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 Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:10 pm
Everyone reacts to extreme emotion differently. For Laures it was to cover up emotions behind a mask and to continue on, never analysing or looking at the cause until he was forced to acknowledge it. Selena, it seemed, reacted by bouncing back with far more energy and excitement than before, at least if it was a positive stimulus. He would have hated to see what would have happened had the memory and experience been negative.
It was pleasant for Laures to realise he could do something useful, something good. It was event like what had occured that brought the insecurities cultivated during his foalhood to the fore. Selena had a pleasant voice and he couldn't help but join in with her humming, occasionally murmuring the odd verse.
The sounds of the night, the odd rock sent to another place by careless hooves, Laures had never felt so at peace. He'd never enjoyed a nighttime stroll as much as he was this one.
At her confident announcement of the arrival at a part of there destination, Laures looked around for the cave opening, expecting something obvious and aweing. Not seeing anything he must have made an amusing face or something as Selena moved some ferns aside to reveal an opening.
Another cave, another tight opening to squeeze through to reach the beauty within. He briefly considered changing his size to make it easier on himself to go in, but he paused. Shaking the thoughts away and the mane out of his face, he tucked his wings as close together as he could and nodded the mare to go first.
"Ladies first, 'Lena."
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:32 pm
Selena smiled and laughed.
She began to enter through the hole, but then, she stopped, and moved the rocks, that blended perfectly into the boulder, away. Creating a large, much easier entrance.
"I made the entrance look smaller so that no Soquili, or deer, or other large mammal tried to get it. And I know flutters can become small, but flutters rarely travel into hidden caves, correct?" She winced at him. She was having a great time. It was all thanks to him. He had made her feel light as a feather, and strong enough to overcome anything her future, and past, may throw at her. He was a true gentleman in her opinion.
She began to enter the cave. Hoping it had not changed from her last visit. She could already hear the water dripping from the mouth of the cave, and echoing in its throat.
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:55 pm
This would only have been the second cave he had explored, that he could remember anyway, and Laures was excited and just a little nervous.
He was grateful to see the enterance widen, not that he was claustrophobic or anything, he just really, really disliked tiny spaces. He was unsure if other flutters would be willing to descend into hidden caves or even explore caves at all, but he was one who enjoyed seeing anything and everything he could.
He smiled brightly, hoping to set Lena at ease. "I'm not sure about other flutters, but I rather enjoy going anywhere and everywhere, at least once. Besides its an adventure, and who doesn't like those?"
He made to follow her into the opening, admiring what she had done. In the distance he heard the dripping of water and wondered if this was an opening to a cave system that could also be found behind a waterfall? In any case he had never been here before and was eager to explore.
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:19 pm
Selena crouched a little while entering the cave. "The ceiling is quite low, but only for a little while." she said in warning to her spelunking companion.
She slid along the rocky floor, which was smoothed out by thousands of years of steady water. Perhaps its was once a grand, powerful waterfall. She walked in this scrunched manner for three or four minutes, when she stopped. Laures bumped his nose into her due to the sudden action. She turned and smirked at him.
"Here's the fun part!" And she disappeared. Riding down the smooth rock as if it were a slide.
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:39 pm
Taking heed of Lena's words the slight stallion took a deep breath to prepare himself. Thankfully he was slight in frame and the passage with the low ceiling wasn't overly long. And unlike the last cave he'd explored, he needn't worry about his footing on slick ice and worse.
With the dark and everything, this particular cave seemed to Laures like the mountain was some horrible monster and they were willingly walking into the mouth. Counting silently he waited for the earth to move and the two of them to be swallowed whole. Breathe in, breathe out. He talked himself into breathing, growing easier the longer it went on that the mountain did not come to life and eat them.
So absorbed in what trying to force himself to breathe he didn't notice Selena stop just in front of him, and his nose collided with her flank, bringing him back to himself. In the darkness he blushed hoping the mare couldn't see it.
Following her lead, Laures stepped cautiously to the edge. "Well, here goes nothing."
The rush of air flowing past and around him as he slid down the smooth rock felt almost like he was flying and it startled a laugh from his throat.
"Woo-hoo."
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:02 pm
The cold air flew against her face, creating sound in her ears, as Selena slid down the steep rock of the cave. I was a quick ride and soon she found herself landing in the spongy plant the grew in the cave. It felt very similar to a sea sponge. It most likely grew due to the humidity, which was making Selena's hair frizzy. She groaned and tried to flatten it.
She heard a loud "Woo-hoo," and knew that Laures was sliding down. She moved quickly to the side as not to be in the way when he landed, she did not want to injure him, or herself for that matter.
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:19 pm
All too soon it seemed he'd reached the bottom of the natural "slide". It came so suddenly and surprisingly he fell in a tangle of wings limbs and hair. Fortunately Lena had moved out of the way or she'd've not been spared. As it was, it was a near thing. The ground was covered with a spongy like plant that took away the brunt of the impact, leaving Laures with maybe a few phsical bruises, but most definately bruised pride.
He struggled a moment managing to get his wings untangled and out of harms way but that was about as far as he could get on his own.Turning bright grass green "puppy-eyes" to his companion he asked "Lend a hoof?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:41 pm
Selena giggled as Laures' face presented his surprise at the fast approaching rock floor. And then began to laugh at the state he feel in to. She felt very sorry for him, him, and his wings.
She nodded at his plea, as their eyes were adjusting, and they could faintly see each other, and helped him up and tried to dust him off.
"Alright? I should have warned you about how tall the rock face was." She said with a wink, "Now follow me, this is where it becomes a true adventure."
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:09 pm
Grumbling goodnaturedly about foolish mares not warning about hazards, and unexpected tumbles, Laures accepted Lena's help gratefully. Even as he couldn't help but laugh at himself and the state he'd fallen into.
Eyes adjusting to the twilight gloom of the cave he took a long look around him, trying to memorize the surroundings, in case there was any need to return in a hurry and leave the cavern. Noting how high the natural slide they'd just come down was and how steep, he whistled. A sudden thought and concern overtook him. How would Lena make it out if she needed to? The climb up wouldn't be easy or safe.
A true adventure now awaited, so he tore his gaze away from his study and prepared to follow the mare. As his last adventure began with a single step into the unknown it was only fitting that this one did too. And that it would be an independant, adventurous mare that was his guide and companion.
It all started with a step, so he lifted one hoof up and stepped forward. "I'm ready to follow wherever you choose to lead."
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:33 pm
She nodded happily, but seriously. She was now responsible for their safety and well being. If they were to get lost, she would have to lead them out. If one of them were to be injured, she would have to the the fast-thinking one, as to let them escape.
She knew the cave's landscape quite well, she had not come down often, but there was something about the cave in general. It was so...different. Not something you forget easily. And its ledges and slopes were quite unique, the vegetation was unexpected, and the shadows created were breath taking.
They walked through the cave, the ceiling rising more and more every step. Soon it was so high, they could no longer see it. Though they could not see very much ahead of them either. But Selena knew where she was going.
From the corner of her eye, she would spot an arrow, and she would knew to turn right, under her hoof, she would feel a small hole and knew to go forward. Marks.
Not natural marks. Marks she left for herself. They were small and almost invisible to those who were not completely observant to any flaw in the master piece of the cave.
They walked like this for nearly two hours, in complete silent. The only sound their ears picked up was the odd sound of a rock running along the smooth rock floor, and the mesmerizing sound of constantly dripping water.
Selena suddenly stopped. They had arrived.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:53 pm
Laures made sure to walk close to Selena. It was obvious she knew the cave or was at least following some sort of map or marks only she knew. The cave was large and there were many branches and labyrinthine tunnels one could choose to explore and wind up lost, likely never to be found again. For what seemed an eternity to the talkative stallion, he walked in silence, trying not to distract his guide and taking the opportunity to admire the odd flora and features oft cast in shadows that would lengthen or change, changing the appearance of the entire place.
Though it held not the spectacular beauty or the nearly painful perfection of the last cave he'd been in, this one was no less impressive, and perhaps more enjoyable because of the flaws and imperfections. The shadows and darkness that wiggled and writhed like some living thing.
At last, when it felt like he would burst from keeping silent, the mare stopped abruptly in front of him. At least this time he was slightly more prepared and didn't run into her. She said nothing, but there was some change, and Laures knew they had arrived. But just where was it they had arrived?
Looking around, trying to view what he could of their surroundings his breath was taken away.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:43 pm
What lay before them was beautiful. It was pure art, created and molded by the hands of Gods over thousands of years. It seamed frozen in time, from an age of ice and stone.
A bridge. A bridge of smooth rock, upheld by sturdy columns of ice. The gleamed and glistened in the faint light from holes in the cave wall. It seemed to float, like something divine, chosen by the Gods. They could not see the base of the columns with the little light they had, and the darkness was too dark for their eyes to adjust. It seemed also to span far into the clutches of darkness.
Selena turned around and faced the stallion, she had almost forgoten how bright his eyes were.
"It becomes very thin at one point, and I suggest that's when you fly a little. Ill just jump to the wider part."
"Also, you must be very careful with your footing, there are some hols in the rock, and its smoothness is dangerous. Im not sure how far down you would fall." She warned him with a smile, as if she did this every second day.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:17 pm
He stood frozen in awe. The arch that spanned the darkness, ending who knows where, a perfect blend of ice and stone. It inspired much admiration as well as piquing curiousity. How could the ice be there all the time without melting? The cave wasn't cold. It had to have existed for at least hundrds of years to be so formed.
His eyes lit up with excitement. This was a true adventure. To take steps into the unknown without being able to see where it all might lead. Unable to stand still, his wings shuddered with barely surpressed excitement.
Listening gratefully to Selena's advice, knowing that this time if he didn't listen, there was a very real possiblity of injury- even with wings and being able to fly, there was no real way of knowing what would happen if he fell.
Acknowledging her words with a nod and a smile, he moved forward, eager to find out what lay on the other side of the darkness. Earlier he had joked about going to the dark side of the moon, but this, this was quite possibly going to the heart of darkness itself.
A deep breath, and one careful hoof placed at the beginning of the bridge. There was no turning back from this. Not that he even wanted to. The first few steps were taken with extreme caution and care- when the bridge proved to be sturdy, he moved faster, with greater confidence but always keeping the warnings in mind.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:52 am
Selena lead the way onto the bridge. So many feelings were passing through her. The dominant one being excitement. She had never truly crossed this bridge, she had tried a few times, but always ended up taking the tunnel in the wall. A much easier way, but a longer, more shameful way. But now she was crossing it, and with someone to share this adventure with her as well. it made her smile.
She could also sense her companion smiling. Feeling excitement. Wanting to enter the unknown.
She wanted him to enjoy himself, she wanted to show him her bravery and strength. and also that she could last without a past. She wanted to befriend him. Her best friend, her first and only, had told her making friends would help her. That if you chose correctly, you would have a companion for a long time. She did not want to disappointing him. She wanted to try his approach to life, to see that living in the light can also be possible.
They walked carefully and slowly, she placed her hooves gracefully and gently, testing the bridge. For it was a line that separated life from death for her. She knew of the tall, spear like, stalagmites rising from the the darkness. They were not very far from the bottom of the bridge, and her wingless body would be no challenge for them to break.
She had seen the bridge, and these stone killers, from openings in the tunnel, so she knew the dangers of crossing this ancient link between ledges.
She glanced to the wall to her left, where the tunnel lay hidden from unknowing eyes. She also looked towards the spears, waiting just below them. They were invisible now, but at a certain time, when the sun was halfway through the sky, their tips emerged from their dark home.
She sighed. She was enjoying the adventure, and she was glad she had not chosen the tunnel. She glanced at Laures and smiled.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:55 am
In spite of the excitement coursing through his veins and the desire to see the unknown, with careful grace he placed one hoof in front of the other following the mare onto the bridge. He had his doubts, if only for a moment about the integrity of the structure. Would it hold up to the combined weight of the two? Would it be easier if he changed into his smaller size and simply flew across?
Then he shook his head. This was an adventure, and to do so would be, in his mind, cheating. Besides, Selena seemed fairly confident, so he would follow her lead. One hoof in front of the other.
Clip-clop, clip-clop. The sound of their hooves echoed loudly in this place. He knew nothing of the mare's inner turmoil and saw only her willingness to traverse the unknown, to go on adventures with or without the company of others, and he admired her. There were not many he knew who had half her courage.
Though it wasn't in him to be quiet for extended periods of time, looking down into the yawning chasm below and with his fears of the structure not holding, he checked his impulse to sing or whistle, anything to break the silence surrounding them, and focused all his attention on getting to the other side safely.
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