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Post by Leafy on Mar 29, 2019 14:43:15 GMT -6
Leafy was glad that Snap was adept enough to recognize the more difficult to identify gems. She picked them up quickly with Snap watching carefully as she placed the gems carefully in her backpack. Koyuki stood up and shook the dirt free from her fur. She waited patiently while Leafy zipped up her backpack and gesture for Snap to follow as they began to walk forward once more. Leafy scanned the walls, trying to find any branching paths that would relieve her from the never-ending slope she was walking down now. The light had dimmed considerably and Leafy was forced to rely on her flashlight and Snap’s bioluminescence as the only sources of light.
Koyuki decided to stick close to Leafy for once. Snap decided to linger behind for a change. Leafy would need to keep an eye on him, but without any immediate signs of danger he would be fine with a little independence. Perhaps he would be luckier in finding a separate pathway to take. Snap trotted along happily, taking his time to stop and sniff at the ground. Koyuki watched him silently as she walked, deciding that the small halfbreed needed protection as well. It would be a while before the pathway would change.
(Snap 17 3/5, 22 3/5 | Koyuki 4 1/5, 7 1/5)
98
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Post by Leafy on Mar 29, 2019 15:46:22 GMT -6
It took a good ten minutes before the terrain even slightly began to change. Koyuki noticed first and stopped abruptly. She needed an extra minute to check around before she felt confident that no wild creatures were abound. The tunnel began to gradually grow smaller. It made Leafy feel slightly unnerved that she would soon be in an enclosed space. The girl could handle tight spaces well enough, but it was still not an ideal way to mine. Especially if the adventure did not end in treasure. Snap began to tap at the tunnel wall, searching for any breaks in the rocks lining the walls.
It didn’t take Snap long to find a space in the rocks that would be loose enough for Leafy to pry apart. The girl felt awkward standing on a slope, but she decided to help Snap clear the area. She grabbed her pick and began to drive it swiftly into the gap. The tool caught on the edge of the rocks and forced the girl to use all her strength to attempt to pry the rocks apart. Koyuki stood by cautiously, understanding that the wall was likely about to come crashing down. It was all dependant on Leafy’s strength.
(Snap 17 4/5, 22 4/5 | Koyuki 4 2/5, 7 2/5)
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Post by Leafy on Mar 29, 2019 18:18:48 GMT -6
When the tunnel fell, it wasn’t as grandiose as Leafy expected. The rocks tumbled down revealing a small side tunnel in the wall. She coughed as dust filled the air. Koyuki pranced back before the worst of it hit and Snap watched on expressionless. The dirt cloud cleared after a few moments and allowed Leafy to get a clearer view of the small tunnel opening. It appeared large enough for her to fit through if she crawled, but she felt a bit hesitant to do that. Would it be better to allow Snap to go ahead on his own? That option made her feel uncomfortable as well.
Koyuki made the decision for her, opting to walk forward into the tunnel without a care. Snap was quick to follow, eager to find what awaited ahead. Leafy ducked her head, trying to see if she could fit in the tunnel first without crawling. The angle was awkward and only worked to make her back ache. She frowned, trying to think of an alternate strategy but coming up with nothing. Her only option if she wanted to follow her pets would be to crawl. It was unnerving thinking about willingly putting herself in such a dangerous situation, but her pets had decided that for her.
(Snap 18, 23 | Koyuki 4 3/5, 7 3/5)
100
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Post by Renathan on Mar 29, 2019 19:43:40 GMT -6
Somewhere within that tunnel lay two gems; one dusky, and the other practically a fire. [96-100]
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Post by Leafy on Apr 16, 2019 19:04:51 GMT -6
Leafy felt an oddly smooth rock underneath the palm of her hand. It was too smooth to be an ordinary rock. She wrapped her fingers around its sides and pulled it free from the dirt. It was too dark to tell what it was exactly and Leafy didn’t want to waste time fiddling around with her flashlight until she could identify it. She placed it in her backpack by unzipping it over her shoulder and dropping it in. While she was busy doing that, Snap stepped close and dropped another gemstone on the ground. The girl picked it up quickly and dropped it in her backpack as well.
“Nice find!” she complimented the halfbreed.
Koyuki lead them forward. She moved quickly, not bothering to check behind her to see if they were keeping up. Leafy would have felt offended if she knew that the halfbreed trusted in her ability to keep up. There was no way that she would leave Snap behind. Snap was the best at finding treasure after all. And Leafy was necessary to carry that treasure. It would be more beneficial for Koyuki to stick with them. The girl crawled along steadily. She had mastered the art of the combat crawl at the very least.
(Snap 18 1/5, 23 1/5 | Koyuki 4 4/5, 7 4/5)
101
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Post by Leafy on Apr 17, 2019 11:42:45 GMT -6
Leafy wished that the tunnel would open up soon. Her hands were starting to cramp and her back ached from the awkward positioning. She allowed her mind go blank, trying to focus on the area ahead rather than the aches in her body. Koyuki moved steadily, slowing down slightly as the tunnel became filled with more obstacles. Leafy ignored the rocks underneath the palms of her hands. Snap stuck close to her, illuminating the area with his glowing crystals. It helped immensely since Leafy’s flashlight was currently strapped to her hip while she crawled. She couldn’t exactly crawl and hold it at the same time.
The air tasted stale against her tongue as Leafy inhaled deeply. They would certainly be no exits anytime soon. Koyuki glanced behind, checking to see if the girl was still following. When she realized that Leafy was struggling a bit to keep up, she slowed down. Snap slowed down as well, though that seemed to be for his own personal preference. The darkness surrounding them didn’t feel so intimidating in the presence of Snap. His colourful glow was comforting. Almost like a nightlight of sorts. She could feel herself growing accustomed to the small tunnel.
(Snap 18 2/5, 23 2/5 | Koyuki 5, 8)
102
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Post by Leafy on Apr 17, 2019 12:54:13 GMT -6
Leafy reached up with one palm and brushed the dirt over her head. The tunnel walls felt sturdy which made the girl feel safer. She did not wish to become trapped underground by an unsteady tunnel. Leafy glanced around, trying to see if there were any areas for the tunnel to open up into. The space remained small and cramped. She nearly collided straight into Koyuki when the halfbreed stopped suddenly. She realized that the tunnel had narrowed considerably and the halbreed was trying to figure out the best way to move through it. Snap inched closer, pushing in front of Koyuki and electing to go through the small opening himself.
“I suppose that works too,” Leafy murmured.
Koyuki didn’t react to the mining familiar which Leafy took to be a good sign. She didn’t want her pets to fight after all. Snap had disappeared through the opening and she felt an almost tingling sensation overtake her. Flashes of images flickered before her vision. Before Leafy could get a clear grasp on what they were, they faded from her sight. The situation was unnerving and she could only conclude that she had been hallucinating in the darkness. She shrugged the feeling off.
(Snap 18 3/5, 23 3/5 | Koyuki 5 1/5, 8 1/5)
103
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Post by Leafy on Apr 17, 2019 13:31:07 GMT -6
Koyuki managed to squeeze herself through the opening. Leafy was curious why it took her some issues when she was so slight and ghostlike. The girl squinted as she approached the opening. There was light emitting through it which was reassuring but it didn’t change the fact that it was going to be a tight fit. Snap illuminated the area outside even further. His colourful lights blending in with the dim yellow glow of natural lighting. She approached the opening and stuck her head through. Snap greeted her by sniffing at her face. She shivered as his fur tickled her nose.
“You’re going to have to let me try and crawl through,” she commented.
Snap backed off a few feet and glanced over at Koyuki. The other halfbreed was watching her carefully, waiting for her attempt to squeeze through the opening. It took her a few tries before she was successful, but Leafy was well accustomed to maneuvering through the tight spaces in the mines.
“I don’t know why you had so much trouble with that,” Leafy joked to Koyuki.
The halfbreed flicked her left ear dismissively and turned to scout the new cavern for any signs of immediate danger.
(Snap 18 4/5, 23 4/5 | Koyuki 5 2/5, 8 2/5)
104
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Post by Leafy on Apr 18, 2019 11:17:37 GMT -6
Leafy took the time to carefully study her surroundings. The ceiling was raised far beyond the top of her head. There was a beam of light emitting through a crack in the ceiling, but she was fairly certain that it wasn’t daylight she was seeing. Perhaps it was a lit mining tunnel? She was intrigued by the thought and it made her want to climb higher to investigate. It seemed impossible to reach though, so for now Leafy would be content to continue on where she was.
“Keep your eyes peeled for any signs of danger,” the girl commented.
Koyuki was slinking silently along the ground. Her head darted around wildly as she tried to find any signs of danger. Snap was more content instead to take the opportunity to hunt down gems. He didn’t seem cautious of the new area, instead he was determined to begin digging around the surface of the ground. Leafy took this time to search for any unusual landmarks in the cavern. Sometimes she would get lucky and find some manmade mineshafts that were easier to walk through. After crawling through the one tunnel, she could do with some easier terrain. She grabbed her flashlight and used it to look around.
(Snap 19, 24 | Koyuki 5 3/5, 8 3/5)
105
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Post by Renathan on Apr 18, 2019 13:14:35 GMT -6
That rock almost looks like a piece of the moon! But it's a jasper, right? [101-105]
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Post by Leafy on Sept 2, 2019 12:30:41 GMT -6
The light from her flashlight illuminated the area with a dull, white glow. In the sudden light, Leafy caught a glimpse of a white gemstone. She leaned over and picked it up, marveling for a moment as it reflected in the dim light. She placed the gem carefully in her backpack, frowning slightly at the increased weight. Once that was settled, she turned to check on her pets. Koyuki was busy scanning the area for any sign of danger. Snap was scouting for treasure. Both of them worked to accomplish different tasks which in turn ensured that they were an efficient team.
“That’s good work you two, keep it up!” she exclaimed enthusiastically.
Now it was time to decide where to head next. The cavern they were currently in was rather large. The darkness was thick and only broken by the comparatively dim light from the flashlight. Snap’s crystals also worked to break through the darkness. She wanted to find an entrance to an exciting area, but she might have to settle for something more mundane. Either way, it would take a bit of exploration to find an exit to this cavern. She and Koyuki both began to head towards the left of the cavern.
(Snap 19 1/5, 24 1/5 | Koyuki 5 4/5, 8 4/5)
106
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Post by Leafy on Sept 2, 2019 14:07:02 GMT -6
Snap hung back, distracted by the various rocks that were scattered around the floor of the cavern. Leafy would have joined him in searching through them, but she had more urgent matters to attend to. Koyuki needed her presence a lot more than the little mining familiar did. Even though Koyuki could see in the dark, it didn’t mean she didn’t appreciate the help of a second pair of eyes. The two of them split up when the reached the left side of the cavern, working together in order to cover the entire area. There were a few side paths that emerged from the cavern that looked fairly promising.
“Did you find anything good?” she asked the halfbreed.
Koyuki seemed unenthusiastic about the paths that she found, but it wasn’t as though she showed much emotion anyways. Snap scurried over towards them, having decided that there were no more gems to be found in the area.
“I suppose we ought to pick a path now,” she commented.
Snap glanced quickly at their options before looking to Koyuki for guidance. Leafy was pleased that the two halfbreeds seemed to be getting along. She knew Koyuki wasn’t typically one for teamwork, but that appeared to be changing.
(Snap 19 2/5, 24 2/5 | Koyuki 6, 9)
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Post by Leafy on Sept 2, 2019 15:02:17 GMT -6
Koyuki settled on a wide pathway that smelled of fresh air. Leafy approved of the choice and ushered Snap to follow them as they began to walk forward. It might not have been something as exciting as a mineshaft, but it would do for now. She wished she could move as gracefully as Koyuki did. She was sleek and silent, moving swift like a predator. Leafy felt sluggish in comparison. She followed, trying to keep pace as best as she could. It was difficult lugging her tools along with her. They weren’t particularly easy to carry, but if they came across gemstones, it would be well worth it to carry them.
“Be careful here, it gets steep,” she muttered.
The pathway sloped downwards and Leafy’s feet kicked up small stones when she stepped across the dirt. Snap followed at her heels, keeping close as the three trudged down the path. Koyuki was an efficient leader and she made sure to set a brisk pace as they walked. The girl felt on edge as they walked, as though something wasn’t quite right. Was something watching them? The hair on the back of her neck prickled as though sensing something behind them.
(Snap 19 3/5, 24 3/5 | Koyuki 6 1/5, 9 1/5)
108
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Post by Leafy on Sept 2, 2019 15:56:08 GMT -6
She turned around, no longer able to ignore the tickling sensation at the back of her neck. Koyuki stopped suddenly, concerned as to what Leafy was doing. Leafy gestured with her hand to remain in place while she scouted the area behind them. Snap clambered up onto her foot, keeping close at the prospect of danger. Leafy shone the flashlight in the area directly behind her, trying to scare away whatever had been following them. When nothing moved, she felt a shiver run down her spine. Had it left already? She desperately hoped it had, but her gut was telling her otherwise.
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do,” she whispered to her pets.
Koyuki nodded and continued forward. Leafy wasn’t sure if the halfbreed understood her entirely, but she was certainly a clever one. It wouldn’t be shocking if it was. Snap followed her lead, seeming less on edge when he realized that both of his companions had decided to push ahead. Leafy didn’t like ignoring a threat, but there wasn’t much she could do until the being decided to make its move. She kept the light fixed ahead, illuminating the path and ensuring that she could see what lay ahead.
(Snap 19 4/5, 24 4/5 | Koyuki 6 2/5, 9 2/5)
109
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Post by Leafy on Sept 2, 2019 16:39:38 GMT -6
Leafy wasn’t normally afraid of the mines. In fact, she had faced many treacherous things down here in the darkness. However, she had never been hunted before. She knew Koyuki would be able to hold her own against a monster, but Snap wasn’t exactly well equipped for that. The little halfbreed had no fighting experience or instinct. Instead, he was created as a mining companion. She appreciated his help all the same. Perhaps if they could find some gems, she would feel a whole lot better about the danger down here. For now, she was forced into continuing forward with unease heavy in her chest.
“Everything will be fine,” she muttered to herself.
Koyuki glanced back, her face expressionless as usual. Leafy thought she could read some flicker of concern in her features, but it was nearly impossible to tell. She swallowed down her unease, instead deciding to focus on her task of exploration. She felt a sudden surge of energy course through her body. She needed to be careful though. Overconfidence was not a quality that she wished to possess. She had made that mistake countless times before. For now, she would move carefully, making sure to keep both Snap and Koyuki safe.
(Snap 20, 25 | Koyuki 6 3/5, 9 3/5)
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