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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 2:31:53 GMT -6
The plan sounded good. The leopard unstrapped his bag and plopped it down beside him, fishing through the contents in search of his lunch tin and thermos. Some food and drink would replenish his energy. Those items were set aside while he fetched a proper little meal for the mosca. As much as he would've liked to feed her field mouse flavored kibble, it was not an option at the store. Chicken and gravy would have to suffice. The can popped open and its contents were poured onto a shallow metal dish. As for the gem dragon's meal.. It would be just fine eating rocks or whatever it found in the caverns, right?
The leopard glanced over to the gem creature after pushing the mosca's food over to her. It seemed rather content scraping up chunks of mineral from the stalagmite and digging itself another little hole. But, if it did get hungry (or found something he wanted to keep), he had set aside a few gem-snacks for the creature. Now then, time to feed himself. His meal was chicken tikka from one of his favorite restaurants around the community center. They had such mouthwatering curries.. It was a must to buy extra to go.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 2:40:09 GMT -6
While the pair of felines dined, the gem dragon was hard at work. Gid sensed something tasty around here, oh yes. The stalagmite was bland and watery, but underneath it was his prize. Probably. First instincts were sometimes wrong, sometimes not wrong. Only digging would reveal the secrets of the earth. And so the creature clawed its way under the natural mineral fixture, intent on finding its own meal. And soon enough, its prize was had. Lapis lazuli. A beautiful blue stone that rivaled its own sapphire hide. Of course, the gem dragon cared not for such beauty, ignorant even of its own.
The leopard flicked his pointed ears toward the rustling and clinking, casting a curious glance over toward the commotion. Seems like it had found something already. Not ideal, considering he wasn't prepared to pause his meal just to wrestle with the creature.. Perhaps he could propose a trade. With a scoop of rice and curry in his cheek, the man called for his mining companion and waved a worthless snack-gem in an attempt to lure the beast over. Mira looked up from her own meal for but a moment. There was nothing interesting to be seen in rocks, be it gems or not.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 2:56:09 GMT -6
The food was nice, and that was just about all the mosca cared for at the moment. Having nothing but the occasional treat for the past hour or two wasn't filling by any means. Still, the feline watched the events which transpired between the gem dragon and its master, if only because there was nothing else to be entertained by in the cavern. Somehow, Xentus managed to garner Gid's attention. The sapphire beast had a beautiful, deep blue stone fixed between jaws. He felt like he knew it was either lapis or turquoise just by looking at it - he had read about this one in his book on precious stones. It wasn't the rarest gem, but many sought after it for its solid deep blue hue and applications as dye when powdered.
Gid seemed to already know what was up. It seemed interested in the pebble the man waved around, tempted to hoard and take it for itself. But it also knew the man wanted what it had. Not that it was against him in particular.. Its fondness of the man was better than its fondness for delicious stones to eat.. The creature seemed to deliberate on its next course of action.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:02:14 GMT -6
Well. It liked the man enough. That was decided. Gid fixed its hollow eye sockets on the leopard and the temptation he held. The man smiled in return, cooing gently to help coax the dragon into coming closer. It was like playing fetch with a dog, but instead of a stick thrown it was a rabbit, freshly caught and killed. Hunting dogs would be perfectly happy with this arrangement. Guard dogs.. Perhaps not so much. And the gem dragon was more like shiny guard dog than a retriever. It relented, much to the leopard's relief, though in its own way. Gid attempted to make off with both the worthless gem and the lapis, but the leopard's deft hands were much too quick with the switch around.
Xentus thanked the dragon for its hard work, singing its praises as he continued to stuff his mouth with more food. And again, Gid sauntered off in search for a better meal for itself. The leopard took a moment to show Mira the pretty rock, even if the mosca held no interest in such frivolous things. The feline's large yellow eyes stared at the stone as it was presented, but ultimately was much more keen on finishing its meal.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:08:14 GMT -6
"Ah, suit yourself", the leopard sarcastically mocked, seeing the mosca's indifference toward the stone. He twirled it between his clawed fingers as he examined it, making note of the solid blue hue striped with veins of gold. What make up those streaks in the stone anyway? Was it actual gold, or perhaps some other mineral? Pyrite, maybe.. It was golden but not truly gold. Fool's gold. Unfortunately for him, he didn't quite know how to tell the difference between the two. Both were golden and metallic in nature, and that's about how far his knowledge extended. Further research would need to be conducted. Having samples was always a nice bonus.
Soon enough, the feline duo's meals were finished. The leopard was scraping up the last bits of curry from his tin at about the same time the mosca was furiously licking the bowl for the last few drops of gravy. In all the while, Gid didn't seem to find anything else of interest, but the creature did leave behind a pile or rubble in its wake that he would need to take a second look though just to be sure. There could be either something it missed or something it didn't care about that he would.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:15:51 GMT -6
There was some time spent repacking and preparation to do before the journey continued. It was convenient to have a water source to clean out the used metal dishware. Xentus was a little reserved about using a natural, undisturbed lake to use as a giant sink.. But what different would it be if something decided to die in there, aside from added seasoning and deliciousness? He smirked to himself at the last thought. And with it, he didn't feel so bad for using the water to clean off his belongings. It didn't look like it was drinking quality, but if something did live within the murky depths, perhaps it would appreciate having some scraps to dine on.
By now, he was feeling confident enough in Mira to let her walk the caverns without the lead. She had been showing significant progress in becoming accustomed with his presence, even finding his company to be comforting! That was his primary goal accomplished. He still felt that he needed to keep a close eye on her still, but the little bell affixed to her collar would help with that.
"Alright Mira, stay close now, yes?", he whispered to the mosca as he unlatched the leather lead and let her freely roam. If the gem dragon gave her any inkling on how to behave, this should go fine.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:23:25 GMT -6
Mira seemed to have some reservations about her lifeline suddenly disappearing. A gentle, but nervous, mew escaped her mouth, large yellow eyes looking at the leopard pleadingly. As nice as it would be to go exploring, the cavern was still a dark and scary place. An open field would've been a different case.. Xentus tilted his head at her and frowned, unsure of what the feline wanted. Her body pressed again his leg in her best attempt to stay close, as the man asked (thought he didn't need to). After finding that he couldn't quite walk with the mosca constantly pressing herself against his foot, he re-leashed her, getting the idea that it somehow made her feel better. Most cats didn't like having any kind of restraint on their body. But then again, most cats weren't forced to go cave crawling.
Almost ready to go, the mammalian man did take some time to take a look through the wake left by the claws of the gem dragon. Gid was still clawing around nearby, though it seemed to do so restlessly. Stealing its would-be meals likely left the poor creature frustrated. Or it could've gotten bored and wanted to entertain itself. He couldn't quite tell.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:29:12 GMT -6
In any event, he was able to salvage something from the wreckage of rubble, dirt, and stone. As it would seem, the gem dragon had disturbed the final resting place of some unfortunate creature. Another one of these long sharp claws were among the only bones left intact. Xentus couldn't tell if the fracturing and broken bits were the result of Gid rummaging through or not, but he wasn't opposed to taking another souvenir from some unknown creature. The more salvagable bones, the better. With some research, he actually might be able to figure out what created these remains. The claw was pocketed and the journey continued.
Ideally, Xentus felt as if heading toward the sound of flowing water might prove interesting. There was a dull background roar in this entire area, but nothing indicated some sort of underground river around here. The lake was stagnant from what he could tell, but that didn't mean there wasn't some outlet it fed into at some other location deeper underground. The man called for his traveling companions to follow along as he decided to take the lead in this venture henceforth, following along the wall in hopes it would lead to some new place.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:34:24 GMT -6
As he walked, he realized he wasn't exactly certain just how deep underground they were. He had no form of depth meter.. If such a thing even existed. It had felt like a majority of the travel so far was spend on a gradual decline, but there were also some natural stairs and inclines that they'd traversed. He mused on it, trying to get some vague idea of how long it would take to reach the outside again. Ah, and what time would it be by now? No doubt it was night.. But he didn't happen to carry a pocket watch today. So there was another mystery to be solved at a later point in time.
For now, he followed his ears toward the dull roar of water flow. The cavern opened up into a wide open, spacious area that he could barely see across to the other side of. The ground was damp and uneven, making progress difficult. Especially considering he had two creatures to keep in check. He wasn't really worried about Gid, but Mira seemed to have some trouble with the slick ground underfoot. Her heard the occasional flutter of feathered wings as the feline tried her best to stay balanced.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:43:10 GMT -6
He himself had little trouble staying on his two feet. His long, fluffy tail helped keep him steady, but he also had a natural affinity for being steadfast while traversing unsteady terrain. He likened himself to a survivalist, able to cope with living out in nature. In his case, he was more used to arid badlands, but the principals were the same. Don't fall down. And if you did, steady yourself and get back up. He could feel his claws digging into the ground to help steady himself in particularly slippery areas. He even opted to carry Mira over a few short, jagged cliffs. The gem dragon needed no such help, thankfully. It too was used to this kind of environment. And considering this was part of its home, the leopard only expected as much.
This underground watery crag field was much larger than he had anticipated. Trickles of water flowed down from above, leading him to believe that the river he sought after was at the top or nearby. The echoing sound of water flow made it difficult for him to pin down exactly where he might need to head.. But he went with his gut, pressing onward and upward.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 3:51:26 GMT -6
All this climbing was getting tiresome. He'd scale a short shelf that was about waist high, wander forward for a good few paces, trace along the wall for the path to eventually lead to another shelf, then repeat. The watery surface did make him paranoid about slipping and falling to his death.. But it was best to not let such thoughts weigh down one's mind. He'd done fairly well in not slipping for the most part though. He wasn't afraid to dig into the ground with his hands and claws if he really needed to.
His main concern was making sure Mira could keep up. The young mosca slipped and fluttered much more frequently than he liked.. Thankfully, she was small enough for him to carry cradled in his arm. It left him a little more susceptible to slipping himself, but it was manageable enough. Gid took to flying if its footing failed, leaving the leopard with less to worry about. Over, the climb wasn't steep, but it was beginning to be exhausting. Xentus found himself taking a minute to catch his breath as they pressed onward up a steep incline. He was determined.. But the expended energy was starting to overshadow the amount regain from the food none too long ago.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 4:15:21 GMT -6
This was turning out to be more of a workout than he anticipated.. But he still decided to press on. He knew how to be determined, and stubbornly so. There wasn't any turning back at this point, in any case. He'd already come much too far by this point.
The air was becoming less stale yet still saturated with moisture as he continued his ascent. Perhaps he was closer to the surface than he thought? Or he climbed much higher than he recalled. Even so, there was inky pitch blackness that surrounded him, leaving no indicator that there was a window to the outside world. That if, it there were any daylight remaining (which he seriously doubted). If night had crested over the horizon, perhaps he'd soon catch a glimpse of the stars peeking out through a hole in the cavern ceiling. Wouldn't that be a sight to behold?
It was enough to inspire him to press on. Mira squirmed uncomfortably in his arm, but he still didn't feel that ground was steady enough for her. Perhaps she grew jealous of the flying gem dragon. "Xentus asks Mira to hold tight a while longer. Soon she shall be freed", he whispered gently between labored breaths.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 4:23:24 GMT -6
Soon, the reprieve the leopard wished for was in his reach. The ground flattened and steadied, though was still cluttered with various rocks and stalagmites. It was damp, slick, but yet muddy. And the sound of flowing water was near. Not rushing, but definitely the sound of flow. The cave opened into a wide clearing littered with moss and boulders on flat-ish ground - clear from further cliffs and steep inclines. It was a relieving sight for both felines. Mira was back on her own four paws, but still tethered to her owner by the leash. Gid was covered in water droplets that had condensed on its gem surface, covering it in shimmery beads.
Xentus continued to follow his pointed ears, shining his flashlight forward to illuminate the way. The river he was tracking had to be near. The glimmering reflections that bounced off the surface of the ground made it hard to tell if it was truly earth or not until he wandered closer to find nothing but solid ground. But soon, up ahead, the unmistakable glint of liquid reflected a bluish hue that had to be a sure sign. He was relieved.. But it would still be a bit of a walk to reach his destination.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 4:30:20 GMT -6
And for what reward? Exhaustion and a pretty sight for his eyes? It was enough for the leopard truthfully. The feeling of curiosity fulfilled was one that was one of his greatest motivations in life. For better or worse. It had cost him much more trouble in the past in comparison to his current difficult underground hike. He couldn't help himself. But he was also perfectly happy living in such a way. There was too much joy to be had in discovery. Even if wherever he was had been charted by some other man long ago, knowing he was making a new journey for himself was exhilarating. Even if physically tiring. His mind often went and settled on ideas without considering the needs of the body driving it.
The leopard slowed his pace at seeing his destination. He needed to recover a little bit. Maybe another short break was in order. He wanted to travel along the riverbank for a while to see what fed it. He was curious to see if it led to an exit.. He wasn't looking forward to retracing his steps, for many of them were long forgotten. And it was unlikely that either Mira or Gid knew the way in reverse.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 3, 2020 4:37:59 GMT -6
He didn't want his exit from the caverns to be as long a journey as his travels within. The purpose of the venture had been fulfilled; to forge a bond between himself and Mira. He felt that the mosca was fairly friendly towards him now, seeming to enjoy his company. And he quite enjoyed her companionship. It was a change of pace from his usual big beasts, but she was also still quite young. A grown mosca was fairly impressive in size. Still not as great as a wiurn, but there were only a handful of beasts that were.
Xentus found himself a lumpy boulder to perch atop as he made it near the edge of the underground river. The waters were murky, shimmering in a translucent cyan hue, no doubt dyed that color from the minerals collected from the earth it carved through. A heavy exhale escaped him. Finally made it. What came next could wait a few minutes. He wanted to rest for a moment and stare at the flowing waters. Gid took the time to lurk around, taking no interest in the water like its master did. It took a brief glance at the mosca, curled up by the mammalian's feet, then wandered around to peck at any errant stones.
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