4. You awaken underground, the echoing sound of running water in your ears. It is dark, but the walls are dimly illuminated with glowing mushrooms. In a cavern at the end of a long and twisting corridor there is a strange, smooth-sided tower of white stone slimed with glowing fungus. Native Zikwa may or may not recognize it as a landmark, but have certainly heard an interesting variety of stories about its ancient purposes.
Night lazily opened his eyes. Something was missing. His ears twisted back and forth. There were no sounds. Where were the birds chirping that usually woke him up. No, it was too dark to be morning yet. But not quite all dark he noticed. There seemed to be strange glows around him.
The buck rose from his resting hollow. The ground under his hooves wasn't the swamp grass that he remembered laying down on. Taking a few steps, his footfalls seemed to echo. His eyes adjusting to the pale light, Night realized that he was underground. The dampness he felt told of moist earth around him, not like in a mountain cave that open to the wind.
Night turned around, then turned around again. How did he get here? Even if he wandered in his sleep, which he never suspected that he did, he couldn't have just found his way underground.
FrostyPeaches
Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 6:26 am
Bedtime Story
Sweat dripped down her forehead as she had successfully woken herself up from a strange nightmare with a scream. Bedtime Story shook her head and felt soreness in her thighs.She flicked her legs to see if any of her limbs were broken. The sound of running water was extremely loud to her. Was she still inside the nightmare?
She got up on all fours and remained still. There were no other sounds of hooves nor any other unfamiliar scents nearby. The air felt cool on her hide and she smiled. Okay so the nightmare had left and she was still underground.. but which part was it? This did not feel like her usual resting place as she dug her hooves into the soil to feel around.
The only native thing she recognized were the luminous groups of fungi that grew on the grounds and on the walls of the corridors. She listened to the sound of water and found it trickling down the wall from above. She put her head against the cold liquid to keep herself from feeling drowsy.
It was time to make her way back toward her own territory.
Something seemed famiilar about this place, but he was sure he’d never been here before. Then he remembered the conversation he'd had with the Zikwa doe. Story had said she lived underground and that strange plants grew in the darkness there. It had sounded a bit odd at the the time, but now he understood what she was describing. Would his association with the Zikwa above ground have anything to do with him now being underground?
Now that he was awake and thinking, Night noticed that the dark wasn’t as soundless as he originally thought. Water dripped nearby, and.. Night twitched his ears to listen.. moving water. A waterfall? he thought. Maybe a small stream running underground? He could use a drink right about now.
Twitching his tail while he thought, Night decided that it was time to do something. Standing here wasn’t going to solve anything. With only two directions to choose from in the corridor that he seemed to have found himself in, Night chose the direction that would, hopefully, lead him to the water.
FrostyPeaches
In the spoiler are the other paragraphs I've written for the Prompt. They can be tweaked to follow whatever you write. In post 3, if Story hears Night and responds, then I can add more.
Post 3
Trudging along, with the eery glowing mushroom growths lighting his way, Night pondered how he awoke to find himself in this strange place. Do the Zikwa have powers that he was unaware of? Could he have walked in his sleep and followed the doe’s scent unknowingly?
“Story?” he called tentavely. Not hearing a response, he tried again alittle louder, “Story?” Listening intently for a response, he only heard the sound of running water. The water sounds, comfortingly, sounded closer than before. A rumble in his belly reminded him that while it appeared to still be night tim, somewhere else it was morning. His belly didn’t need sunshine to know when it was time for a morning meal. “Story!” he called again. If he could find the Zikwa doe, she could tell him what was safe to eat. So far, he hadn’t smelled anything appetizing. He’d have to take the doe’s word for whatever smelly thing down here that she said was safe to eat, really was edible.
Post 4
The walls seemed to be widening abit. And the water sounded much closer. Rounding a slight curve in the tunnel, Night found himself at the entrance of a small cavern. Catching his immedate attention was a tall, smooth-sided tower of white stone. Covering the tower, looking as if it had been thrown and just stuck, was more of the glowing fungus. The obelisk gave him a strange feeling. He wasn’t sure if it was something coming from the tower itself or if it was because he felt this was probably something that outsiders shouldn’t be seeing.
Something moved from behind the tower. Night felt his stomach drop to the floor. He had no wish to desecrate another species’ sacred grounds. And he had no viable excuse for being here. What dangers did he now face? As the figure came closer, Night could tell by the outline in the dim light that it was a Zikwa. When it stopped by the white tower, the glow from the fungus revealed a familiar pattern. “Story!” Night said with relief.
Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 5:47 pm
Bedtime Story A little disoriented since she can't see what's up ahead and was not like the other kin that live above ground with better vision than her, Story stayed close to the walls of the tunnels as she tried to locate any signs of little vibrations to tell her that something was nearby. But again, all she heard was the sound of running water.
Little puddles had formed throughout this tunnel she was in and she wondered if this one would lead her all the way to the ocean... She shook her head. Not like I can swim. Head bowed down low, she sniffed the soil between her hooves. This direction had more salt deposits and she was certain if she walked any further she would end up at a beach nearby... That was not the place she wanted to show up at.
Story turned herself around and decided to walk in the opposite direction.
Trudging along, with the eerie glowing mushroom growths guiding his way, Night pondered how he awoke to find himself in this strange place. Do the Zikwa have powers that he was unaware of? Could he have walked in his sleep and followed the doe’s scent unknowingly?
“Story?” he called tentatively. Not hearing a response, he tried again a little louder, “Story?” Listening intently for a response, he only heard the sound of running water. The water sounds, comfortingly, sounded closer than before.
A rumble in his belly reminded him that while it appeared to still be night time, somewhere else it was morning. His belly didn’t need sunshine to know when it was time for a morning meal. “Story!” he called again. If he could find the Zikwa doe, she could tell him what was safe to eat. So far, he hadn’t smelled anything appetizing. What little fungus he found growing on the walls smelled a bit musty. Not appetizing at all. He’d have to take the doe’s word for whatever smelly thing she said was safe to eat, really was edible.
FrostyPeaches
That works. If you have any ideas, let me know and I can work them in.
Post 4
The walls seemed to be widening a bit. And the water sounded much closer. Rounding a slight curve in the tunnel, Night found himself at the entrance of a small cavern. Catching his immediate attention was a tall, smooth-sided tower of white stone. Covering the tower, looking as if it had been thrown and just stuck, was more of the glowing fungus. The obelisk gave him a strange feeling. He wasn’t sure if it was something coming from the tower itself or if it was because he felt this was probably something that outsiders shouldn’t be seeing.
Something moved from behind the tower. Night felt his stomach drop to the floor. He had no wish to desecrate another species’ sacred grounds. And he had no viable excuse for being here. What dangers did he now face? As the figure came closer, Night could tell by the outline in the dim light that it was a Zikwa. When it stopped by the white tower, the glow from the fungus revealed a familiar pattern. “Story!” Night said with relief.
Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 6:22 pm
Story kept close watch of the patches of fungi that gave off light and kept feeling the wall as she moved in total darkness. She learned her lesson when she was young not to eat plants that glowed with a strange range of colours. Some had a numbing effect, and some, well, some were poisonous that made her throw up after consuming it.
Between hearing the sounds of running water, the echo of running water, and her own heartbeat, she thought she had heard a muffled cry in the distance. Quickly, she pressed her head against the right solid wall made of soil and listened with her right ear. Nothing. She went to the left side of the wall and listened. Her left ear felt little trembling vibrations and she flicked it as it gave her a slight itch in her ear. Doubting herself, she wondered if there was something behind the wall. She would have to find a way to get past it.
Story opened her eyes wide behind the layer of skin and tried to peer into the distance. It remained pitch black in her view. Trying another method, she turned her ears this way and that way to pick up the sound, and sniffed the air with her nose.
She wanted to know who it was. Another zikwa perhaps? Body still touching the wall, this time the left side of it, she walked further along and felt her way around in the dark using the fungi on the floor as guidance. Her hoof ended up squishing an unlucky earthworm as she made her way through the tunnel.
Not far from where she was, just a few feet away, was another opening where the tunnel had curved to the left.
Cricket2008
could you split post 4 in two? she's not quite there at the white obelisk yet XD
The walls seemed to be widening a bit. And the water sounded much closer. Rounding a slight curve in the tunnel, Night found himself at the entrance of a small cavern. Catching his immediate attention was a tall, smooth-sided tower of white stone. Covering the tower, looking as if it had been thrown and just stuck, was more of the glowing fungus. The obelisk gave him a strange feeling. He wasn’t sure if it was something coming from the tower itself or if it was because he felt this was probably something that outsiders shouldn’t be seeing.
FrostyPeaches
I split the last post so that Night sees Story after she finds the tower.
next post
Something moved from behind the tower. Night felt his stomach drop to the floor. He had no wish to desecrate another species’ sacred grounds. And he had no viable excuse for being here. What dangers did he now face? As the figure came closer, Night could tell by the outline in the dim light that it was a Zikwa. When it stopped by the white tower, the glow from the fungus revealed a familiar pattern. “Story!” Night said with relief.
Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 6:38 pm
Again there was sounds of water being heard. But it was a bit different this time. The current was a lot slower and she could even hear drops of water falling into it.
Story lost her balance as the did not expect a sudden opening in the wall and stumbled to pick herself back up. What was even more unexpected was the scent of Night being underground. Did that foolish buck follow me down here without me knowing? She sniffed her own hide to check if he had touched her but there was not a whiff of his musk on her. His scent grew stronger as she walked down the next corridor. Almost as if he was actually there.
At the end of the passage, Story could see a big outline of a solid slab of sediment in front of her since there were no heat patterns for her to detect. She got closer and sniffed it. "Could this be it...?" Studying it with her limited eyesight and her heightened sense of smell, the piece of obelisk-like stone gave off a sense of familiarity.
But the scent of Night seem to overpower the old artifact. She wanted to witness seeing the buck being underground with her own eyes. What if he was injured? What if.. he is dead? Did he fall prey to an angry zikwa?
Story walked around the slab of stone, prepared to deal with whatever state the meti was in. If he was there at all, and not just a figment of her imagination.
Cricket2008
yes thank you for knowing exactly what i was thinking 8D
Something moved from behind the tower. Night felt his stomach drop to the floor. He had no viable excuse for being here. What if his presence was a desecration to another species’ sacred grounds? What dangers did he now face?
As the figure came closer, Night could tell by the outline in the dim light that it was a Zikwa. When it stopped by the white tower, the glow from the fungus revealed a familiar body pattern. “Story!” Night said with relief.
FrostyPeaches
Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 7:04 pm
Upon finding the stone, she remembered where she was and how to move around through the tunnels now. Where she had woken up from was just a place beyond her usual route that she would take. Besides, she had never been to the beach side before, nor did she know how the ocean view looked like. She preferred to roam around in the dark and being underground without surfacing to find food. There were plenty of edible things below ground. If not, she would not move around as much to conserve her energy.
Her heart started to beat faster as a familiar voice called out her name. "Night, my -"Night, my friend. Why can't you just say it."Are- are you injured?" she called out as she slowly made her way toward the buck, not wanting to frighten him in the dark. "Don't run away, I am alone.." The buck, he was alive. She was glad to see him again, but had no idea how to befriend kin not of her own kind.
Night was glad to hear in the doe's voice that she seemed pleased to see him. "Story, I'm so glad to hear the voice of a friend," he said. The buck walked into the small cavern to meet the Zikwa by the tower. "I'm not hurt, just..." Night was about to say lost, when his belly rumbled loudly, reminding him of its lack of breakfast. "Oh pardon me," said Night, a little embarrassed. "Its hard to tell day from night in here, but my belly says it's past breakfast time. "
