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The Caves (5) : To any explorers visiting the new Reservoir, they may find that just a bit away from the sandy water are a set of caves. Some of these connect back to the lake, but others rapidly plunge into darkness. It wouldn't be hard to get lost in here, but thankfully there are some very odd lights to help guide you out. If you turn off your light down some of these dark paths, you may find yourself surrounded by glowing pastel lights. A closer inspection reveals that you seem to be looking at some sort of glowing caterpillars. An internet search will reveal that Destiny City scientists have been researching the strange, unnamed creatures, but the articles are very limited. If you take them out of the cave they seem to shrivel up almost immediately. They’re neat, but clearly meant to be stay in their natural habitat.
Kianna had been exhausted from today's practice run. She felt like she didn't do well enough. She was a little more sluggish then she would have wanted to be. There was just something wrong with her feet at the track. She was likely experiencing the effects of overtraining, which can cause fatigue, muscle soreness, and poor performance. Without proper rest and recovery, her body was unable to keep up with the demands of her training. But despite that she still felt like she needed to train more. She had heard that down by the newly constructed Reservoir. She decided to head there for a restorative run. As soon as she got there, she felt energized and her fatigue began to dissipate. She was back in her element and was ready to take on any challenge.
As she ran on the sandy ground she noticed up ahead was a strange group of caves. She was intrigued and decided to investigate. She approached the caves cautiously, and as she got closer, she noticed a faint light coming from within. She peered inside and was amazed by what she saw. She grabbed her phone and turned on the flashlight app. The light shone on a beautiful array of something blue like glowing pastel lights in the darkness. She was captivated and stepped inside. She quickly realized she had stumbled upon a magical place, or at least it looked that way in her eyes. She slowly walked around, taking in the sight of the glowing blue lights that illuminated the cave. She knew she had to explore more and find out what this place was. As she walked deeper into the cave, she felt the magical energy radiating around her. As soon as she switched her phone to the other hand, she touched the wall with her hand. She felt some sort of glowing caterpillar cross her fingers as she touched the wall. The caterpillar left behind the glowing light on her hand. As she moved it closer to her face she was amazed at how bright it shone in the cave. It was like these caterpillars were making their home as magical as possible.
It was as if the light was a gateway to the magical world inside the cave. She felt a sense of awe and wonder as she watched the catepillers move around, seemingly in tune with the energy that surrounded her. She felt like she was being transported to an entirely different realm, one that was filled with the mysteries of the unknown. She decided to take a seat and just watch the catepillers do their thing. She took a seat on the cave floor, and stretched out her legs. This was the first time she had sat down and just watched the world in a very long time. She was mesmerized by the sight, and let her mind wander. She felt a deep sense of peace and connection to nature. She was truly in awe of the beauty of the world around her. Not only that but her body seemed to be enjoying the rest, it was like it was thanking her for watching the glowing catepillers.
She felt an immense sense of contentment and gratitude for being able to take the time to appreciate the beauty of nature, and for the opportunity to give her body a break. Had she not found this cave she may have never gotten the break she knew now her body needed. She needed to remember that she was human, and everyone needs a break before they break. So with that thought in mind she got up on her feet, dusted her pants off, and stretched her arms up to the sky. She took one last deep breath, feeling the crisp air fill her lungs. With a renewed sense of energy, she started back the way she had come, grateful for the break she had taken. "Thank you glowing catepillers. You gave me just what I needed - a break," she said with a bright smile.
She felt energized and ready to tackle the journey ahead. Refreshed and determined, she continued on her path, and as she exited the cave. She decided she had done enough running for the day and instead she started to brainstorm ideas on how she could spend the rest of her day. Maybe she could read a book, write a story, or maybe just maybe if her parents were home they could go on a picnic. It had been awhile since they had been able to do anything as a family. The last time they had a picnic was a day to remember. She smiled to herself, happy to have this thought. She realized maybe she could even plan a surprise picnic! They didn't need to go anywhere super special - for all she cared they could make the living room their picnic area. The thought made her smile so brightly. It was the happiest she had been in awhile. With that thought in mind she quickly ran home, excited to tell her parents about her plan. Who knew some caterpillars could help her come up with such a wonderful idea? She would definitely have to come back sometime soon to watch them again. She opened the door and rushed to tell her parents the news. They were amazed at her idea and agreed to have their picnic in the living room. She rushed into the kitchen and started making some of their favorite foods. They had orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken, Rangoon's, veggie rolls, and of course lots of fried rice. They all sat down together and enjoyed the picnic. It was a wonderful experience and the caterpillars were a great source of inspiration. She thanked them again in her head and promised to come back soon to visit them again. Maybe she could even bring her journal and write about the sight in the cave. She smiled as she imagined the possibilities and quickly got up to start the journey back home. She felt rejuvenated and excited about what she would write in her journal. She was sure that it would be a great adventure just like her family living room picnic!
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