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 Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
“Okay.” Ami’s heart fluttered nervously in her chest as she twisted around in the water to wait for Noelani and Kaimana to catch up with them. She had gotten focused on guiding the way, making certain that Kieran hadn’t gotten lost or distracted in the dim light of the deep waters, but now that they were so close she took a moment to appreciate the landscape once more. It was always interesting to see how this ocean was so different and yet so similar to her own back home in Kahi. I’ve seen cliffs like these, back towards where the Maokai live. She mused, her hand reaching out to touch the worn down stone covered in algae with some faint growths of plants and even coral that had tried to form a new reef before something had rubbed it away. “I wonder what destroyed this?” She asked, glancing towards Kieran with worry.
[Nanami 8]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
Floating in place, Kaimana rubbed Peni’s snout affectionately once they joined the others. “Maybe some fish or even a ship gone astray in the past?” He offered with a frown since he overheard the Kawena's question. Hopefully this wouldn’t turn into another fight though he had more faith in his companions, especially Kieran to find some other solution if they encountered any wild animals in the area. It would be a shame if they ran into more snaptrotters, that was something Kaimana really didn’t want to fight today. So it was best if they didn’t linger here and he could only hope that whatever had destroyed the cliffs was far gone, especially if it was an animal or something worse.
[Kaimana 8]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
“Let’s hope for the ship.” Mused Noelani as she pulled up alongside the others with Koa hesitantly glancing around her. The younger snaptrotter wasn’t as well trained as the others, but the older two seemed intent on protecting the younger male which worked in their favor as Hapuno continued to nudge him back towards the group instead of letting him wander. “If the cliffs are here then we keep swimming along this wall until we find the entrance. Let’s go.” She nudged Ami almost playfully, trying to lighten the Kawena’s mood since she was obviously worried about dangers, and after a lingering moment the hybrid started swimming forward again eager to find this cavern before they had to refresh their breathing potions.
[Noelani 9]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
“Agreed.” Kieran nodded as he also hoped for a ship to have caused such damage. They didn’t need any type of shark or tentacled creature fighting with them on today’s adventure. The very thought made even the Yaeli feel a bit fearful, the thought of being dragged into the ocean depths not settling well with him at all. Swimming next to Ami, Kieran used the wall to pull his body forward as he dug his fingers into any place that he could find that would propel him to the next spot before finally turning a corner and feeling something pulling the water and him forward. A current? Rather than being upset about it, Kieran found himself smiling. Surely this was it! “This way.” He called out while gesturing with the small glass orb full of glowing jellies that he had been using to help light the way alongside of Ami.
[Kieran 9]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
Feeling the current, Nanami perked up despite her worries. “An entrance!” She gasped as she floated alongside of Kieran and allowed the current to guide her body forward until they found a crevice in the cliffs that led upwards. Reaching out, her fingers slipped a bit because of how slick her skin was but eventually Nanami managed to grab onto the edge and pull herself up onto a cold stone floor that was free of water. I’ll definitely put on those gloves that Noelani packed for me. But at least they had arrived! “Made it.” She turned around and held out a hand just in case anyone else needed some help climbing up into the cave now that they had found it.
[Nanami 9]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
“Here we go.” Kaimana grinned at the snaptrotters before swimming upwards and emerging in the pool of water that marked the entrance of the cave. Peni had a bit more issue clambering up behind him, but eventually the pair made it onto the cold stone floor and the Matori found himself glancing around trying to adjust to the darkness. It helped that Ami glowed so that her light provided them some vision within the area that would have been pitch dark otherwise. Helping Koa and Hapuno up next, Kaimana waited for Noelani and Kieran to join them as well. “Now what? Do we just explore and hope there’s actually some treasure hidden in this place?”
[Kaimana 9]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
Grabbing Nanami’s hand, Noelani pulled herself up and plopped down next to the Kawena with a sigh of relief leaving her lips. “So well a cave does exist.” She admitted as she looked around, her antenna twitching slightly as she made certain that they were truly alone in this particular part of the cavern. “I would say that we set up a base here and explore for a bit. Is there anything that we need to worry about losing that should stay in this room? The snaptrotters can stay here as guards since I don’t know how well they’ll deal with exploring a cave like this.” What if they needed to climb or something? She didn’t quite understand how to work with the familiars since she never had a snaptrotter before, not until their last adventure with the guys and that had not been anywhere near a cave like this.
[Noelani 10]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
“It does indeed exist.” Chuckled Kieran as he climbed out of the water and sat down next to the snaptrotters who were glancing around, the creatures intent upon making certain that they were the only predators in the area. “I agree with setting up a base and letting the snaptrotters guard the area. If there’s something out there that we can’t deal with then I don’t know how much more they could do for us anyways.” And that was a situation he really didn’t want to experience, spirits willing.
[Kieran 10]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
Nanami laced her fingers with Noelani’s hand as she waited for the others to finish discussing their options. “From what I remember of the map, there was a stained part that looked like a drawing of some cavern passages.” She mused thoughtfully as she glanced around, looking at the ceiling of the cavern and noticing the passage jutting off to the side. “If it was crucial treasure then maybe pirates placed traps around it, but if we’re lucky and they didn’t mean to keep it here for long then hopefully there wasn’t enough time to set up traps.”
[Nanami 10]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
“So we’ll be careful of traps then.” Kaimana had finished sorting through his belongings, the adventurer slinging what was left of his back and weapons back into place. Holding onto his trident the Matori twisted around and walked towards the passage that Nanami had noticed. Instead of using his own hand, Kaimana reached out with his trident and waved it through the entrance while making certain to bap it into the sides and whatever he could reach. Waiting with a baited breath, all that he could hear was the distant sound of dripping water as from condensation within the cave. “So far so good.”
[Kaimana 10]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
“Reckless.” Noelani sighed as she raised Nanami’s hand to her lips and placed a light kiss on the top before letting go so that she could join Kaimana. “We’ll use what lights we have to try to keep an eye out for any traps, just in case.” She reached into her own satchel and brought out a glass orb similar to the one Kieran had though this one glowed with a subtle orange light, the color bouncing off the damp cavern walls. “Ami can help with that as well, right? That way Kaimana can keep his hands free to deal with whatever may jump at us.”
[Noelani 11]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:25 pm
“The more lights, the merrier.” Agreed Kieran as he held up his own orb that was glowing a faint blue in the darkness, similar to Nanami’s own markings. “Let me see.” The Yaeli moved past the others to inspect the entrance, his brow furrowing thoughtfully as he compared it to the image that Nanami had referenced. “I think we’re fine, it’s when we get to the middle of the passage that we should slow down and be super cautious. Most would bait you into the tunnel first before placing traps to make certain that a group didn’t get a warning from the get go.” If a scout went in and didn’t come back it would also entice others to come along to find them which could result in more disaster compared to a trap at the very beginning of the cave.
[Kieran 11]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:25 pm
“Alright.” Nanami closed her eyes and summoned some dancing lights to glow alongside the group as they moved forward through the entrance. The cavern itself was lovely with the condensation gleaming like gemstones in the colored light and she found herself favoring the green that her own dancing lights created across the stony surface. Both the orange and green lights danced ahead keeping them alert as they moved along, Nanami only gasping slightly as an alol darted out from around a stalactite and startled her. “Oh! So there is life here!” She whispered as she leaned towards Noelani, the Kawena seeking both support and to protect her lover after being so startled.
[Nanami 11]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:25 pm
“Just an alol.” Kaimana let out a sigh of relief as he lowered his trident. “Bad timing little guy.” He commented with a chuckle before moving forward, the Matori only pausing when he noticed something strange with the floor. “Hold on, Kieran!” He called out towards the Yaeli when he realized that was most definitely not a natural formation blocking their path.
[Kaimana 11]
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 7:25 pm
Noelani reacted as soon as she heard Kieran’s name being yelled. “Careful!” She was already running on adrenaline from the alol’s appearance and even as she spoke, the hybrid was moving forward to tug Kieran back towards her. The Yaeli thankfully moved with the helpful tug and the group found themselves pressing against the sides of the passage, their bodies going into whatever opening that they could find. “I think we’re sa….oh no, no no.” Noelani glanced at the pure white alol who scurried from the wall and towards that particular spot. “You have to be…” And there it was. Click! Bolts started firing from the wall from the end of the passage towards them and she found herself wrapping her arms tightly around Nanami as she pressed them into the narrow area that they had pressed into. Several bolts whooshed past them, but so far only nothing pierced skin, just her backpack that unfortunately would be ruined from this particular incident.
[Noelani 12]
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