The Antlandita Search Team

The air at the foot of the cliffs was thick and cool, smelling of smoke from a dying fire, canned stew, and a hint of mold. Giant stone heads, half eaten away by time and vines, gazed silently down upon the small camp of travelers, their empty eye sockets reflecting the leaping flames. Somewhere in the darkness of the cave, invisible creatures screamed, creating a symphony of nocturnal life.

Mrs. Packard sat by the fire, on a discarded equipment box, stirring tea in a tin mug with the elegance of an aristocrat.

"I expect tomorrow's journey will be a difficult one," she remarked, blowing out a stream of smoke . "These petroglyphs promise something... damp and cramped."

"Damp and cramped! Oh, Madame Packard, you steal the words from my mouth!" exclaimed the Mole, sniffing a clod of earth. "The soil here is mind-blowing! So many layers, so much history! Tomorrow we'll dig!"

"The main thing is to dig carefully," Vinnie responded immediately, checking the dynamite supplies . "Otherwise, you'll collapse the whole mine again. Although... a big explosion would be pretty, too. Mushroom!"

Milo, gesticulating enthusiastically, tried to explain something to Dr. Sweetie, pointing at a tattered journal. "Just look at these symbols! The airlock's operating principle must be based on hydrostatic pressure, not a simple lever mechanism! That's genius!"

"Calm down, Milo, calm down," the doctor smiled, polishing his medical bag until it shone. "We'll figure it out tomorrow. Anything that breaks can be fixed. Or amputated."

Nearby, Audrey Ramirez was fiddling around with her truck, lubricating and tightening something with the air of someone who's found perfect harmony with the mechanism. Helga Sinclair, leaning against the wheel, watched everyone silently and with a cold, appraising air.

At that very moment, the fire crackled loudly, sending a shower of sparks into the sky. And from the shadow of the largest tent, Rourke's low, irritated voice could be heard, devoid of any trace of the day's ostentatious cheerfulness.

— Stop chatting by the fire. Everyone finish your dinner and go to bed quickly!