Adriano galloped after the two skydancers, but he couldn’t help but be a little confused. Weren't they trying to find the source of the caves? Going topside didn’t sound like it would help their investigation. Alas, they apparently could not understand when he voiced his grievances - and even if they could, he didn’t like “speaking up,” both literally and figuratively. Trying to follow their logic, he reasoned that maybe they were just getting backup. Three clueless dragons in a cave probably hadn’t been the brightest of ideas, anyway...
Adriano galloped after the two skydancers, but he couldn’t help but be a little confused. Weren't they trying to find the source of the caves? Going topside didn’t sound like it would help their investigation. Alas, they apparently could not understand when he voiced his grievances - and even if they could, he didn’t like “speaking up,” both literally and figuratively. Trying to follow their logic, he reasoned that maybe they were just getting backup. Three clueless dragons in a cave probably hadn’t been the brightest of ideas, anyway...
Live today. Don’t wait for tomorrow.
The energetic Skydancer stopped as they came to the source of the stream. Beyond the trickle of water, a large dropoff led further down, into the darkness.
The energetic Skydancer stopped as they came to the source of the stream. Beyond the trickle of water, a large dropoff led further down, into the darkness.
Kylai slowed to a trot and walked up beside Faynore, peering curiously into the drop. "Wow, that was... unexpected. Do you think the other dragons went down there?"
The skydancer couldn't help but feel nervous about the dropoff, but if her partners decided to fly down, she would too.
Kylai slowed to a trot and walked up beside Faynore, peering curiously into the drop. "Wow, that was... unexpected. Do you think the other dragons went down there?"
The skydancer couldn't help but feel nervous about the dropoff, but if her partners decided to fly down, she would too.
Adriano hesitated by the gap. Numbly, he nodded to Kylai. He had to admit, if they were looking for the source of the caves, down was probably the right way to go. That didn’t mean he liked it. Trusting that whoever had the glowing necklace wouldn’t turn it off, he pointed into the chasm, and his floating orb of light descended into the abyss, illuminating it for the trio. He wanted to know what was waiting for them before he would decide whether or not to jump in.
Adriano hesitated by the gap. Numbly, he nodded to Kylai. He had to admit, if they were looking for the source of the caves, down was probably the right way to go. That didn’t mean he liked it. Trusting that whoever had the glowing necklace wouldn’t turn it off, he pointed into the chasm, and his floating orb of light descended into the abyss, illuminating it for the trio. He wanted to know what was waiting for them before he would decide whether or not to jump in.
Live today. Don’t wait for tomorrow.
Faynore slowly turned around, latching her claws onto the stone ledge and dropping her back feet off the ledge, slowly scooting herself downwards on the cliff. "This is safer than flying. Right?" Faynore said, looking up at her partners. "It's better than going headfirst." The skydancer said, claws still scooting downwards as she spoke.
Faynore slowly turned around, latching her claws onto the stone ledge and dropping her back feet off the ledge, slowly scooting herself downwards on the cliff. "This is safer than flying. Right?" Faynore said, looking up at her partners. "It's better than going headfirst." The skydancer said, claws still scooting downwards as she spoke.
Kylai stretched out her wings in an attempt to prepare herself for the dark abyss. She had flown through dark storm clouds and gorges before, so the procedure for caverns surely wouldn't be all that different, right? Avoid walls, glide slowly and carefully.
Feeling very nervous about the lack of wind currents to steady herself, Kylai followed Faynore onto the wall, digging her talons into the rock as best she could, to see if climbing down the cliff would be easier than trying to glide with no buffer if she were to hit into something. As she quickly figured out, climbing was much harder than flying, and she was losing ground quickly.
Kylai stretched out her wings in an attempt to prepare herself for the dark abyss. She had flown through dark storm clouds and gorges before, so the procedure for caverns surely wouldn't be all that different, right? Avoid walls, glide slowly and carefully.
Feeling very nervous about the lack of wind currents to steady herself, Kylai followed Faynore onto the wall, digging her talons into the rock as best she could, to see if climbing down the cliff would be easier than trying to glide with no buffer if she were to hit into something. As she quickly figured out, climbing was much harder than flying, and she was losing ground quickly.
Adriano had never been spelunking before, so when his two companions acted like they knew what they were doing, he tried to follow along. After making sure Aedwulf was secure on his back, he began climbing down as well. The rock felt wrong under his talons. He was used to soft moss and lush greenery, not this hole hidden under a world of shadows. Trying to distract himself, he began thinking of somewhere, anywhere else. Bright forests, calm meadows, even the vast ocean was better than this... however, his choice to distract himself from the present worked a little too well, and he quickly lost his grip on the cliff while distracted. Snapping back to reality, Adriano tried to secure a hold on the wall, but it was too late. He was already falling. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out as he vanished into the abyss.
Panicking, he flung his wings open, only for one to smack into a stone outcropping that was invisible to him. It didn’t take an expert to know that his wing was in no condition to fly again anytime soon. Still, he knew this opportunity wouldn’t come again, and he dug his back claws into the ledge he had hit before wrapping his tail around it as well. This was fine. He’d hung like a bat before. Granted, the circumstances were never this dire, but... never mind that. As long as his partners got down to his level soon, they could help him out, and he’d be fine. He couldn’t see them in the darkness, since his orb only illuminated himself, but he prayed hoped trusted they were close.
Adriano had never been spelunking before, so when his two companions acted like they knew what they were doing, he tried to follow along. After making sure Aedwulf was secure on his back, he began climbing down as well. The rock felt wrong under his talons. He was used to soft moss and lush greenery, not this hole hidden under a world of shadows. Trying to distract himself, he began thinking of somewhere, anywhere else. Bright forests, calm meadows, even the vast ocean was better than this... however, his choice to distract himself from the present worked a little too well, and he quickly lost his grip on the cliff while distracted. Snapping back to reality, Adriano tried to secure a hold on the wall, but it was too late. He was already falling. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out as he vanished into the abyss.
Panicking, he flung his wings open, only for one to smack into a stone outcropping that was invisible to him. It didn’t take an expert to know that his wing was in no condition to fly again anytime soon. Still, he knew this opportunity wouldn’t come again, and he dug his back claws into the ledge he had hit before wrapping his tail around it as well. This was fine. He’d hung like a bat before. Granted, the circumstances were never this dire, but... never mind that. As long as his partners got down to his level soon, they could help him out, and he’d be fine. He couldn’t see them in the darkness, since his orb only illuminated himself, but he prayed hoped trusted they were close.
Live today. Don’t wait for tomorrow.
Faynore watched in horror as Arano fell down, wincing at the sound of thumps on stone. "ARANO, ARE YOU OK?" The skydancer yelled down, scooting her claws down faster. Unlike her companions, Faynore had done this many times. Living in a shadow clan where there were many caves got her accustomed to exploration, and then traveling to plague in a burrow of all things didn't hurt.
As the cliff slowly morphed into a (mostly) flat stone, Faynore jumped off, looking for her companion. "Arano, where are you? Are you hurt?" She looked up to see the stone outcropping where the coatl was resting, just a little bit above the rest of the cavern.
Faynore watched in horror as Arano fell down, wincing at the sound of thumps on stone. "ARANO, ARE YOU OK?" The skydancer yelled down, scooting her claws down faster. Unlike her companions, Faynore had done this many times. Living in a shadow clan where there were many caves got her accustomed to exploration, and then traveling to plague in a burrow of all things didn't hurt.
As the cliff slowly morphed into a (mostly) flat stone, Faynore jumped off, looking for her companion. "Arano, where are you? Are you hurt?" She looked up to see the stone outcropping where the coatl was resting, just a little bit above the rest of the cavern.
Adriano (who was now growing accustomed to the name “Arano”) squinted when he heard one of the skydancers land near him. They were below him, he decided, and tried to curl back to get a good look at her. It was Faynore, as it turned out. Subconsciously, he made his orb glow a little brighter and illuminate more around him. Once he was confident that she could see him, he pointed to his injured wing, which he suspected was broken. He then vaguely gestured to his current position, and how he wasn’t sure how to get himself down without hurting himself even more.
Adriano (who was now growing accustomed to the name “Arano”) squinted when he heard one of the skydancers land near him. They were below him, he decided, and tried to curl back to get a good look at her. It was Faynore, as it turned out. Subconsciously, he made his orb glow a little brighter and illuminate more around him. Once he was confident that she could see him, he pointed to his injured wing, which he suspected was broken. He then vaguely gestured to his current position, and how he wasn’t sure how to get himself down without hurting himself even more.
Live today. Don’t wait for tomorrow.
As Kylai slipped slowly down the flat rock, trying to maintain her balance, she had to duck rather quickly as Arano tumbled down the rock next to her, with his wings flailing. Her heart rate increased as she looked down into the darkness only to find that she couldn't see where Arano had went. Mumbling a curse under her breath, she opened her wings and kicked off the rock, spinning to keep herself upright. "Arano! Flash your light if you're ok!"
The skydancer couldn't see Arano's light at all, but hers was working well enough to warn her of a stalactite in her path. Swooping around it, she decided it was the best place to see where the others were, and grabbed onto its rough surface. She found that it was much easier to hold on to the stalactite, but worried that it might fall. Deciding to risk it, Kylai wrapped her wings around the sharp rock and looked for Arano's light. "Faynore, do you see him? And are you ok?"
As Kylai slipped slowly down the flat rock, trying to maintain her balance, she had to duck rather quickly as Arano tumbled down the rock next to her, with his wings flailing. Her heart rate increased as she looked down into the darkness only to find that she couldn't see where Arano had went. Mumbling a curse under her breath, she opened her wings and kicked off the rock, spinning to keep herself upright. "Arano! Flash your light if you're ok!"
The skydancer couldn't see Arano's light at all, but hers was working well enough to warn her of a stalactite in her path. Swooping around it, she decided it was the best place to see where the others were, and grabbed onto its rough surface. She found that it was much easier to hold on to the stalactite, but worried that it might fall. Deciding to risk it, Kylai wrapped her wings around the sharp rock and looked for Arano's light. "Faynore, do you see him? And are you ok?"
