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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 9:07:23 GMT -6
Fiera half climbed, half fell down the other side of the pile, and then stood back up as if that wasn't the most embarrassing thing she had done that day. She quickly smoothed down her tail again to get rid of the embarrassment frizz. A glance over her shoulder confirmed that Viridia was following, albeit at a slow, begrudging pace. Shortly after her, Luna and Sola flitted over the top of the rock pile, preferring Fiera's odd company to being left alone in the caves. They might not like her much, but they liked the bare rock walls and strange noises even less. They clustered close to her head, nervously casting glances back toward the entrance. Fiera, however, made a quick adjustment of her pack, a fiddling with the hat, and a tug on Viridia's string, and set off further down the tunnel.
Thankfully, there were still regular lanterns down this far, but she couldn't help but notice that they flickered a lot more and seemed more poorly maintained than the ones near the mouth of the mines. Well, at least it was a straight shot back for now, with no branches. If the lanterns went out, she could probably find her way back. Emphasis on the 'probably'. She considered taking one to bring with her, should they peter out completely. Then, she remembered her five minute old proclamation that she'd stop stealing things and grumpily kept her hands to herself. They might be public property, but surely someone would notice their absence.
FF: 13
Viridia: Lv 2.3/Lo 2.3
Sola: Lv 4.0/Lo 4.0
Luna: Lv 4.0/Lo 4.0
[Post 13]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 9:16:56 GMT -6
Though she swore she heard that...odd sound earlier, now all Fiera could hear was her own footsteps against the floor of the mine, echoing endlessly against the walls. They were rougher here, nowhere near as large and picked clean as the entrance, with the lanterns hammered in haphazardly, wherever they could find purchase. Brushing her hand against a wall as she walked was almost instantly uncomfortable. She worried a lip with her teeth, and instantly stopped herself after realizing she was probably ruining her lipstick. Ugh. Did she even remember to bring a tube with her? Did she even remember to bring a mirror? She doubt she'd find either down here, and she'd hate to be unpresentable.
Alone with her thoughts and three very quiet pets, the silence soon became deafening. She cleared her throat, surprised at how dry it was all of a sudden. Most likely because all of the dust in the air. She took a breath and croaked out "Hello?". Excellent, she kicked herself. Very verbose. "I heard a noise... I don't suppose there's anyone else down here?" She pricked her ears, rotating them in all directions. Nothing but the echo of her own voice. She kicked herself mentally. Was she really just making things up earlier? Trying to fill in the void of her own loneliness with the possibility of someone else accompanying her? Trying to hallucinate a way for her to be a hero? Pathetic. She decided to instead push those thoughts away and listen harder.
FF: 14
Viridia: Lv 2.4/Lo 2.4
Sola: Lv 4.1/Lo 4.1
Luna: Lv 4.1/Lo 4.1
[Post 14]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 9:39:55 GMT -6
Focusing on her own personal problems was, honestly, pretty depressing. So instead Fiera decided to focus on the fact that there was definitely a real person down here who most likely needed some sort of help. Or maybe a monster or something. Wait, a monster? The possibility hadn't occurred to her before, but now that she was thinking of it, the possibility seemed very real. After all, there were all sorts of monsters around The Labs- the laboratories might have created the fantastical creatures that lived here, but they couldn't stop them from going feral. She couldn't count how many creatures she had seen since she came here that seemed to have replaced the original fauna of the area.
Furthermore, she knew that her gem wyrm had come from these caves. Who's to say there wasn't bigger ones creeping around down here? Ones with bigger spikes, sharper teeth, and an appetite for flesh instead of rocks. Or perhaps having been pushed out of their original home, the natural wildlife of the city came down here instead, their resentment stewing in the belly of the earth. Being deprived of their natural food source, they'd become more and more ravenous, more accustomed to unusual food sources, until finally... Fiera leapt about three feet in the air as a soft sound passed by her ear. The noise that came out of her mouth was absolutely shameful, and she immediately bit her tongue to stifle it, angry at herself. She knew better than that!
FF: 15
Viridia: Lv 3.0/Lo 3.0
Sola: Lv 4.2/Lo 4.2
Luna: Lv 4.2/Lo 4.2
[Post 15]
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Post by Jack on Jul 10, 2019 9:47:25 GMT -6
What a pretty green stone you've found!
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 9:49:16 GMT -6
Fiera whipped her head around for the source of the new noise, old battle instincts bubbling to the top. Her tail flicked around behind her. The pressure of her fingers around her mallet increased to a death grip, the wood straining under the tension, and she mentally thanked herself for sharpening her claws that morning. But...it was only Luna yawning- loud for a Lola, quiet to anyone else. Fiera let out her breath, sighing- half out of relief, half out of annoyance. There she was, jumping at shadows again, just like she always did. Everyone always said she was too picky, too paranoid, too... well, everything. If there was a negative adjective, she had probably been slapped with it at least once in her career. She begrudgingly admitted that perhaps they were right, on some level. Here she was, leaping into the air at the tiniest noise from the tiniest creature. She grumbled to herself- that noise down here had better be worth it.
Eventually, the tunnel split, and after a moment's consideration, Fiera headed down the branch that seemed best lit. She had no way of telling which way the sound had come from. But, if SHE were a helpless person who had just gotten stuck in a cave in and was currently waiting for an attractive, nubile young lady with a luxuriously fluffy tail to come save her, then she'd at least pick the tunnel that seemed the most inviting. You know, to see the gorgeous, definitely under 35 cat woman better.
FF: 16
Viridia: Lv 3.1/Lo 3.1
Sola: Lv 4.3/Lo 4.3
Luna: Lv 4.3/Lo 4.3
[Post 16]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 10:07:22 GMT -6
This branch...smelled different. It was better lit than the other, yes, but there was still something distinctly unpleasant about it. She wasn't enough of a cat to have a much improved sense of smell, but Fiera definitely knew the smell of water when it came about. Ivy's old apartment always reeked of water and mildew because of the shoddy plumbing work. She spent many a night in that house, staring at the mold slowly creeping across the ceiling. At the time she hadn't minded quite so much, because she always had a warm body wrapped around her to make up for it, but now the old memories just...hurt. She couldn't see the water or hear it quite yet, but she could definitely feel the humidity rise, cool against her skin. Her pets, if they had any reaction, didn't show it. Luna and Sola stuck around, drifting next to her head, and Viridia kept on forging ahead, looking for the next gem encrusted area.
The tunnel was more roughshod too- she smashed a couple rocks absentmindedly as she walked. She was about to abandon them when she stopped- there on the ground, just next to one of the stones, was a little green rock. She smiled a bit and picked it up. Finally, something shiny! It was enough to lift her mood from the nostalgic smell. She slipped it into the pocket of her pants. Perhaps this tunnel would be better than she thought. She happily kicked another plain stone ahead of her, slyly keeping an eye out for more goodies.
FF: 17
Viridia: Lv 3.2/Lo 3.2
Sola: Lv 4.4/Lo 4.4
Luna: Lv 4.4/Lo 4.4
[Post 17]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 10:39:38 GMT -6
Finally, Fiera heard the distinct 'drip drip drip' of water. She couldn't see it yet, but the cave walls felt damper, and the lantern light felt smaller than before. She could swear she saw a shiver go down the back of one of her Lolas, and Viridia seemed to be placing herself more carefully on the path ahead. Whether or not she was getting a bead on something valuable or if she was just trying to avoid slipping, she couldn't say. Working in water didn't seem like a more pleasant option, but it would certainly be a more interesting one. Fiera HAD brought a change of clothes with her- maybe if she found an underground stream, she could wash off some of the endless layers of dirt that had seen fit to adhere to her. Was that polluting? She wasn't quite sure- god knows there was enough dirt to wash into these streams all on it's own down here. Soil that had been on her body first didn't seem to be much more different. She, did, however, ponder whether or not "polluting" was one of the things she had sworn off now, before her thoughts drifted back to warm bath water. She mentally punished herself a bit- she had only been down here for. Uhhh. About half an hour? Three quarters of an hour? Not long enough to warrant wanting a bath this badly. She had been dirtier before, she could take this! She hadn't even done much mining yet.
FF: 18
Viridia: Lv 3.3/Lo 3.3
Sola: Lv 5.0/Lo 5.0
Luna: Lv 5.0/Lo 5.0
[Post 18]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 11:01:40 GMT -6
Finally, she was starting to see water. It was only little bits at first. Dew formed on the walls, and rolled down in rivulets with the barest brush. A single, fat drop of water managed to land directly in the part of Fiera's hair, making her flick an ear with irritation. Small stalactites began to appear on the ceiling, with water hanging from their tips. As Fiera descended, it would appear that this part of the mine breached the water table, making it significantly damper than the rest of the mine. The sound of dripping water was constant now, and the humanish could hear it flowing somewhere, in a light and tinkling trickle.
Finally, she started hearing splashes by her feet. Looking down, Fiera found that she was finally stomping through little streams of water, just barely trickling down between divots in the rough ground. Viridia actually started falling back, sticking uncharacteristically close to Fiera. The mining familiar didn't seem perturbed by the caves at all, but it would appear that water was out of her wheelhouse. Fiera supposed it would be awfully easy for a creature like her to slip- her surfaces were smooth, with not a lot of grip, and should she fall over, there'd be no way to get back up, what with Viridia's lack of limbs. The lolas, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying themselves greatly. They took turns diving under dripping stalactites, squeaking with surprise when they got hit with a droplet or two.
FF: 19
Viridia: Lv 3.4/Lo 3.4
Sola: Lv 5.1/Lo 5.1
Luna: Lv 5.1/Lo 5.1
[Post 19]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 11:09:27 GMT -6
The rivulets soon turned to tiny streams under foot, and Fiera soon found herself with a hand clinging to the wall for extra support. A slip and a fall in here, and she'd be the one crying out for help, with a broken ankle or a cracked skull. Viridia was practically wrapped around her ankles now, which made slipping even more of a danger. The lola were having fun as usual, so at least half of the group was enjoying this. Some little voice in the back of Fiera's head suggested that maybe they should turn around. They only came this far to start with out of fear that someone was trapped down here. Surely they would have found them by now. Fiera promptly told that little voice to shut up. Her grip on the wall might be weak, but Fiera's stubbornness was insurmountable. She knew there was some part of her that would continue to move forward, even when doing so was a really, really stupid idea.
Finally, the cave appeared to open up a bit, with lanterns being placed on both sides. "Looks like we're getting somewhere interesting!" Fiera told her entourage... only for her face to fall as she reached the mouth of the tunnel. Ah. This might be a little difficult to strive through. In front of her was... nothing. The tunnel led out to a yawning pit, the cute little streams of water running off the edge in a misty spray, tumbling into the darkness below.
FF: 20 (Level up!)
Viridia: Lv 4.0/Lo 4.0
Sola: Lv 5.2/Lo 5.2
Luna: Lv 5.2/Lo 5.2
[Post 20]
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Post by Jack on Jul 10, 2019 11:13:38 GMT -6
The little streams seemed nice and cool, maybe splash in them a little? You could always find something in there!
[Nothing happens]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 14:21:23 GMT -6
Fiera sat down on a nearby (Thankfully dry) rock. Well. There went that plan. She couldn't see a bottom, and had no flashlight to light up the dark with. She picked up a pebble next to her foot, a disappointingly plain one instead of a gem. She rolled it around in her palm for a minute, before chucking it out into the gloom. She leaned over the edge, followed by her pets, listening for a clattering noise. Nothing. Or at least, nothing she could hear. Her pets looked out too in an adorable mimicry, but they gave no indication that they heard anything either.
She turned to her Lolas. "Don't suppose either of you want to go check?" She said. The little creatures looked at her, with Luna tilting her head at an angle. Fiera snorted quietly. She wasn't actually expecting a response- they were both too poorly trained to even begin to know what she was talking about. Viridia wouldn't be of any help either. The gem wyrm was currently wrapped tight around her ankle, trying to elevate herself above the streams of water. Fiera thought the mist was quite pleasant on her sweaty skin, but she supposed a creature made of rock wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much. At least, she noted, none of them were trying to throw themselves off the edge or go exploring. She had no clue how to even begin going after them; her lack of equipment gave her no way of seeing what was out there, nor any way of climbing down.
FF: 1
Viridia: Lv 4.1/Lo 4.1
Sola: Lv 5.3/Lo 5.3
Luna: Lv 5.3/Lo 5.3
[Post 21]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 14:30:31 GMT -6
She sighed, and looked back up through the tunnel. She guess that confirmed that the sound hadn't come from this tunnel. If there was any sort of cave in, it wasn't here, and if it had come from inside the chasm... well, there was nothing she could do to help anyway. "Hello? Anyone in here?" She called out into the darkness. As expecting, no response. What a waste of time! Frankly, by this point she doubted that the strange moaning sound had been caused by a person at all, but she had nothing better to do than search it out while looking for gems. She looked at the smooth pebbles by her feet. Who knows, maybe she'd even find something nice on the way back. Her lolas seemed to like it well enough in this area, even if Viridia wasn't having it.
Fiera stretched, and stood back up. "Well, we won't find anything just sitting around." She stated plainly. Slowly but surely, she made her way back up away from the chasm, her pets following behind. Well, except for Viridia. Fiera shook her leg. "Come on, then. You're here for a reason. There could be gems in these streams, but you aren't even looking! What am I keeping you for, then!" Viridia simply replied with a hiss. Fiera sighed. "Well, if you're going to stay there, you might as well look while you sit." With that, she started to walk back up, a bit awkwardly considering the gem wyrm trying to constrict one leg.
FF: 2
Viridia: Lv 4.2/Lo 4.2
Sola: Lv 5.4/Lo 5.4
Luna: Lv 5.4/Lo 5.4
[Post 22]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 16:24:59 GMT -6
Fiera kept a close eye on the streams. Every so often she'd see something glimmer in them that got her hopes up, only to find that it was the lamp light reflecting off the water moments later. To be honest, it was a little disheartening. Mining was proving to be more difficult than she thought! Well. She knew that mining was difficult from her old comrades, but that was like. Coal and salt mining. Boring, dangerous stuff. For her, Fiera was expecting it to be more sexy and exciting. More beautiful sights, more high flying adventure, more glittering, easy to spot baubles. Why, maybe she'd even get to explore with pets that actually liked her! Wouldn't that be a good time, she thought as she limped along, Viridia dragging her down effortlessly.
Instead she was just...sort of wet, sort of dirty, and sort of tired. Granted, not extremely tired, or dead, but it wasn't the nice day out that she was expecting. She kicked another rock into the stream, watching the rivulets split around it. She hadn't found nothing, and was expecting hard work, but she wasn't expecting...boredom. Yes, that was the right word to use. All of this was just a little bit boring. Maybe if she had better equipment or more fun creatures she'd be having a better time, but considering where she grew up, this wasn't exactly her definition of an exciting time. Ah well. She supposed that was the case with most people's jobs.
FF: 3
Viridia: Lv 4.3/Lo 4.3
Sola: Lv 6.0/Lo 6.0
Luna: Lv 6.0/Lo 6.0
[Post 23]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 16:30:27 GMT -6
Yes, she supposed most people weren't SUPPOSED to live wildly exciting lives. Most people were just supposed to go to school, get a job and just sort of sit there for 40 odd years before sitting at home for maybe 20 years more. Wasn't that what she was supposed to be aspiring to? Fiera mulled it over. She hadn't really gotten the opportunity of a calm life like that. yes, her childhood was what most would call 'comfortable', with a beautiful house and a rich family and fine clothes. But it was only in the physical sense. Her family was miserable, and her friends were her only escape. As she got older, she fell into worse and worse scraps, eventually abandoning her family and putting all her effort into the cause... only for that to get swept out from under her as well. Now, she had the opportunities everyone was supposed to want, and she just... didn't. Living a plain life with plain clothes and a plain job just didn't feel right to her anymore. Excitement had been drilled into her for so long that it was all she wanted anymore.
She flopped down on a rock, tapping her foot. She supposed that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. She would much rather live a boring life but know that she deserved more, rather than just sitting there doing the same thing every day. She'd rather strive for recognition than spend her whole life as a nobody, not knowing that life could be any different.
FF: 4
Viridia: Lv 4.4/Lo 4.4
Sola: Lv 6.1/Lo 6.1
Luna: Lv 6.1/Lo 6.1
[Post 24]
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 10, 2019 16:48:36 GMT -6
Fiera rustled around in the pile of rocks next to her, looking for anything shiny or interesting. The pile was made up of smooth, pretty, but likely worthless stones from the streams. She wouldn't be surprised if they got deposited up here by the occasional flood, left high and dry until the next one. There wasn't much, but at least her fidgeting gave Viridia time to calm down. For the first time in the past fifteen minutes, the gem wyrm finally relaxed her grip. The pins and needles feeling in Fiera's leg was almost a relief after Viridia's death grip. The wyrm stretched out as if nothing had ever been wrong and began sniffing around again. Fiera patted the rock pile again, trying to get Viridia's attention. The gem wyrm turned its head to look at the pile, and then slithered over to it, effortlessly slipping between the stones.
She then looked up at the Lola. As before, they were playing with the water, but at least this time they were playing on the ground. Every so often they'd flit up again, reminding Fiera that they weren't constrained by the petty forces of gravity. For the most part however, they splashed through the water together, wrestling like puppies. They seemed to have quite an affinity for it, but that made sense. Fiera remembered being told they came from an aquatic creature called a lotine, and that despite their mammalian appearances they were actually some sort of bizarre plant.
FF: 5
Viridia: Lv 5.0/Lo 5.0
Sola: Lv 6.2/Lo 6.2
Luna: Lv 6.2/Lo 6.2
[Post 25]
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