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"Shards, why is it so hot," Ashmere asked as she dismissed the question about her well being all too quickly, as soon as the little harper had rolled away her sense came back in full, the intoxicating haze that Safira caused her slowly ebbed away as she pushed herself with her right arm up into a seated position.

She gazed up and slightly drew out a light hiss between her teeth, the walls were completely mud, slippery just by the glint that was radiating off of them, how could that be, how could walls be completely slick sticky mud? Maybe it had something to do with the heat in the cavern, Ashmere grunted as she moved her left arm, there was a reserved expression on her pale face as she left two fingers to the elbow joint on her natural left and began to lightly press, as if she were examining the spot for breaks. Shaking her head she forced a thin smile for the girl's sake, forcing herself to her feet she lightly panted and stopped from moving further, she was not used to such suffocating heat, it almost made her feel faint, but she didn't have the luxury to be that selfish, this was her fault and she would need to find a way out of this mess.

Staggering slightly Ashmere's petite frame swayed as she walked, there was no signs of a limp but still her movements were awkward almost sluggish as she tottered across the hot sand and towards the area with the lamp and glow, she was grateful that the glow did not escape from its holding place, pulling it back in would prove difficult.

As she held the light source up with her right hand she grinned at the girl wholeheartedly, they were all alone, with no one to judge them, she had to get a grip on her thoughts, it had to be the heat causing her to think such things, blinking as she directed the light fully on Safira her eyes slightly widened as she saw crushed reed laying on the sands next to the red haired harper.

Ashmere felt a bit of pain in her chest at the sight but she knew that they could be replaced, just like her elbow could be reset, right now their greatest concern was getting out of the caves, if it didn't let out they would be trapped without much food and even less water, she really was in a bit of a pinch this time. She had thought ahead to bring some meatrolls as well as some wine, neither would last longer than a day----

If I don't eat, it would last longer---

She thought then shook her head, now was not the time to give up, she had to be the leader, she would get them out of this situation no matter what. Blinking slightly the brown haired harper tilted her head slightly, there was the faintest of sounds coming from further into the catacomb, it sounded like running water and something else, the other sound, she was not sure of, maybe wind.

"If there is wind, there is a source, same with running water. Come now my Safira, lets go that way, and stay close, very close---we will need to be a pair, you mind our feet and I shall mind the path. Understood. I don't want to fall again tonight." she stated firmly but in a airy tone. Slowly she turned to the girl and lightly leaned in, her lips just barely brushing the corner of her mouth and her cheek. She wanted to be more bold but that was not proper. "Don't be scared Safira, I am here, I won't let anything happen to you my sweet girl." Ashmere affirmed in a clear tone. She would not let anything happen to her Safira.

Ashmere smiled ever-so-slightly as they began to walk further into the unknown she slowly murmured in a sheepish voice, one that she often used when she was a younger harper.

"My elbow is dislocated, it is best that I leave the setting of it to a harper, unless of course you are a well to-do healer as well, herbs and things are my expertise when it comes to the healing arts. I mostly thank my papa for that and my mommy, my pa is a farmer and my ma she is a cook, I had to learn at a young age what herbs, berries, and mushrooms where good for eating----" she trailed off for a moment they were in a dank dark cave there were bound to be mushrooms and maybe in the water some small edible invertebrates might dwell, if so they would be alright on food, but there was still the need of fresh water. Sighing very lightly, the brunette lifted the glow higher and narrowed her gray eyes against the darkness that was up ahead, there was something glittering, shimmering stillness, up ahead there was a large pooled up body of water in their path.

"Hm, anyhow that is a little bit about me, just a country girl, I am a handy little farm girl that knows her way around the kitchen pretty well, hm," she was lightly making small talk, a harper was often good at that but she had never fully mastered that art, but she knew in times of stress it was easier to deal with things if there was soft chitchat to keep oneself occupied. "My arm will be fine by the way, lets see, up ahead there is a body of water but I can definitely hear the running water more clearly now," again the girl paused there was something up ahead, a slightly movement, there was something in here with them, that was not a pleasant surprise not in the slightest, if it was a water snake there was a high present chance it was poisonous, instantly the older harper lightly pushed Safira behind herself and with no spoken words she ordered the girl to hold the lamp with the glow and not move from the sand that they were still on.

"Listen Safira you stay here, I need to go ahead and check to make sure everything is safe. Wish me luck, and make sure you hold that lamp up good and high for me, my darling girl." Warmly stated Ashmere as she placed her sack beside the girl on the sand then with drew a small dirk that was also regal and seemed to be of some great value, it had a crest stamped on the blade itself, it was her seal, the drummer woman that she had loved so very long ago, after her passing, her father a lord holder gave Ashmere the blade in remembrance of his youngest daughter, he had known of the two and had given his permission for their joining as soon as Ashmere became a journeyman, another harper in the family would do him proud, but that day never came. With skill Ashmere withdrew the dirt from it's sheath and gave it a quick flick at the air, the sound was a light well-trained swish, even though she was left handed Ashmere was trained to use both of her hands; with pen and blade.

Ashmere found herself slightly puffed up, her jaw was clenched and her eyes were scanning every possible area that her vision could take in. She grimaced inwardly as her trousers began wet as she slid her legs into the water, it was not deep, not by any means, the murky ickor lightly licked at the edge of her calf; still the young harper found the heated water gross and unpleasant. As she inched her away along with her weapon tightly gripped in her off hand Ashmere noted with a slight bit of relief that the murky gloom that she was wading through did not reek of stagnate filth; at least that was one thing she could be happy for.

Eeeech! Aaahssst!

What in the word was that terrible shrieking sound? It sounded like pipes being played by a strong lunged toddler, snakes did not make that sort of racket, none that she knew of anyway. Glancing back to where Safira was stand she noted that the girl was fine, sighing slightly she gripped her sword more tightly; the further out she was going the darker it was becoming. Lifting her foot slightly paused, there was something not right, something was off----

CRUNCH

Ashmere fumbled in the darkness as her foot broke though something that was barely hidden underneath the surface of the water, staggering slightly the pale brunette fell forward; unable to use her good arm she connected fully with the surface of the water.

Gasping and sputtering Ashmere sat up, she was soaked through and through, instantly she began to tremble, not because she was cold but because she was dirty, above all things she hated being dirty the most. Sighing a bit she stared at the spot that had caused her to fall----

Her pale gray hues suddenly widened in complete horror, floating in the water it seemed there was a small creature, but it was motionless, and so tiny. What on Pern could it have been, curiously she reached forward then slowly moved the thing, again her eyes went large, the little thing had wings!

Pushing herself to her feet she steadied her motion, her dirk was still tightly gripped in her hand, just a few more feet ahead and there was solid ground again, was this place a clutching ground? She felt a light tug of a frown fix on her lips as she continued to move, once again the odd shrieking was heard, this time however it was much, much closer.

Ashmere could almost taste the panic in the back of her throat as she stepped onto the dry sands, this time for certain she could see clear movement but she dared not take a step closer, there were countless shells of hatched eggs on the ground just a few feet ahead. She and Safira had somehow managed to stumble into a den of firelizards, yet something felt wrong, she could almost feel the sorrow in the air. What had happened? Why were so many little flits shells broken but no obvious signs of any of the dragonets?

Clearing her throat the young frail looking harper called out in a firm voice, "Safira, I need you to come over here, very slowly, mind the water it is slick on the bottom, don't fall like me."

Taking in a deep breath Ashmere hung her head causing her bangs to hide her face totally, it had flooded....the whole cave had flooded, she could tell by the pattern in the sands, all of those little flits were gone....they never even made it to the between they were simply gone. She could feel tears gathering at the corners of her eyes---

She paused for a moment, the movement! It was clearly in front of her now and it seemed to be urgent, she could clearly hear the exhausted trills and flapping of tired wings, what on Pern was going on, she jerked her head over her shoulder to make sure Safira was coming, and being careful in doing so.

As soon as the light was within range for her to see completely ahead Ashmere felt herself suck in a deep breath of air, it was however when she heard her little beloved redhead fall into the water that she tore her gaze away from the struggling firelizard.

The journeywoman harper instantly was at the girl's side aiding her, she would do anything for Safira, helping the girl stand with the glow basket Ashmere paused, the tiny green creature looked directly at her and let out a long terror filled noise, it was nothing short of being a firelizard version of a scream. Instantly the young woman knew that for the third time that night something bad was about to happen but this time she had an educated guess as to what, it was near midnight and by her guess the tide would be coming in fiercely any moment, within reason that meant the cave would soon be flooded again, she grimaced, the little green was so determined to save one of its dragonets, on her pride as a harper she would not let this little one down.

Sliding her hide sack off her shoulders and onto the sand Ashmere smiled sweetly at Safira, then in an even tone she spoke, she in her own right had become a very strong willed leader through out her turns it only took an event like this to realize it.

"Empty out the sack get the blanket ready, that little egg is going to hatch soon, she has been humming this whole time leading us to her and her child. She won't attack us, she needs us to help Safira. I will take care of the green you, that dragonet is yours, my love. Together we all are going to pull through this night. All of us." Ashmere affirmed in her sweet, strong tone, it was certainly a tenor that someone could grow used to, or even fall in love with. Grinning brightly the gray eyed harper sheathed her dirk and hunt it at her side, stepping forward she limped slightly, she had very slightly twisted her ankle in the fall but she could very well walk it off, on her approach the little green flit flapped wildly and snapped its fanged beak at the girl, however the older harper didn't pay heed she simply scooped the creature against her chest and tenderly soothed it with light whispers, violently struggling and cutting into her hand the little green was almost effortlessly mauling the woman's arm with its razor like claws and teeth.

"Shh, you silly beast, it is alright, your Ashmere is here, and your little one is safe, you have my word, shh, shh, shh, it is alright my little Mesmer, your harper is here." She cooed slowly, as if her words drained it the little green's eyes twirled with a bright colour that denoted happiness and trust.

Grinning Ashmere motioned with her head towards the egg, the young harper herself now seemed extremely exhausted.

"Safira, take your egg cover it with the pelt and tuck it away into the sack, fasten it tightly to you, we are going to have to swim to get out of this terrible graveyard, it is not going to be fun but we can do it, by my estimate we are about fourteen feet below water, not too bad, but we have to get out of here before it floods, otherwise, there will be a current and I am not sure how strong it will be. Are you ready, love? Lets go. You lead the way, I will take up the rear just in case the egg comes loose, I might be able to catch it. Right then, lets go."

Ashmere had followed suit, but paused before she hit the water. She could not swim with the little flit in her arm, it would surely drown if she tried something so reckless. Tenderly the harper shook the exhausted creature to awake and lightly nuzzled its head.

"You need to go between," she worded softly. "You need to pop up on the beach, I can't swim with you it isn't safe." She told her green, at first the female firelizard didn't seem to understand what the girl meant but letting out a small chirp it was gone within a blink of her eye. Shaking her head slightly and sighing Ashmere dove into the chilled water and swam with her legs mostly and her right arm, the numbing pain that lightly ached like a phantom caused her to gasp out while she was still under the waves. Instantly she could feel her vision blurring as she struggled with urgency to make it to shore, flailing roughly against the pulse of the water Ashmere after what seemed like too long surfaced.

Sputtering and hacking out water she limply laid on the sand, her hair was matted and dirty, and her chest burned. Through hooded eyes she gazed to where she saw Safira, dizzily Ashmere rolled onto her back and closed her eyes.

Cool night air kissed her face as a small gentle n** was placed on her pale pink lips, chirping in a mirthful tone the little flit she dubbed Mesmer pulled at her bottom lip repeatedly as if giving her little firelizard kisses.

"Oh knock it off you silly green." Ashmere hazily mumbled, humming louder the flit flapped her wings and hopped up and down on the harper's chest making a large show of her antics.

Ashmere panted slightly trying to slow her laboured breathing to something suitable with rhythm like a harper should always have, letting her gaze linger on her Safira the gray eyed woman smiled softly. She listened as the girl cooed at the newly born green, how odd it was, normally greens didn't watch their clutch, maybe Mesmer was sibling, a much older sibling. Ashmere was just not certain at all, it took sometime before the little green finally had its fill with the water soaked meatrolls and promptly fell into a lazy food induced sleep.

"You got yours, are you happy Safira? Some harper lesson this had turned out to be," mirthfully mused the brown haired girl as she felt herself standing up and feebly managing steps towards the younger harper, her Mesmer had found a liking to her shoulder with her tail protectively gripping the slender neck of Ashmere.

Resting small hands on the red haired girl the harper leaned down and peered over her shoulder down at the resting little flit clutched warmly in the girl's arms. It was so small and helpless looking, Ashmere suddenly could feel her heart hammering against her ribs as she realized that she had for a moment dozed while standin and completely rested her head against that of Safira's shoulder.

Wanting to utter an apology the older of the two just could not find it in her heart to say she was sorry for being near the girl. Shaking her head slightly Ashmere moved closer to the girl so that their bodies were tightly pressed against each other. With careful measure the pale skinned brunette wrapped her thin almost frail arms around Safira and held her protectively just as Mesmer was doing for her. Today was an adventure for certain but one she was sure that both of them would have done over and over again if asked to.

"Safira, may I kiss you." Tenderly whispered Ashmere into the girl's ear, she wanted to make sure that she heard her clearly for she feared if the girl needed her to repeat herself she would lose courage.

Yes...had her Safira actually said yes? Smiling very softly the older girl moved in such a way that their bodies never separated as she rotated in front of the girl and minded the hatchling, her gaze was intense and lightly glittering with need and desire.

Stroking small circles into Safira's lower back Ashmere blushed scarlet as she leaned forward, cantering her head slightly she caught the girl in a deep kiss that was passionate rather than sweet. Her hands gripped the red haired harper's small hips and pulled her further into the embrace, lightly pulling away Ashmere hungrily suckled on Safira's bottom lip before return to kiss her full out again, even though her lips were soft there was something firm and sensual, slowly the older girl worked her fingers around the back of the apprentice's neck as her urgency for the embrace became more tender, still deep, but less fierce.

As she pulled away her eyes were small slits of contentment yet her heart was still pounding with enough force she could feel it in her temples and throat. Just once more, she wanted one more time before the girl ran away, with her hand still on Safira's neck she beckoned her once again into deep, heated embrace, she wanted more, she tilted her head slightly more as she lightly tested the waters of how deeply the girl would allow her to venture.

Ashmere had been so taking aback by the sudden blue that attacked her lovely Safira, in the instant it happened Mesmer tightened her grip on the slender neck and flapped wildly. Instinctively the harper fell to the sands, she wanted to stand back up and help the younger girl but with Mesmer trilling angrily and flapping Ashmere found herself unable to gather the energy needed to stand back up.

As if the Pern was spinning in slow motion she watched as the redhead gripped the blue hued flit and comforted, pressed her will against the wild beast causing it to settle down and view her as his master. Ashmere blinked almost through hooded eyes up at the younger of the two and found herself smiling, even if the girl had not Impressed, next time around she would be ready, and she knew that Bryn and Corbin would help her achieve that.

"My Safira, you didn't do anything wrong----" Ashmere trailed off as Mesmer crooned into her ear and nuzzled into neck affectionately, reaching up she lightly petted the green snout with admiration. "Did you---mind---the---kiss---" she blanched slightly as she lightly rubbed her little nanny of a green, her gaze was almost pained as she refused to lift it to meet that of the younger girl's.

"If you---didn't l-l-l-like it you c-c-c-c-can t-t-tell m-m-m-me." Ashmere trembled slightly as her words suddenly were stuttered and lisped. She normally used all of her efforts to keep from her natural manner of speech. "I like you though, just so you know Safira."

Ashmere flushed slightly as she finally tilted her head upward and looked at the girl with fear in her eyes.

"I really like you, already. I am sorry."