8

If either Dwayne or Jasmine were able to keep track of time, they would be startled to know that they had spent no more than two hours in the warren like network of caves before reaching the tree, for their journey had been for the most part eventless and the monotous surroudings seemed to slow time. The tree itself was much the same as Jasmine remembered it and as such arroused no knew interest to her, however, to Dwayne who had never seen nor heard of such a phenomonon was rendered speechless in its presence. Perhaps in Britain or Germany beside a small river, a weeping willow would have been merely aesthetically pleasing but hidden away in a stone cavern possibly hunderds of meters from the sunlight, it became a majestic monument.

Jasmine pulled a torch from her belt and stepped towards the willow. Beneath its long sinewy tentacles sat a child. He or she (for it was impossible to decipher) was fixated with three long vine like branches which it plaited with an almost elegant ease. Although the pool of light, lay squarely around and on the child, it did not move.
"Hello Hannah, its me...Jasmine."
Hannah stood with an energetic clumsiness which almost made Dwayne laugh. It was a good thing he hadn't, for he immediately realised that she was blind.
"Who is with you?" Hannah asked.
"He's a friend. Dwayne. We were hoping your dad was home..." Jasmine waited for a response then prompted "...is he?"
(Tag to Nick)