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Post by Leafy on Aug 7, 2023 11:32:09 GMT -6
"Hey there, what are you looking at?"
Sage perked up as she heard Leafy speak to her. The little Felusine chirped at her in response, paws waving around in excitement. When the girl drew in closer, she saw that Sage had found more insects to play with. They seemed to be swarming around a gem, almost as if they were drawn to it. Leafy wasn't entirely sure what they were doing there, but they were fascinating to look at. The gem seemed to glow from within, illuminating the area around them with a dim light. On closer inspection, the gem was made of plastic and was made specifically to act as a light source. She supposed that there would be some evidence that man had been within these caves before.
Thane trotted back to see what was holding up Leafy and Sage. He didn't have much interest in the insects, but he'd use the light source to his advantage. He crouched down to get a better look at the light and Sage darted out to try and catch an insect before it flew off. Leafy looked on in amusement as she saw the two of them lightly scuffle with each other.
(Thane 2 2/5, 7 2/5 | Sage 2 2/5, 7 2/5)
12
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Post by Leafy on Aug 7, 2023 23:15:25 GMT -6
Thane gently nudged the insect with his paw, and it took off, disappearing in the darkness of the cave. Sage huffed and turned her tail at him. Thane only snorted in response. He turned his attention to Leafy. He looked ready to head onwards and Leafy gestured for Sage that they were heading forward once again.
The trio moved on, exploring their surroundings for as long as they could. Leafy was so lost in thought that she hadn't realized how much time had passed. The cavern that they had found was just as large as the previous one and it seemed to stretch on for quite some distance. Sage soon came to a stop and snapped Leafy to attention once more.
"Is there something there?" the girl questioned, not quite sure why they had stopped. A quick glance at Thane confirmed that the halfbreed was concerned with something as well. He was crouching low to the ground, ears perked towards a strange noise that was coming from beyond the cavern. There was an odd clicking noise, like an oversized insect clacking its mandibles together or a human tapping their fingernails on something. It was hidden behind a wall which Leafy felt quite grateful for.
(Thane 2 3/5, 7 3/5 | Sage 2 3/5, 7 3/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 7, 2023 23:27:31 GMT -6
It seemed as though whatever was making the noise didn't know they were here. Thane was still alert, though he didn't make any move to try and fight the creature through the wall. Sage looked apprehensive and appeared eager to leave the area before the creature could find them. If it was a creature even. She felt that they had been here long enough, and it was probably best to leave now.
Thane led them forward, acting as their protector against the unknown. Sage wanted to be picked up again and waited for Leafy to comply with her wishes. Leafy hoisted Sage up into her arms and cradled her to her chest, letting the Felusine settle in. The three moved forward in silence, trying to be as quiet as possible to avoid attracting the attention of anything dangerous.
Leafy felt a cold chill run down her spine as though she had been drenched in icy water. She quickly looked at Sage and saw that the Felusine appeared affected as well. Thane glanced up at them in confusion, having not felt the same strange sensation. She hoped it wasn't some magical nonsense or something silly like a ghost. She decided to ignore it for now.
(Thane 2 4/5, 7 4/5 | Sage 2 4/5, 7 4/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 7, 2023 23:49:00 GMT -6
The cart rattled quietly as she pulled it along, still filled with the gemstones they had found so far. It would only grow heavier with time. Leafy found that she had been so distracted from the strange chill and hadn't even noticed they had backtracked to the previous cavern. Not to be discouraged, she decided to simply pick a different direction this time. Thane decided to pick a direction for her instead. He darted to the left. His sight focused on something that Leafy wasn't paying attention to. Sage perked up in her arms, equally alert as the girl moved to follow.
The three quickly found a dead end and Thane stood still as they went to investigate if they could dig through or not. The clicking noise was growing louder as whatever was making it drew closer. A loud screech sounded through the area, causing both Leafy and Sage to jump. Then just as sudden as it had appeared, the noise stopped once again leaving the three in silence. Leafy felt unnerved that they were clearly being stalked by something. Sage shook in her arms and the girl hugged her tightly. Thane appeared brave and growled at the wall in case their stalker dared to return.
(Thane 3, 8 | Sage 3, 8)
15
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Post by Nadia on Aug 7, 2023 23:58:50 GMT -6
Oh, have you found an ore vein?
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Post by Leafy on Aug 8, 2023 17:57:38 GMT -6
While they were concerned with whatever had been chasing them, Thane was quick to pluck a piece of ore up from the ground. Leafy accepted it from him and added it to the cart with their other finds. She came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be worth it to try and dig their way through the dead end, so she picked the cart back up and began to retrace their steps. Sage climbed up to her shoulder and decided to perch there for now. It wasn't long before the strange clicking noise returned and Leafy decided to head in the direction opposite from it. Thane was ready for action, growling at the wall. It felt like he was trying to say, 'leave us alone'.
The pathway that Leafy had chosen narrowed considerably and for a moment, she wondered if she would need to ditch the cart. It was a fairly tight squeeze, but she was able to bring the cart along. The pathway curved to the right and opened up, allowing the cart to go forward, which Leafy was quite relieved to see. The area became increasingly steep and Leafy decided she needed to work carefully with the cart to lower it down the path.
(Thane 3 1/5, 8 1/5 | Sage 3 1/5, 8 1/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 8, 2023 18:14:35 GMT -6
Thane was quick to catch up to the cart after having wandered off for a moment, and he flicked his ears forward in greeting to Sage. The Felusine climbed onto the cart, using her newfound leverage to get a good look at the area around them. There was a long drop to their left and Sage called attention to Leafy to be careful. Thane made a warning growl as well. Leafy looked down at the drop and wished that she hadn't. She wasn't particularly afraid of heights, but it certainly added pressure to how she was moving the cart. She could feel her heartbeat quickening and her hands started to sweat. She took the time to wipe her palms against her jeans.
Thane pressed against her encouragingly and she managed to drag the cart down to an area where the ground evened out. She let out a sign of relief, glad to be on solid ground once more. At least as solid as it could be. There was still a long drop next to them, but it was further away now. She glanced at Thane and Sage and checked them over to see that they were still alright with everything.
(Thane 3 2/5, 8 2/5 | Sage 3 2/5, 8 2/5)
17
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Post by Leafy on Aug 8, 2023 18:28:24 GMT -6
"Great job, team!" she smiled at them. The cart was easier to deal with now and Leafy wouldn't even need to take it with them everywhere if she didn't want to. Sage still stood on top of it, unwilling to leave with the chasm beside them. Leafy leaned over to get a closer look now that she didn't feel as pressured by it. There were a few pathways leading down to the bottom and it appeared that some branched off from the one she was currently on. It would likely be a good idea to try and reach it.
Sage nodded enthusiastically as she agreed with Leafy when the girl voiced the question aloud. Thane didn't wait to respond and instead, chose to pick a path that would get them there. He went with the widest one which meant they would be able to take the cart with. Leafy took one last glance at the chasm before she took the lead and the others followed behind her. With the possible dangers ahead, the three needed to stay close together. Sage suddenly stood to attention, perking her ears forward as she heard something strange in the distance. Leafy stopped and listened as well.
(Thane 3 3/5, 8 3/5 | Sage 3 3/5, 8 3/5)
18
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Post by Leafy on Aug 8, 2023 21:23:02 GMT -6
It sounded almost as though there was something howling in the distance. Thane's hackles stood on end, barring his teeth as he heard the sound too. Before long, it had passed and the area was drenched in silence once more. It took a few minutes before any of them could relax.
Sage jumped down to the ground and darted away before Leafy could react. Thane looked to Leafy and growled softly as if he wanted to urge her to continue on. Shrugging, Leafy picked up the cart and moved to follow the Felusine's trail. She didn't get very far, stopping a few meters in front. Sage was crouched down, her attention captured by another group of swarming insects. As they approached, the girl could see that this time Sage was playing with a group of moths. These moths were also circling one of those strange plastic gem lights. The light was switching on and off, though it never seemed to be fully lit. Leafy watched it for a few moments, wondering if it was a set pattern or flashing randomly. Sage seemed to be in a trance as she followed the group of moths, chasing them as they flew around her.
(Thane 3 4/5, 8 4/5 | Sage 3 4/5, 8 4/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 8, 2023 21:33:16 GMT -6
Thane sniffed at them and decided that they were harmless. Leafy looked at them curiously, wondering what it was that Sage liked about them. She crouched down as well, though she made sure to keep her distance from the moths as well as the light. Before Sage could wander too far, Leafy picked her up again. The Felusine shook her head from side to side, quickly breaking out of the daze that she had been placed in. Leafy glanced at the light and decided to kick at it. She hoped that it wouldn't explode or something dramatic like that. And if it did, then she hoped hat it wouldn't hurt them. The light flickered before shutting off completely, leaving them in darkness once again. Deciding that she didn't want to be in complete darkness, Leafy grabbed her flashlight and turned it on.
The light flickered a bit hesitantly, but it finally turned on, illuminating their surroundings. Feeling a bit more secure with the light, the trio felt comfortable enough to continue forward. Sage settled into her arms and Leafy pulled the cart along behind them. Thane took a turn at the front, leading them down a wide path. The cave walls were lined with unlit torches.
(Thane 4, 9 | Sage 4, 9)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 8, 2023 23:39:55 GMT -6
It was obvious that other people had been down here at some point as well. The torches looked worn down, as though they needed to be replaced before they could be lit again. Not that Leafy had a fire source on her at the moment to attempt to get them lit. Thane pawed at one of the torches and knocked it to the ground. It shattered when it hit the ground, leaving pieces of wood on the ground. Leafy picked one up and studied it for a moment, shocked that a torch could break in such a manner.
Leafy glanced up at Thane, who had a look of amusement on his face, as if he were proud of himself. She laughed and shook her head at him. "Well, at least it wasn't something important."
Sage had grown impatient and tugged at Leafy's pants, trying to get her to move forward once again. The girl allowed Sage to tug her along. Thane took a turn leading and Sage moved to his side. They didn't get very far before Leafy's vision was completely obscured with darkness, even with the aid of her flashlight. She tapped at the flashlight, trying to see if she could get it to go brighter.
(Thane 4 1/5, 9 1/5 | Sage 4 1/5, 9 1/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 9, 2023 0:11:18 GMT -6
The strange darkness soon cleared, leaving no trace that it had ever been there in the first place. A sudden rumble filled the area, and the ground began to shake. Leafy gathered up Sage and Thane and the three of them were quick to take cover under a sturdy looking boulder. The shaking loosened a torrent of dirt and pebbles that were freed from the ceiling and showered the cavern floor. Leafy cursed under her breath. That would make the path much more difficult to traverse.
When the shaking subsided, Leafy noticed that she could see the level above them through an opening that had formed in the ceiling. There was no way to reach it, even if she did climb on top of the cart, but it was still rather interesting to see. Thane whined softly and Leafy felt Sage move closer to her. She rubbed at Thane's back as he pressed against her side. And she ran her hand along Sage's soft fur, trying to reassure both of her companions that everything was fine now. "Let's move on, guys," Leafy smiled, trying to show that she was unaffected by the earthquake. She took a peek at the ground and realized that they could still continue on.
(Thane 4 2/5, 9 2/5 | Sage 4 2/5, 9 2/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 9, 2023 0:30:42 GMT -6
It would just take more time to move the cart around than it would have taken before. The ground seemed solid enough, though the girl had to be careful as they traveled forward. A loud growl sounded behind them and Thane spun around, baring his teeth as he readied himself to attack whatever had caused it. But when nothing appeared, it became evident that it was simply a strange sound that the cave itself had emitted.
The air began to shift, and a strange odor filled the air. Leafy scrunched up her nose and held her breath, trying to stop herself from coughing. The smell was foul, like the smell of sulfur. The likely culprit would have been stagnant water, but she couldn't pinpoint the source. Sage covered her nose and Thane whined in complaint. Leafy picked the cart up again and tried her best to hurry forward. Ahead of them, the cavern opened up completely. It appeared that they had reached the bottom of the chasm. It had taken them a suspiciously short amount of time to reach here. Leafy wouldn't be surprised if something magical or otherwise strange had occurred to allow this to happen. The smell dissipated in the open area.
(Thane 4 3/5, 9 3/5 | Sage 4 3/5, 9 3/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 9, 2023 0:42:39 GMT -6
Leafy decided that this was a safe enough area to create a base of sorts for their journey. She dropped the cart in a safe enough location, deciding that this would be as far as she was willing to take it. From there, she could branch off and explore without it, taking trips back to deposit any of the gems and ore they might find. Sage and Thane seemed pleased to travel without the cart for a while as well.
The trio set about their work, scouting out the immediate vicinity of the cave and clearing out the area to make things a bit easier to work with to make a base. In order to serve as a base camp, it would need to be a workable area. When the area was cleaned up, the trio headed out to explore. Sage chose the path this time, picking one that was narrower than they'd been able to head through when they'd been traveling with the cart. The girl had to watch her step. The path was covered with rocks, making her footing treacherous. But it also led deeper into the cave, which meant that they could potentially find a richer source of gems.
(Thane 4 4/5, 9 4/5 | Sage 4 4/5, 9 4/5)
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Post by Leafy on Aug 9, 2023 0:53:10 GMT -6
Thane caught up to the girl and took point as he sniffed the ground. Sage stayed close behind him, using the halfbreed as protection when she wasn't being carried by Leafy. They came to an open area again, which had Sage acting nervous. There was a path leading up to the left, which they took. They emerged into a cavern that was much brighter than the rest of the cave had been. The sound of rushing water was prevalent, and a sizable underground river cut through the center of the cavern. The ceiling was high above their heads, allowing the area to be well lit by the areas above them.
The ground had a variety of different textures in this area. Close to the water, the dirt was damp and difficult to dig through. However, in higher locations it remained quite dry. Sage and Thane both settled in with ease. The area seemed safe, and they both allowed themselves to relax while they remained here. In fact, the area looked like one that would be useful for training purposes. Leafy would let them explore first before she broached the subject of training. But it seemed like a good idea to train her pets some useful mining tricks.
(Thane 5, 10 | Sage 5, 10)
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