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walked towards the left of the cave wall.  "Come on.
 Let's get going."
     
    Kaj looked down the hole one last
time before going over to Phos.  A series of rocky platforms
stuck out of the cave wall.  Each one was a little higher than
the previous.  The spiral of platforms looped around the cave
wall, leading up to another entryway into a further part of the
cave.
     
    "You go on up first Kaj," Phos
said.  "It'll take me a little time getting used to climbing
with these legs."  Phos bent down, tightening the bolts
connecting his foot platform with his leg.
     
    Kaj walked up closer to the first
platform.  He crouched a little before leaping up onto the
platform.  Balancing himself so he wouldn't fall back, he
looked down at Phos.
     
    "Good job kid," Phos said as it
echoed slightly in the cave.  "I'll join ya soon."  He
stood up, stretching his arms.
     
    Kaj then proceeded to climb up
onto the next platform.  As he planted one foot against the
wall to help him elevate, a chunk of the cave wall came off,
sending it down to the dark hole.  His leg slipped, but Kaj
caught himself, holding onto the platform, pulling himself
up.
     
    As the chunk of cave wall fell
down into the hole, there was in fact a bottom, which the rock
crushed on.  The echo, which couldn't be heard from Kaj or
Phos' position, was heard by a swarm of creatures that lived at the
bottom of the hole.  One single eye opened up first, followed
by other eyes, showing the incredible number of creatures that
called this cave homed.  The eyes of the creatures looked up,
and the flapping of wings commenced as they headed towards the
surface of the hole.
     
    As Kaj was working on climbing up
to the third platform, he stopped as he heard a slight flapping
sound that was growing louder.  Kaj looked down at Phos who
was making his way up onto the first platform.
     
    "Do you hear that? Kaj asked Phos.
 They both walked over to the edge of their respective
platforms, looking into the hole.  He turned back up to Kaj
and gave him a little nod.  Phos then looked back into the
hole.  The flapping sound was getting louder.  "What is
it?"
     
    A swarm of winged brutes suddenly
shot up from the hole.  Kaj and Phos both jumped back from the
edge of the platforms, both falling on their hands.  They both
looked up as they continued to see the creatures pouring out from
the hole.  The creatures circled around the top of the cave,
stretching their skinny arms out and shrieking.
     
    "What are those things?!"
 Kaj yelled, slowly crawling back towards the cave wall.
 He turned over to Phos, who was also up against the cave
wall.
     
    "They must be the Alata Jumen,"
Phos said.  "From the map.  The cave name."
     
    As quick as he could Phos reached
for his pistol.  He swung it out, aiming it at the horde of
winged brutes.  One shot he fired sent a laser bullet straight
into the middle of the horde, zapping one of the creatures.
 The crisped creature spiraled down, landing on the platform
that Kaj was on.  He studied the creature.  A giant red
eye sat in the middle of its face.  The creature’s mouth hung
open, revealing its long sharp teeth.  Three clawed fingers
extended out from the creature’s hand.
     
    Kaj yelled out in horror as the
creature lunged forward a little before finally dying.
     
    The swirling brutes all dove down
together, flying dangerously close to Kaj and Phos.  Kaj
shielded himself with his arms, mostly covering his
face.
     
    "Phos, what do we do?!"  Kaj
yelled as he tried talking over the screeching of the creatures.
 Phos was also shielding himself with his arms.
     
    "Just keep climbing!"  He
yelled over to Kaj.  "I'll watch your back!  Just hurry!"
 As the creatures passed by Phos, he used his pistol and took
a few more shots.
     
    Kaj listened to Phos and started
up on the next platform, quickly getting on top of it.  The
creatures swooped down by Kaj, nearly knocking him off.  He
jumped towards the cave wall,