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Post by Fanged on Oct 26, 2020 19:14:19 GMT -6
Pachinko perked up as they began walking again. Ral raced ahead, eager to search the snow piles for more gems. His senses were sharp and proved to be superior in the art of gem finding. Fanged’s skills were not nearly so sharp. Her ears were sensitive, but her eyes left a lot to be desired. She rubbed them, a little frustrated at what they had turned into. She hadn’t always had this issue. Perhaps she could learn to utilize them better. She mostly had problems with nightvision. Her eyesight was fine for distance and up-close viewing, but she tended to be rather nightblind.
“I guess I shouldn’t be upset. There’s not exactly much I can do to fix the issue,” she muttered.
She focused on the path ahead of her. The crunch of snow underfoot was soothing and she was almost disappointed when it thinned out. Ral looked sad as well, though he too was focusing on where they were headed towards. The tunnel opened up into a larger cavern and Pachinko shifted happily. He preferred having more open space to move about, even if she had trained him to be okay with tighter spaces. He was happiest in the open.
(Ral 10 2/5, 10 2/5 | Pachinko 14 2/5, 20 2/5)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 26, 2020 19:49:58 GMT -6
She blinked in the darkness of the cavern for a moment before turning to switch her flashlight on. She felt herself relax as the bright, yellow glow filled the immediate vicinity. It didn’t have much spread to it, but it would allow her to see the things closest to them. She glanced at Pachinko, checking to make sure that he was still okay. The Izer shuffled a bit uncomfortably in the darkness, but he was fine as long as he remained safe on his perch. Ral had no issues with the darkness. He dove forward, searching the area for any gems. When he came up empty, he trotted back over towards Fanged.
“Hello there,” she greeted him.
He raised his head and tilted his head as he looked at her. She patted him on the head and then moved to look past him into the rest of the cavern. Ice hung from the ceiling. There was also ice coating the ground and a thin dusting of snow as well. Pachinko moved closer to her, shielding himself from the cold. Ral followed her as she walked closer to explore the space within the cavern. The area was quite sizable which would keep her busy.
(Ral 10 3/5, 10 3/5 | Pachinko 14 3/5, 20 3/5)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 26, 2020 20:30:37 GMT -6
She didn’t particularly like dark areas, but she had her flashlight to aid her. She shone it around the area, illuminating icicles when she swept the light up near the ceiling of the cavern. The ice sparkled when the light hit it, giving the illusion that they were actually crystals. However, the water dripping from them indicated that they were merely ice. Ral looked up and watched the water drip down from the ice. A droplet fell onto the top of his head and he shook his head in attempt to rid himself of it. Fanged laughed at the sight.
Pachinko turned to look at her, intrigued by the laughter echoing through the cavern. He enjoyed the sound, wondering if the women could make more melodic sounds. When she stopped, he looked a little disappointed. Ral burst forward with a sudden rush of confidence. The cavern was calling to him and he would answer that call for exploration. The glittery ice helped ease Fanged’s nerves. She didn’t like being submerged in the darkness, but it also had its benefits. Her flashlight could be discreet if she turned it off when she didn’t need it and darkness could be used as a tool to hide her.
(Ral 10 4/5, 10 4/5 | Pachinko 14 4/5, 20 4/5)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 26, 2020 21:03:02 GMT -6
She used the flashlight to sweep around the room and check for anything hiding just out of sight. When she saw nothing, she relaxed further and went to explore the area with Ral. Pachinko considered taking off and flying for a bit, but he was hesitant to do so in the darkness. Ultimately, he stayed where he was though he paid close attention to their surroundings. Ral thrust his head down, sniffing at the patches of ice that were numerous in the cavern. He touched one tentatively with his claw, as though expecting it to break underneath his touch.
When it didn’t, he tilted his head in confusion. Fanged moved closer in order to join him. She crouched down and touched the ice as well.
“That patch is a bit to thin to break. Look there’s just ground underneath it. There isn’t any water trapped. It’s more like frost than a frozen puddle,” she told him.
Ral might not understand her words properly, but he did recognize that the ice wasn’t breaking for her either. He decided to stand on top of it, testing to see if it would hold his weight. He seemed delighted when it did. Fanged wouldn’t tell him he was basically just standing on the ground.
(Ral 11, 11 | Pachinko 15, 22)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 27, 2020 22:33:39 GMT -6
Watching Ral explore new terrain was quite fascinating. The dragonoid was quite wary of the ice. Even living down in the mines hadn’t prepared him for its cold touch and slipperiness. Fanged could hardly blame him for being skeptical. His nature was determined to overcome his uneasiness around the stuff. Pachinko looked at him brightly, not wanting to investigate the ice for himself, but enjoying watching Ral take the plunge for him. She glanced around, trying to see if she could spot anything else in the cavern that might be of interest. She felt blind in the darkness and she couldn’t help the frustration that bubbled in her chest.
She rubbed angrily at her eyes, as though willing them to see better. When that didn’t help, she slumped down onto the ground dejectedly. Ral immediately came over to check that she was alright. He sniffed at her and relaxed considerably when he determined that she wasn’t injured. She held out her hand and lightly patted him on the top of his head.
“I’m just a little sad,” she told him.
Pachinko leaned in closer, curling his fluffy body around her neck. She was very grateful for both of her creature companions.
(Ral 11 1/5, 11 1/5 | Pachinko 15 1/5, 22 1/5)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 29, 2020 19:57:47 GMT -6
She took a few minutes to gather herself before she got back up. She brushed the dirt off of her pants and watched as Ral got back to work. Pachinko settled back down on his perch. He moved closer to her, still cuddling her as she walked. She felt better now that she was back on the job. Working always served to ease her mind. She followed Ral as the dragon led her out of the cavern. He chose on of the branching paths that were available to them. Fanged followed him, eager for a change in scenery to reset her mental state.
She gripped her flashlight and allowed it to offer her extra comfort. If she couldn’t see well in the dark, she’d use tools to help her out. That was what they were made for after all. Suddenly feeling better about herself, she moved forward with determination heavy in her steps. Ral was excited to explore a new area. He trotted around, distracted by every new sight, sound, and smell. Fanged liked his enthusiasm. She wished she could be more carefree, but she tended to overthink things. Her mind was always active, questioning, worrying. She had mostly made peace with that.
(Ral 11 2/5, 11 2/5 | Pachinko 15 2/5, 22 2/5)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 29, 2020 21:56:53 GMT -6
The ice had slowly disappeared from the tunnel as the temperature warmed up once again. She found herself relaxing, glad that there was no longer a chill piercing through her clothing. Pachinko shifted so that he could see clearly around them. Ral led them forward, his head raised as he braved the unknown. The tunnel they were walking along dipped downwards and Fanged slowed her pace to prevent herself from tripping. Ral slowed his pace as well to accommodate her. He liked to watch out for her, just to make sure she was safe. Fannged appreciated that fact. She wasn’t used to having people watch out for her.
The terrain underfoot grew a little unsteady. Pebbles skittered underfoot with each step they took. Ral seemed to enjoy the way the dirt streamed and the pebbles scattered, but it made Fanged feel nervous. She hoped they would get somewhere a little more stable soon. She kept her eye out for gems just in case. Suddenly, a strange noise echoed through the tunnel. Fanged strained her ears as she tried to figure out what it was. Ral didn’t seem unnerved by the sound, but Pachinko sat up straighter as he tried to figure it out as well.
(Ral 11 3/5, 11 3/5 | Pachinko 15 3/5, 22 3/5)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 29, 2020 22:52:18 GMT -6
The tunnel veered to the right and the trio followed it along. At least it flattened out at this area. Ral paused for a moment to sniff at the ground, his gaze sharp as he scanned for any signs of gems. The area had been barren for now. Fanged wondered if some creature was hoarding all the gems around them in some kind of massive stash. If there was one, it would be worthwhile trying to find it. She brightened up at the thought. She reached her arm over to give Pachinko a quick pet on the top of his. The dragon izer beamed up at her, happy at the attention.
“Hey Ral,” she called out over to him. “I bet there’s a big gem stash hidden somewhere. It’ll be up to us to find it!”
Ral didn’t quite understand what she meant, but she thought she saw him perk up when she mentioned gems. He seemed to understand the gist of what she was saying and set off to find any signs of gems. Fanged used her flashlight to aid him in his search. The fact that they hadn’t found anything in a while served to build their anticipation for when they did.
(Ral 11 4/5, 11 4/5 | Pachinko 15 4/5, 22 4/5)
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Post by Fanged on Oct 29, 2020 23:35:48 GMT -6
They still hadn’t found anything, but Fanged didn’t let that kill her determination. Pachinko was more alert now, watching the area around them carefully. Ral was eager and even more driven than she was to find this gem hoard that they had now convinced themselves existed. She wondered if they would run into any wild mining familiars. She wondered what other creatures could be found down here. She had found ones like Ral and Harper and she was always eager to meet more wild creatures. The trio had grown adept at exploring during their journey. This one had been long and well worth it.
If she had to turn back after their next treasure find, Fanged wouldn’t be one to complain. The tunnel had quietened down, reminding her of the strange noise she had heard earlier. She hadn’t managed to work out what it had been and she certainly hoped it wasn’t dangerous.
“Maybe I need to teach you guys some battle moves. But I haven’t exactly trained any of my pets battle moves before,” she mused. “I don’t think now is the best time for that.”
Pachinko for sure would benefit from some battle training, but here was not the right place.
(Ral 12, 12 | Pachinko 16, 24)
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Post by Nadia on Oct 30, 2020 15:14:13 GMT -6
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Post by Fanged on Nov 21, 2020 22:22:30 GMT -6
Fanged felt that eerily familiar thrum of power hit her body. Pachinko felt her tense and he peered down into her face curiously. He knew that his owner was concerned with something, but he couldn’t figure out what that was. After all, he couldn’t feel the distinct thrum of magic himself. Ral was a little more in tune with the magic, but that had more to do with his instinct for finding gems and crystals than it was towards magic. Fanged followed the pull of magic with an eager Ral close behind at her heels. She followed that sensation until she reached where it led her to.
She felt a sense of calming wash over her as she found the source of the magic. She picked up the crystal and placed it into her backpack alongside the other gems it had been stacked with. She hadn’t seen one in this colour before. Ral watched her with amazement etched into his features. She had found a lot of gems all at once! Pachinko was less interested in the gems, but even he could recognize an impressive find when he saw one. When the gems were safely placed away, they were ready to continue on.
(Ral 12 1/5, 12 1/5 | Pachinko 16 1/5, 24 1/5)
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Post by Fanged on Nov 23, 2020 15:58:40 GMT -6
The terrain around them gradually grew more difficult to traverse. Pachinko was gradually growing uncomfortable, as though he could sense an invisible danger around them. Fanged decided to take a cue from him and found herself on edge as well. If there was danger about, they needed to be careful. Ral was less careful about things. It was in his nature to be rather easy-going and he would only worry about danger if it posed a direct threat to him. Their different styles of dealing with danger could be beneficial. Fanged and Pachinko might be overreacting to nothing, but if there was danger, they could be prepared on Ral’s behalf. On the other hand, Ral would continue going on business as usual and the work they were doing would progress despite the potential danger.
“We’ll keep our eyes peeled, but there isn’t reason for us to worry yet,” Fanged remarked.
Pachinko seemed to settle at the sound of her soothing tone. With that settled, Fanged turned her attention back to the path ahead. She needed to pick a new direction to go towards. She watched Ral, checking to see if he had any idea where they should head to next.
(Ral 12 2/5, 12 2/5 | Pachinko 16 2/5, 24 2/5)
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Post by Fanged on Nov 23, 2020 22:06:04 GMT -6
The tunnel they had been traveling down had many options to branch of into. Fanged didn’t know which path she wanted to follow, feeling like she wanted to leave that part up to chance. She decided to turn down one randomly, not taking the time to investigate it first. Ral followed her. His enthusiasm was evident and he moved eagerly to explore the new passageway. Pachinko was forced along for the ride, though he didn’t appear to mind at all. The tunnel was darker than the last area had been and she scrambled to move the flashlight into a position where it could aid her.
She shone the flashlight upwards, studying the area with a critical eye. The ceiling looked sturdy to her which was a reassuring thought. Pachinko followed her gaze, though he wasn’t quite sure what she was searching for. When she was satisfied with what she saw, she turned to sweep her flashlight across the length of the tunnel. Everything appeared quiet for now. There were no obvious signs of gems, but she didn’t let that deter her. Ral moved with a steady purpose. He was at ease in the new area and worked diligently to scout the immediate area.
(Ral 12 3/5, 12 3/5 | Pachinko 16 3/5, 24 3/5)
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Post by Fanged on Nov 23, 2020 23:30:38 GMT -6
The tunnel was quiet save for their footsteps that thudded against the ground. Ral and her moved fairly silently, but not even they could completely conceal the scraping of feet against the ground. She felt a calming serenity wash over her. Pachinko was acting less nervous and she allowed his calmness to relax her as well. With this sudden ease, she found herself more determined to complete some hard work. She hadn’t put much effort into actively looking for gems. She had gotten lucky with the frequent tugs of magic that had led her towards various gems stashes.
She moved forward with a steady purpose. The tunnel appeared void of treasures for now and it would be up to her and the creatures to find some. Ral was eager enough to help. He was a bit of a goof, but he did have a strong work ethic buried beneath that easy-going exterior. Pachinko had completely settled down now. He watched their surroundings carefully, for his eyes were always sharp. She paused for a moment to give him a quick scratch on the head before resuming her search for gems. She observed carefully, looking for the slightest signs that might indicate the presence of gems.
(Ral 12 4/5, 12 4/5 | Pachinko 16 4/5, 24 4/5)
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Post by Fanged on Nov 24, 2020 1:01:57 GMT -6
She wondered if this intensive search of gems indicated that she had a greedy nature. She didn’t see any harm in collecting gems. She didn’t have the knowledge to utilize them herself, but she could sell them to someone who would. And was her hard work not worth anything? She felt a bit guilty though she knew that money was a necessity in this world. After her trip to the Hunter’s Lodge, which itself could be considered an ethical conundrum, she had been relieved of most of her hard-earned stash of credits. Part of the purpose of this expedition was to find enough treasure to replenish them.
Pachinko shifted on her shoulder as he sought a more comfortable position. Ral followed her, sticking close to her heels. The trio were comfortable with each other at this point. Pachinko didn’t startle at the slightest noise and Ral didn’t wander off so readily. She expected him to do so when there was a purpose, but now he enjoyed sticking close to her. Fanged picked up the pace once she decided that the tunnel was safe for now. The more ground they could cover, hopefully the higher chance they had to run into gems.
(Ral 13, 13 | Pachinko 17, 26)
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