"Do you even need to ask?" Nalia questioned with a wide grin, already stepping in to follow the stallion further into the cave. The sounds of the waves crashing behind them echoed in the filly's ears, her feathers bristling to try and get rid of the multiple layers of sea salt that had accumulated there when first entering the cave environment.
Ardashir stated he was unsure if anything dangerous lived in the caves at the present time, knowing they could be housing predators like big cats or wild dogs. Nalia, as a prey animal, was nervous around such creatures and had gone up against them as individuals and groups before. Of course, as a gifted, she had a distinct advantage, but she doubted her wings would allow her much of a lead over a predator in an enclosed environment like this. That and the predator would have the home field advantage.
The stallion's gaze turned to look at the walls and ceiling, Nalia doing the same. Since she hadn't been inside this cave before, she didn't know what he might have been trying to find. The deeper the pair went into the cave, the more the light started to dim. Nalia allowed Ardashir to take the lead, trusting his instincts but stayed close to the stallion's side for reassurance. The waves were now more of a faint echo on the walls, helping Nalia keep a level head to remind her that all she needed to do was flap her wings to get her back outside. Then she'd have to remember to be careful since she didn't have a tremendous amount of space in here unlike a few feet back. For some others, this might start driving them a little crazy, but for Nalia, who didn't want to end up falling or causing trouble for Ardashir, she just made sure to step carefully and watch the stallion for signs of danger.
At his whisper to 'Stay close', Nalia pressed herself further to his side, a few millimeters of space the only thing separating the two horses. They only trekked through the decent darkness a few yards before Ardashir's attitude seemed to brighten, indicating he'd spotted something. Nalia's own head went up to see if she could identify what her friend saw, spotting some light coming around the corner a few feet away.
Her excitement building, the filly resisted the urge to charge ahead. The duo came around the corner, Nalia's eyes going wide and Ardashir letting out a whisper of surprise at the sight before them. The cavern not only expanded out to the sides but above, stretching a few dozen or so feet atop their heads. The light from the area appeared to be originating from a colony of small worm creatures living on the wall, casting an ethereal glow throughout the cave and out to where the horses had just come from.
Mouth dropping open in sheer amazement as her eyes scanned the room, taking note of the crystal clear water pool in front of their hooves, the filly really had no words to express the wonder she was feeling. She'd been experiencing this a lot lately, with the other caves she'd seen, the sea creatures she got to play with, the lands of Beqanna she'd explored, and the friends with magical gifts she'd had a privilege of meeting. But somehow, seeing this wonder in front of her, she didn't know if anything would be able to trump it.
Nalia didn't notice Ardashir turning his head to talk to her, but her ears turned to show she picked up on his voice. When she felt the contact of his shoulder on her wing, the filly shivered under his touch, not used to such a display, but for some reason, her body didn't want to move. Her wings were sensitive, which explained the first half of her reaction at least. Despite that, Nalia found herself content with Ardashir standing so close, keeping contact with her. She still stood a bit apart to avoid her wing getting crushed, but close that Ardashir wouldn't think that she was moving to get away from his presence.
Standing so close to the handsome stallion, Nalia felt that tickle in her belly again, unsure of what exactly this meant. Why was she feeling like a dozen butterflies had taken up residence in her belly? Why was being so close to the stallion giving her the sense of relief that she hadn't felt since she was a foal? She didn't know how to answer that, but she felt comforted, safe, so when Ardashir pressed himself closer to touch her wing, the filly returned the favor, her eyes continuing to scan the cave and wanting to explore, but her side close to Ardashir's to feel his comforting presence.
"This is beautiful," she stated in a whisper, wondering absently what it was about those worm creatures that made them glow inside of a dark cave like this one.
@[Ardashir]
Ardashir stated he was unsure if anything dangerous lived in the caves at the present time, knowing they could be housing predators like big cats or wild dogs. Nalia, as a prey animal, was nervous around such creatures and had gone up against them as individuals and groups before. Of course, as a gifted, she had a distinct advantage, but she doubted her wings would allow her much of a lead over a predator in an enclosed environment like this. That and the predator would have the home field advantage.
The stallion's gaze turned to look at the walls and ceiling, Nalia doing the same. Since she hadn't been inside this cave before, she didn't know what he might have been trying to find. The deeper the pair went into the cave, the more the light started to dim. Nalia allowed Ardashir to take the lead, trusting his instincts but stayed close to the stallion's side for reassurance. The waves were now more of a faint echo on the walls, helping Nalia keep a level head to remind her that all she needed to do was flap her wings to get her back outside. Then she'd have to remember to be careful since she didn't have a tremendous amount of space in here unlike a few feet back. For some others, this might start driving them a little crazy, but for Nalia, who didn't want to end up falling or causing trouble for Ardashir, she just made sure to step carefully and watch the stallion for signs of danger.
At his whisper to 'Stay close', Nalia pressed herself further to his side, a few millimeters of space the only thing separating the two horses. They only trekked through the decent darkness a few yards before Ardashir's attitude seemed to brighten, indicating he'd spotted something. Nalia's own head went up to see if she could identify what her friend saw, spotting some light coming around the corner a few feet away.
Her excitement building, the filly resisted the urge to charge ahead. The duo came around the corner, Nalia's eyes going wide and Ardashir letting out a whisper of surprise at the sight before them. The cavern not only expanded out to the sides but above, stretching a few dozen or so feet atop their heads. The light from the area appeared to be originating from a colony of small worm creatures living on the wall, casting an ethereal glow throughout the cave and out to where the horses had just come from.
Mouth dropping open in sheer amazement as her eyes scanned the room, taking note of the crystal clear water pool in front of their hooves, the filly really had no words to express the wonder she was feeling. She'd been experiencing this a lot lately, with the other caves she'd seen, the sea creatures she got to play with, the lands of Beqanna she'd explored, and the friends with magical gifts she'd had a privilege of meeting. But somehow, seeing this wonder in front of her, she didn't know if anything would be able to trump it.
Nalia didn't notice Ardashir turning his head to talk to her, but her ears turned to show she picked up on his voice. When she felt the contact of his shoulder on her wing, the filly shivered under his touch, not used to such a display, but for some reason, her body didn't want to move. Her wings were sensitive, which explained the first half of her reaction at least. Despite that, Nalia found herself content with Ardashir standing so close, keeping contact with her. She still stood a bit apart to avoid her wing getting crushed, but close that Ardashir wouldn't think that she was moving to get away from his presence.
Standing so close to the handsome stallion, Nalia felt that tickle in her belly again, unsure of what exactly this meant. Why was she feeling like a dozen butterflies had taken up residence in her belly? Why was being so close to the stallion giving her the sense of relief that she hadn't felt since she was a foal? She didn't know how to answer that, but she felt comforted, safe, so when Ardashir pressed himself closer to touch her wing, the filly returned the favor, her eyes continuing to scan the cave and wanting to explore, but her side close to Ardashir's to feel his comforting presence.
"This is beautiful," she stated in a whisper, wondering absently what it was about those worm creatures that made them glow inside of a dark cave like this one.
@[Ardashir]