and female, almost bored in tone, or as if it came from a momma bear just woken from her hibernation.

The adventurer drew weapons in an instant. But they could not see no one.

"Oooh..." came the voice mockingly. "Bit jumpy aren't we?"



"Who are you M'Lady? We can not see you." asked the bard, interested in the feminine voice.

A giggle arose. "But you were staring so deeply into me. Haven't you heard the adage? Stare too long into the abyss, and the abyss might stare back?"

"You're the abyss?"

"Call me Abby. And yes! I don't just stare; I talk too! I'll admit I don't look the best at the moment, I'm retaining water. But it's hard not to at this time of year. And then there's the snow... it makes such a mess of my cliff face." The voice seemed a bit self conscious.

The group looked at each other with alarmed and confused looks and the bard tried to ease the awkwardness of the situation.

"Uhh.... you... look fine to me."

Great bubbles seemed to swell up from the crevice like laughter. "Oh well aren't you just adorable? Flattery will get you everywhere don't you know!"

"How about to the other side?" muttered the Paladin under his breath.

"Uh, M'lady... my friends and I are in a hurry to..." But he was cut off suddenly by the voice bubbling up again.

"Have you every played "Eye spy?"

"Uh... yes... but...."

"I spy with my little eye... something beginning with 'S'"

"Snow!" erupted the rogue. He was in a hurry to cross and put some more distance between himself and the shuffling horde.

"Yes!" Came the voice, obviously delighted. "Your turn!"

The party looked at each other impatiently.

"Jump?" asked the rogue. They eagerly nodded but as the group took their positions for a running leap, the crevice mysteriously doubled in width, putting the landing far out of reach.

"You can't go yet!" Abby insisted. "It's your turn."

"We don't want a turn! We want to go!" urged the Ranger .

"But I never get visitors! I want to play!" and at the ranger's protest, the voice came stronger, like a child in a tantrum. "I WANT TO PLAY!!" The trees shook. The ground thundered and the water erupted against the bank in a shower of icy cold droplets.

"Something that begins with T" yelled the rogue in a panic.

The crevice was still again, the foaming water glassed off instantly and the ground was solid and unmoving again. "Ummm... hmmm that's a tricky one." Abby mused. "OOOOOH I know! Trees!"

The rogue began to shake his head when Sir Tain stood on his foot. "OW! I mean Yes! You got it!"

More bubbles floated to the surface like a giggle. "I'm SO good at this game! You won't ever guess this next one! I spy with my little eye, something beginning with.... Z!"

The group looked confused at the crevice. They looked down into the water and across to the other side. But there was nothing they could think of. She was right, it was a tricky one. Then the group froze as they collectively realised the only thing in the snow-laden valley it could be. They turned around to see the horde of zombies shuffling inevitably, incessantly towards them, sealing off their exits along the crevice in both directions.

"Zombies." muttered the Ranger. "Correct!" squealed Abby. "They love playing tag! But be careful!"

"They are really good at it!"



(Story by the AMAZING Hynrafoo)