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There were indeed living things in the water, but they appeared to be no more than the tiniest of creatures with the tiniest of Vis. Nor were they particularly numerous, nor particularly active. They were probably simply fish, about the size of a river-trout or salmon. Detecting their auras also provided Avanthar with at least one important piece of information: the water before him was at least a few feet deep in some places.
Penetrating the layers of darkness about him with his closed eyes, the Lord of Dar Havark did indeed perceive an exit on the opposite side of the cavern - across the water- a few up from the floor in the far wall. Another suspect ramp of cobbled-together rock, like the one they had initially clambered up to enter these caverns, led up to it, and to whatever lay beyond. He also could see a route: indeed it was so obvious as to be almost suspect: the rail they had followed thus far continued into and through the cavern, disappearing into the water and re-emerging on the opposite side. The route marked by the track went along a slightly raised, relatively level ridge of stone that lay inches beneath the water's surface. It was not very wide, though, and was flanked by steep walls that waited to drop the unwary explorer into the deeper water, onto the crotch-threatening stalactites below.
The cavern about the expedition remained eerily still, as if going out of its way to contradict their leader's warning that they were not alone.
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