At Kazriel's words, Naxan's fur seemed to rise across his back with unease, "You're right." His words were as stiff as his legs, a fear rising in his abdomen that felt as if claws were piercing into him.
Naxan took a glance back at Kazriel, an almost frightened and pained expression crossing his face as he spoke past his quivering mouth, "Together or never, like rock and algae. Forever."
His own words seemed to make him feel slightly better, a weak smile on his face as he turned away from Kazriel, "Lets just hurry and hope nothing's wrong." By the end of his words, his voice grew smaller.
Taking a small breath, Naxan rose briefly to his full height of a withstanding meter before deflating as he surveyed the area around him even more.. It felt abandoned.
Slowly, the tundra led the way, leaves and small twigs cracking under his weight as the closer he got to the dead dragon that laid within the cave, the lower he got to the floor. It looked as if he was hunting- but his tail and wings were tucked tightly towards his body in fear. His ears were flat against his fur that bristled with nerves.
At Kazriel's words, Naxan's fur seemed to rise across his back with unease, "You're right." His words were as stiff as his legs, a fear rising in his abdomen that felt as if claws were piercing into him.
Naxan took a glance back at Kazriel, an almost frightened and pained expression crossing his face as he spoke past his quivering mouth, "Together or never, like rock and algae. Forever."
His own words seemed to make him feel slightly better, a weak smile on his face as he turned away from Kazriel, "Lets just hurry and hope nothing's wrong." By the end of his words, his voice grew smaller.
Taking a small breath, Naxan rose briefly to his full height of a withstanding meter before deflating as he surveyed the area around him even more.. It felt abandoned.
Slowly, the tundra led the way, leaves and small twigs cracking under his weight as the closer he got to the dead dragon that laid within the cave, the lower he got to the floor. It looked as if he was hunting- but his tail and wings were tucked tightly towards his body in fear. His ears were flat against his fur that bristled with nerves.
Kazriel crept along after Naxan, slipping wordlessly over the packed earth like a serpent. He kept close to Nax, keeping pace with the tundra's steps so as not to fall behind. Although he was afraid of what they might find, he was even more afraid of hesitating for even a moment and leaving Naxan to make the discovery alone.
As they grew closer, Kazriel opened his second pair of eyes once more, peering at the limp body of the dragon looking for any sign of life. He walked with Naxan around the corner, and then nearly stopped cold.
That wasn't a dragon.
Was it? With it's ink-black body that looked like oil in the heat of the sun? With it's wings, bent and featherless, draped over themselves like a blanket? And was that their face, that blank mask of nothingness, with no eyes and no nose and no mouth?
Kazriel gaped in shock. This couldn't be a dragon. No, not at all. What could have happened to someone to make them like this? Who had they been?
"Nax." Kazriel forced the word out. "Let's hurry and find Estera." He flicked his gaze away from the body, unable to bear the sight of it seemingly melting in the sun. Unable to bear what it might mean.
Flicking his tail at Naxan, Kazriel gestured at walking around the creature, and he himself began to make a wide arc around it so as not to intrude upon its circle of death.
Kazriel crept along after Naxan, slipping wordlessly over the packed earth like a serpent. He kept close to Nax, keeping pace with the tundra's steps so as not to fall behind. Although he was afraid of what they might find, he was even more afraid of hesitating for even a moment and leaving Naxan to make the discovery alone.
As they grew closer, Kazriel opened his second pair of eyes once more, peering at the limp body of the dragon looking for any sign of life. He walked with Naxan around the corner, and then nearly stopped cold.
That wasn't a dragon.
Was it? With it's ink-black body that looked like oil in the heat of the sun? With it's wings, bent and featherless, draped over themselves like a blanket? And was that their face, that blank mask of nothingness, with no eyes and no nose and no mouth?
Kazriel gaped in shock. This couldn't be a dragon. No, not at all. What could have happened to someone to make them like this? Who had they been?
"Nax." Kazriel forced the word out. "Let's hurry and find Estera." He flicked his gaze away from the body, unable to bear the sight of it seemingly melting in the sun. Unable to bear what it might mean.
Flicking his tail at Naxan, Kazriel gestured at walking around the creature, and he himself began to make a wide arc around it so as not to intrude upon its circle of death.
On closer inspection of the.. creature, Naxan paused. There's was something off about the 'dragon', it wasn't just the sludge it seemed to make up of. It wasn't even the featureless face it carried.
Something felt vile, off-putting besides all the weirdness happening currently. Taking his eyes off the thing, Naxan tried pushing it out of his head, ignoring the sludge-beast that stayed forever at the corner of his eyes.
A still-life picture of mummified.
"It shouldn't be too hard to find her?" Questioning aloud made his words sound easy, even to himself, but as he took in the full structure of the cave, his breath seemed to catch. Eyes widening and pupils enlarging swiftly as the amount of tunnels that deviated from the entrance seemed to ever continue into the mountainside the abode claimed.
"Kazriel.. do you remember a cave like this?" The tundra warily grimaced, brows scrunching together with consternation as he seemed to backpedal closer to his friend.
"There's no way this cave existed, we explored all the caves in our camp!" Naxan murmured nervously, fidgeting with his wings that flapped occasionally at his distress.
Whispering words of comfort to himself granted him no aid to his dwindling calm, and the sudden distant sound of earth rumbling from one of the tunnels only made him tremble with concern.
"You heard that too right?"
On closer inspection of the.. creature, Naxan paused. There's was something off about the 'dragon', it wasn't just the sludge it seemed to make up of. It wasn't even the featureless face it carried.
Something felt vile, off-putting besides all the weirdness happening currently. Taking his eyes off the thing, Naxan tried pushing it out of his head, ignoring the sludge-beast that stayed forever at the corner of his eyes.
A still-life picture of mummified.
"It shouldn't be too hard to find her?" Questioning aloud made his words sound easy, even to himself, but as he took in the full structure of the cave, his breath seemed to catch. Eyes widening and pupils enlarging swiftly as the amount of tunnels that deviated from the entrance seemed to ever continue into the mountainside the abode claimed.
"Kazriel.. do you remember a cave like this?" The tundra warily grimaced, brows scrunching together with consternation as he seemed to backpedal closer to his friend.
"There's no way this cave existed, we explored all the caves in our camp!" Naxan murmured nervously, fidgeting with his wings that flapped occasionally at his distress.
Whispering words of comfort to himself granted him no aid to his dwindling calm, and the sudden distant sound of earth rumbling from one of the tunnels only made him tremble with concern.
"You heard that too right?"
Kazriel did his best to ignore the creature, even as he passed it and his body tensed with the automatic fear of it being behind him. He resisted the urge to turn and check on it. This was made easier with the trouble of...
The cave.
Naxan was right. There was no way it had existed previously. It was massive, strange. On any other day, its mysteries would have enticed the two hatchlings into its depths, and no doubt Rhowen or Hilden would have had to coax them back and away from the call of adventure.
Now, however, it was a frightening behemoth to behold, with too many tunnels to venture towards. And then-
The deep rumble coming from one of the tunnels made Kazriel stiffen. What on Sornieth was that?
"I- I did," Kazriel whispered back, crouching low into the dirt again. He swished his tail behind him, nervous. "I don't know if I want to see what it was, but... What if it was Estera?" He turned to look at Naxan, mind conjuring up images of Estera caught in a landslide, or battling of strange earthen monsters. Or maybe there was some massive beast below, its dull roar rattling the caves...
Kazriel did his best to ignore the creature, even as he passed it and his body tensed with the automatic fear of it being behind him. He resisted the urge to turn and check on it. This was made easier with the trouble of...
The cave.
Naxan was right. There was no way it had existed previously. It was massive, strange. On any other day, its mysteries would have enticed the two hatchlings into its depths, and no doubt Rhowen or Hilden would have had to coax them back and away from the call of adventure.
Now, however, it was a frightening behemoth to behold, with too many tunnels to venture towards. And then-
The deep rumble coming from one of the tunnels made Kazriel stiffen. What on Sornieth was that?
"I- I did," Kazriel whispered back, crouching low into the dirt again. He swished his tail behind him, nervous. "I don't know if I want to see what it was, but... What if it was Estera?" He turned to look at Naxan, mind conjuring up images of Estera caught in a landslide, or battling of strange earthen monsters. Or maybe there was some massive beast below, its dull roar rattling the caves...
Naxan crouched for a moment, sniffing at the cavern's floor with trepidation as he tried to pick up anything familiar, but there wasn't anything besides an acrid smell that burnt his nose. His head raised- nose scrunching up as a sneeze left the tundra, his expression morphing into a pained one.
"Even though it's the entrance and we know for sure Estera came through here.. I can't pick up her scent.. Something nasty is blocking it." A disgusted look covered his pained grimace as he rubbed his nose with a paw. Whatever his nose had taken in decided to cling to the top of his mouth and the back of his throat.
His tongue slid across the roof of his mouth with unease, a texture not that dissimilar to slime was what he was met with. Naxan whined, "It smells nasty, feels nasty, but at least it doesn't taste like anything." The tundra's wings wiggled at his ill feelings.
Getting frustrated enough with it, he decided to ignore it with a petulant attitude, shaking his head to dislodge his thoughts as he took back in the tunnel entrances that led to different passages.
"..What tunnel did it come from?" Naxan worried his bottom lip for a moment before looking at Kazriel, "Should we just.. pick one and hope for the best??"
Naxan crouched for a moment, sniffing at the cavern's floor with trepidation as he tried to pick up anything familiar, but there wasn't anything besides an acrid smell that burnt his nose. His head raised- nose scrunching up as a sneeze left the tundra, his expression morphing into a pained one.
"Even though it's the entrance and we know for sure Estera came through here.. I can't pick up her scent.. Something nasty is blocking it." A disgusted look covered his pained grimace as he rubbed his nose with a paw. Whatever his nose had taken in decided to cling to the top of his mouth and the back of his throat.
His tongue slid across the roof of his mouth with unease, a texture not that dissimilar to slime was what he was met with. Naxan whined, "It smells nasty, feels nasty, but at least it doesn't taste like anything." The tundra's wings wiggled at his ill feelings.
Getting frustrated enough with it, he decided to ignore it with a petulant attitude, shaking his head to dislodge his thoughts as he took back in the tunnel entrances that led to different passages.
"..What tunnel did it come from?" Naxan worried his bottom lip for a moment before looking at Kazriel, "Should we just.. pick one and hope for the best??"
Kazriel wrinkled his nose in solidarity with his keen-smelling friend. He'd always been jealous of Naxan's sharp nose as they played, but here at last was a reason to be grateful without it.
"I don't know," he replied back uneasily, looking between the assortment of tunnels. "It sounded like it came that way...? But maybe not. I don't remember now, it happened too suddenly."
Once again Kazriel tried looking through his heat-seeing eyes, but to no avail. Finally, he simply pointed at the one he thought the sound had come from. "Let's try this one," he said, voice filled with uncertainty. "If we go far enough and don't find anything, we can just turn back." He looked towards Nax with a face that said right?
The tunnel Kazriel chose was as plain as all the others, but it sloped gently down and to the right. It's stone flooring was relatively smooth, but here and there pebbles and dust dirtied the path. It was too small a tunnel for, say, a grown imperial to walk through, but Kazriel and Naxan were able to fit shoulder-to-shoulder and with room to spare. Estera could have fit, although it wouldn't have been as comfortable a walk.
Kazriel wrinkled his nose in solidarity with his keen-smelling friend. He'd always been jealous of Naxan's sharp nose as they played, but here at last was a reason to be grateful without it.
"I don't know," he replied back uneasily, looking between the assortment of tunnels. "It sounded like it came that way...? But maybe not. I don't remember now, it happened too suddenly."
Once again Kazriel tried looking through his heat-seeing eyes, but to no avail. Finally, he simply pointed at the one he thought the sound had come from. "Let's try this one," he said, voice filled with uncertainty. "If we go far enough and don't find anything, we can just turn back." He looked towards Nax with a face that said right?
The tunnel Kazriel chose was as plain as all the others, but it sloped gently down and to the right. It's stone flooring was relatively smooth, but here and there pebbles and dust dirtied the path. It was too small a tunnel for, say, a grown imperial to walk through, but Kazriel and Naxan were able to fit shoulder-to-shoulder and with room to spare. Estera could have fit, although it wouldn't have been as comfortable a walk.
Naxan shifted, his head bobbing in agreeance as he tentatively moved towards the tunnel's entrance. His paws shifted with each step wariness in every move that warred with his determination to find Estera, they were the emotions he focused on.
His walk was halting thought, trying to stick as close to Kazriel as possible, but not close enough that it would cause them trouble in the long run. Paranoia was on the edge of his focused emotions, and many times he tried to push it away.
Words that have longed been wanting a voice were mulled over plenty of times, but they never found an echo as Naxan kept quiet in case of whatever had made the loud sound of earlier was indeed beyond this tunnel.
Every so often the tundra would turn to the mirror with a worried expression, his voice as soft as a feather falling to the ground; almost without a sound, "When we find Rhowen and Hilden, I don't care what they say, I'm sticking to them like tar."
If this was any other situation Naxan would of said this loudly and dramatically, but the dark depths of the cavern that could carry an echo who knew how far was a danger the child didn't want to put to the test.
Naxan shifted, his head bobbing in agreeance as he tentatively moved towards the tunnel's entrance. His paws shifted with each step wariness in every move that warred with his determination to find Estera, they were the emotions he focused on.
His walk was halting thought, trying to stick as close to Kazriel as possible, but not close enough that it would cause them trouble in the long run. Paranoia was on the edge of his focused emotions, and many times he tried to push it away.
Words that have longed been wanting a voice were mulled over plenty of times, but they never found an echo as Naxan kept quiet in case of whatever had made the loud sound of earlier was indeed beyond this tunnel.
Every so often the tundra would turn to the mirror with a worried expression, his voice as soft as a feather falling to the ground; almost without a sound, "When we find Rhowen and Hilden, I don't care what they say, I'm sticking to them like tar."
If this was any other situation Naxan would of said this loudly and dramatically, but the dark depths of the cavern that could carry an echo who knew how far was a danger the child didn't want to put to the test.
In an effort to stay silent, Kazriel crept low to the ground. He was keenly aware of Naxan beside him, making sure his friend was never too far. He was afraid of turning around and finding himself alone in the tunnel.
Intermittently did he switch between his front and back eyes, trying to spot any life in the cold, dark tunnel. Other than Naxan beside him, there was nothing.
As Naxan spoke, Kazriel stepped closer to whisper back. “Let’s just hope it’s quick and easy to find them.” His voice was a hiss of air before he continued forward.
After what seemed like forever, the tunnel stopped its gradual slope and seemed to flatten. There was nothing ahead however, only the same darkness as before. Except… When Kazriel closed his front eyes and looked for heat, he saw something ahead of them. It wasn’t large enough to be Estera, but it was bright yellow with the heat of life. It did not move.
Flattening himself against the cave floor, Kazriel flicked Naxan with his tail. He leaned in close to whisper directly into Naxan’s ear, trembling with fear. “There’s something at the end of the tunnel.”
In an effort to stay silent, Kazriel crept low to the ground. He was keenly aware of Naxan beside him, making sure his friend was never too far. He was afraid of turning around and finding himself alone in the tunnel.
Intermittently did he switch between his front and back eyes, trying to spot any life in the cold, dark tunnel. Other than Naxan beside him, there was nothing.
As Naxan spoke, Kazriel stepped closer to whisper back. “Let’s just hope it’s quick and easy to find them.” His voice was a hiss of air before he continued forward.
After what seemed like forever, the tunnel stopped its gradual slope and seemed to flatten. There was nothing ahead however, only the same darkness as before. Except… When Kazriel closed his front eyes and looked for heat, he saw something ahead of them. It wasn’t large enough to be Estera, but it was bright yellow with the heat of life. It did not move.
Flattening himself against the cave floor, Kazriel flicked Naxan with his tail. He leaned in close to whisper directly into Naxan’s ear, trembling with fear. “There’s something at the end of the tunnel.”
At the start of their wondering into the tunnels of the suspiciously large cavern, Naxan felt weary. A weight on his shoulder he knew not where it came from, but something was just so off putting.
From the smell that still clung to his throat to the creeping suspicion of eyes staring at them from the dreary walls that shaped unnoticeable faces. Bit by bit Naxan was starting to feel a tremble in his legs that worked itself into his ears.
Every which way his ears turned, from the echoing sound of dripping water to the ominous ambient noise of the cavern rocks.
Naxan licked his lips with a nervous curl of his tail as he followed after Kazriel, only stopping when his friend's tail flickered at him, a questioning sound arising but he snapped his mouth shut with a quiet click of his teeth at his friend's words.
"Do we investigate it or go around it?" Naxan whispered back, looking past his friend deeper into the tunnels where nothing laid in sight. But he trusted Kazriel's words and so he will bring no doubt to his mind.
Something laid ahead their path, either blocking it, or ending this mystery.
Naxan hoped to all deities of their world that it was the latter and not the former, but be it fate, destiny or the chill going down the young tundra's spine, this adventure for once..
Won't be so easy.
At the start of their wondering into the tunnels of the suspiciously large cavern, Naxan felt weary. A weight on his shoulder he knew not where it came from, but something was just so off putting.
From the smell that still clung to his throat to the creeping suspicion of eyes staring at them from the dreary walls that shaped unnoticeable faces. Bit by bit Naxan was starting to feel a tremble in his legs that worked itself into his ears.
Every which way his ears turned, from the echoing sound of dripping water to the ominous ambient noise of the cavern rocks.
Naxan licked his lips with a nervous curl of his tail as he followed after Kazriel, only stopping when his friend's tail flickered at him, a questioning sound arising but he snapped his mouth shut with a quiet click of his teeth at his friend's words.
"Do we investigate it or go around it?" Naxan whispered back, looking past his friend deeper into the tunnels where nothing laid in sight. But he trusted Kazriel's words and so he will bring no doubt to his mind.
Something laid ahead their path, either blocking it, or ending this mystery.
Naxan hoped to all deities of their world that it was the latter and not the former, but be it fate, destiny or the chill going down the young tundra's spine, this adventure for once..
Won't be so easy.
If he was on his own, Kazriel would have already turned tail and run back the way they'd come. Heck, even with Naxan he might've tried to convince the other to leave. But with Estera possibly down there, past that mysterious obstacle, Kazriel couldn't... He couldn't just leave.
"Let's go," he whispered to Naxan, creeping closer low to the ground. With his heat-seeking eyes opened, Kazriel kept a keen eye on the mysterious figure. It was about the size of a medium class dragon, but it was too bunched up to tell if it was one, much less what breed.
But, as the figure hadn't moved, it also meant that it perhaps hadn't heard or seen the two hatchlings fumbling about in the dark. They were five tail lengths away, then four, three...
They drew close enough for Kazriel to begin to see definition in the creatures heat. Just as he noticed this, suddenly the creatures head twitched to the side. For barely a moment, a single eye stared back at Kazriel through the darkness, and then the figure disappeared from his sight.
Without meaning to, Kazriel made a sound of alarm, taking a shuddering step backwards. It was just gone somehow. Kazriel swung his head around, but could see no heat in the cave around them. They were alone.
Were they?
If he was on his own, Kazriel would have already turned tail and run back the way they'd come. Heck, even with Naxan he might've tried to convince the other to leave. But with Estera possibly down there, past that mysterious obstacle, Kazriel couldn't... He couldn't just leave.
"Let's go," he whispered to Naxan, creeping closer low to the ground. With his heat-seeking eyes opened, Kazriel kept a keen eye on the mysterious figure. It was about the size of a medium class dragon, but it was too bunched up to tell if it was one, much less what breed.
But, as the figure hadn't moved, it also meant that it perhaps hadn't heard or seen the two hatchlings fumbling about in the dark. They were five tail lengths away, then four, three...
They drew close enough for Kazriel to begin to see definition in the creatures heat. Just as he noticed this, suddenly the creatures head twitched to the side. For barely a moment, a single eye stared back at Kazriel through the darkness, and then the figure disappeared from his sight.
Without meaning to, Kazriel made a sound of alarm, taking a shuddering step backwards. It was just gone somehow. Kazriel swung his head around, but could see no heat in the cave around them. They were alone.
Were they?
