I'm binging right now, so here, have another! :D
Obligatory Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Harmless Little Secrets
Yu woke with a start, blinking in confusion as darkness pressed in on his vision, the embers of the fire having died long ago. He didn't know what had startled him so, but his pounding heart was an assurance that he wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. He felt a sharp flicker of irritation for his ruined slumber, the aching protests of his sore muscles doing little to lessen the annoyance.
Rolling onto his side, he became aware of a weak orange glow just outside the entrance, as well as a pair of voices speaking quietly to one another. He sat up, now quite awake and curious as to what was going on. The flickering orange light was the only source available, and even then it only faintly lit up the gap. Everything else was wrapped in total darkness, so dense he couldn't even see his own body.
What's that? he wondered. He didn't see Nyras or Korval, so it might be that they had taken their vigil outside and were . . . doing something. He wasn't sure what. The quiet voices weren't threatening, either. In fact, they only peaked his curiosity.
All around him he could hear the soft, even breathing of his friends, and he realized he was the only one who was up. He'd have to be quiet to avoid disturbing their rest. With that thought in mind, he slowly felt his way forward, maneuvering as carefully and quietly as he could until he was just before the entrance.
That was when something shifted slightly within the crux of light and shadow, and Yu snapped his attention to it immediately, heart leaping into his throat. Then he relaxed as he made out of pair of white eyes watching him carefully.
Xirskam.
He found it a little unsettling that the Shade had been watching them all while they had slept, like some sort of creepy sentient guard dog. Did shades even need to sleep themselves? Somehow, he doubted it.
But it . . . he was on their side, he knew that very well now. After all, the shade was the one who'd saved them from falling over the edge yesterday. It had been a little weird, being manhandled like a small child, but it was far better than being dead.
. . . perhaps Yu should . . . let him know that?
Swallowing, he gave it a small nod and hoped he understood him, "Um . . . thank you. For yesterday, I mean."
The shade only stared at him, remaining silent, and Yu sighed. Maybe Tirin really was the only one who could communicate with him.
Then a slight weight was suddenly on his head, disappearing and reappearing in a repetitious movement that struck Yu momentarily dumb. Did he . . . did the shade just pat his head?
Yeah, it seemed so, because a great clawed hand suddenly pulled away, disappearing back into the darkness. All of it done without a single sound uttered by Xirskam, who now simply sat and watched.
Blinking and slightly shaking his head in disbelief (thank god those claws hadn't nicked him on accident), he turned away and moved closer to the gap. Peeking out, he found the source of the glow instantly.
Nyras and Korval were both there, no surprise, positioned along the stone wall a mere five feet from the entrance. A small lantern had been set out just above a large map that lay spread over the floor, the furled tips held apart by two small stones. Nyras was sitting cross-legged before it, tapping a knuckle against her chin while her other arm lay crossed over her chest, eyes roving over the inked print with intense focus. Korval kneeled beside her, a large, now bare hand placed firmly against her opposite shoulder, a touch Nyras didn't seem to mind in the least. Strange . . .
Grunting softly, Korval pressed a finger against the map, speaking in a low voice. Luckily, Yu was close enough now that he could make out what he was saying, "I say we go to Sedgeridge first. They got a lot of shops and an inn that ain't too bad. Not to mention a few runners that can start sending out messages."
"Fair points, but runners would be chancy at best," Nyras replied just as quietly, "The others need to know of this as soon as possible. As such, I recommend Bailsborough. There's a wizard I know there who is skilled in divination magic. He could get the word out far more quickly than ordinary messengers."
"But Bailsborough's twenty extra miles, and these kids are already dead on their feet," Korval put in, looking at his smaller companion, "They ain't like us, Nyras, ya know that. Sides, Sedgeridge is on the way to Bailsborough. See? We can make it there the next day, and bonus, everyone's rested and outfitted with gear that didn't come off the ass-end of a cow."
Nyras lowered her hand and closed her eyes in thought. Yu listened intently. Sedgeridge? Bailsborough? All unknown to him, but it seemed he would come to find out more about them in the days to come. And these 'others' they were talking about . . . he was willing to bet money on who they were.
Yu shifted a little closer as Nyras opened her eyes, a small smile coming to her face, "Of course, we do have to remember that their stamina is not nearly so refined. Very well, we'll stop by Sedgeridge first," she looked at her grinning companion, "Still, we would do well to press for speed. No detours. It is imperative that we convey what has happened here to the others as soon as possible."
"Deal," Korval said, sticking out a hand.
With a smile, Nyras accepted it, the fond glimmer in her eyes sparkling in the lantern light, "You always did have a soft spot for children."
"Ah, don't give me that," Korval said, gently squeezing her shoulder, "You're bein' soft on 'em too. If it'd been the rest of us, you would have kept us goin' till we reached the surface."
This is getting weirdly intimate . . . Yu thought.
"I'll make no protests against that statement," Nyras whispered, voice dropping to a oddly gentle timber.
A husky growl emanated from the back of Korval's throat, the half-orc leaning in a little closer, "Oh yeah? What else won't you protest against right now?"
What . . . was . . .
"Hm . . ." Nyras hummed, leaning up herself, "I wouldn't protest to this."
And she closed the distance completely and pressed her lips to Korval's.
Yu's mind exploded. Flinging himself back into the gap, he pressed his back against the wall, head reeling, D-did that really happen? Did that really just happen?!
Jaw having dropped to the center of the earth by now, Yu smacked his knuckles against his head in an effort to punch his thoughts into order, O-okay, maybe I just suffered a bout of insanity and hallucinated the whole thing.
He looked again, saw the same thing, and fell back, Holy crap, no, this is really happening!
"They're cute together, huh?"
The back of Yu's head struck the stone behind him as he jolted, and he was pretty sure his heart was trying it's hardest to strangle him. He rubbed at the aching spot and gave a hard glare at Tirin, who only leaned back and grinned. Holding his hands up and twiddling his fingers, he whispered happily, "Surprise!"
Just then, a shadow blotted the entryway, and with an ominous sense of dread, Yu turned his head. Korval was staring back at him, arms crossed and looking only mildly annoyed. Thankfully. So thankfully.
Still grinning, Tirin waved at the orc, "Morning!"
Korval sighed, then gestured for Yu to stand, "C'mon, we might as well talk."
Swallowing nervously, Yu did as he was told.
He soon found himself seated across from duo, the map, the lantern, and an ocean of awkwardness between them. Yu hung his head, feeling slightly ashamed. True, he hadn't actually known the nature of their relationship, but he'd still been caught eavesdropping. If Dojima were here, he'd have his hide.
Tirin sat between them, idly humming something under his breath and watching with great interest.
"Before you say anything," Yu said, clapping his hands together, "I humbly request a chance to write my will."
Korval rolled his eyes, "Kid, ya ain't gonna die."
Nyras spoke next, sounding calm despite her curiously red cheeks, "We are not angry with you, Yu. While you may have eavesdropped, it wasn't as if what we were speaking of were personal affairs."
Yu's shoulders drooped in relief.
"And . . . as for our relationship," Nyras started awkwardly, the blush intensifying, "It wasn't as if we were trying to keep it a secret from you. We just believed there would have been a better place for such a revelation. You already had much on your minds."
Korval rubbed the back of his head, "Still, guess the cat's outta the bag now, huh?"
Yu self-consciously rubbed at his wrist, thinking. This had been a pretty big shock, no question, and he honestly had no idea how he would deliver this news to the others without breaking someone's mind. Naoto's and Kanji's, especially.
It . . . would be kinda bad if this was dropped on everyone now. Vey slowly, as if the words were forming as he spoke, he said, "Maybe . . . we don't have to tell them."
Nyras' ears perked up, interested, "And why do you say that?"
"You're right, now would be a bad time to drop a bombshell like this," Yu explained, acutely aware of everyone's eyes on him. Belatedly, he realized 'bombshell' might not be a word they'd know, "If . . . well, what I mean is, I'll keep quiet about it, if that is what you want."
"And you are not opposed to keeping secrets from your friends?" Nyras pressed.
Yu sighed, "I'm the leader. Right now, when everything's as chaotic and uncertain as it is, I have to think of how best to keep everyone from losing their heads. Besides, its not like this is a harmful thing I'm keeping from them. It's just . . . a bit brain-breaking."
Korval sat up at this, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Yu waved his hands frantically, "N-nothing bad, I promise! It's just, well, you have to have noticed that Kanji and Naoto aren't . . . well, they're not-"
Nyras held up a hand, and Yu closed his mouth, "Yes, we've noticed. Kanji can't maintain eye-contact and Naoto is oblivious to his attempts at conversation," she tilted her head to Korval, a wistful smile on her face, "It doesn't seem that long ago when we were much the same."
She rested her hand atop his, and Korval shifted until he was holding it in his palm, "Yeah, I remember I couldn't even get a word out to ya without soundin' like a total idiot. How you ever noticed a guy like me is somethin' I'll never figure out."
"Now, the joke there is, she didn't," Tirin chimed in teasingly, pretending he was explaining it to Yu.
"Ah, shut up," Korval snapped.
Nyras quietly placed her other hand on his arm, the air of calm bringing the half-orc down from his anger, "Hush, lieling. The others are still asleep."
"Oh, yeah . . . sorry."
Lips curling with amusement, she lifted a hand to his cheek and pushed until he looked at her, "You let Tirin's jests get under your skin far too much. You should know better than to fall for them by now."
The orc averted eyes, embarrassed, "Yeah, well, its been a while since we last saw each other. I kinda lost my touch."
"And I'll take full advantage of that," Tirin crowed softly.
"You may hush as well, or otherwise see yourself to another cave," Nyras said, eyes hardening. Tirin defensively held up his hands, but remained quiet.
Yu shifted slightly where he sat, mildly uncomfortable with what was going on. Not that he wasn't happy for them (at least, as happy as he could be for basically strangers), but it was . . . utterly bizarre to watch when not ten feet away slept two friends who looked exactly like them. Two friends who may actually have feelings for eachother, but one couldn't speak his mind straight and the other was kind of oblivious to him. It must be a detective thing . . .
Nyras noticed his discomfort quickly, dropping her hand, "Ah, we apologize. This must be a little odd for you."
"No, no that's not it," Yu interjected, "I mean, this is normal for you. It's just . . ."
"You do not have to say anymore," Nyras said, "Until the time comes where you are all more acclimated to our world, we shall keep this between ourselves."
Yu nodded, "Alright."
He hoped he could keep that up without getting too awkward around Kanji and Naoto.
A stretch of silence fell between them, neither side not really knowing what to say anymore, until Yu finally decided to try for some light conversation, "So, um . . . how long have the two of you been together?"
Nyras fiddled with the end of her ponytail, looking a little embarrassed, "Some time, it feels like. Although it can't have been more than a year."
"Hey, we got lots of time now," Korval said, "At least, that's what Rhys said at our wedding."
Yu somehow managed to choke on his spit.
Nyras looked at him, face etched with mild concern, "Are you alright?"
"You're married . . ." he mumbled. Okay, so maybe it wasn't that much of a stretch, but he hadn't actually made the assumption that the two were married. Just . . . together.
"Yeah . . . ?" Korval said, looking confused, "That's what most people do?"
Yu just gave him a blank stare.
"Hey, what's going on out here?"
Yu jumped in spite of himself, turning to stare at Yosuke, who was peeking out from the gap. He noticed Nyras subtly move her hand away from Korval's, which the orc looked less than pleased about.
"U-uh, nothing, Yosuke," Yu said, trying to regain his composure (which this night had done quite a number on), "Just . . . talking."
"Uh, okay?" the brunette replied. Thankfully, it seemed he was still too tired to press for anymore answers than that, stepping out into the cavern with a yawn, "Are we getting ready to leave, or something?"
"Actually, the two of you have woken at a rather convenient time," Nyras said, standing upright, "Now if you could wake the others up, we can reach the surface in only an hour."
Yosuke's eyes lit up at this, "Alright, finally!"
He scrambled back inside, only to scramble back out a second later looking sheepish, "Uh, Partner, think you could help me with Chie? She'd listen to you a lot better than she'd listen to me."
"Uh, yeah, I can," Yu replied somewhat dazedly. Yosuke gave him a funny look, but commented no further on it as he went back inside.
Yu sighed. It really felt like he'd bitten off more than he could chew with this . . .
Tirin's cheeky call of 'good luck' really did not help.
(*)
Breakfast went by fairly painlessly, which Yu would be eternally grateful for. Conversation was minimal as everyone focused on eating, and there was still that wall not really knowing what to talk about. Good on their word, Korval and Nyras maintained a facade of friendliness that aroused no real suspicion. Still, every small touch and soft word took on quite a different meaning for Yu now, and he struggled to keep from glancing at Kanji and Naoto every time it happened. The only real problem was Tirin, who kept smiling knowingly at him every time Yu so much as glanced in his direction. He liked to fancy himself a fairly collected person, but it really began to grate on his nerves after a time.
But soon, they were on the move again. Sedgeridge was the name of their destination, a small lakeside town that had shops and other useful commodities they'd been lacking. But more than that, the promise of fresh air and sunshine was what really energized his friends, their pace noticeably faster and more keen despite sore muscles and aching feet.
Yu hung around in the back, close to where Korval was keeping watch. From there, he could observe the group with ease and avoid an awkward confrontations. He was pretty sure Naoto had noticed his slightly odd behavior and wanted to avoid being grilled.
Thankfully, she seemed more interested in other topics, as she eventually asked Nyras, "So will we be meeting your companions at Sedgeridge?"
Everyone's ears perked up in interest.
"Most likely not," Nyras replied, "Korval and I have been in the Underdark for some weeks now and haven't had proper contact with the surface in that time. We have general ideas where the others might be located, but no precise details. If we did meet someone at Sedgeridge, it will be just as much of a surprise for us as it will be for you."
"Okay, I gotta ask," Yosuke said, "You know our counterparts, right? Think you could tell us more about them?"
"Yeah!" Chie shouted, jumping on the wagon, "The other me, she's a badass right? I mean, not that you guys aren't pretty badass, but, you know? I wanna know!"
"Come on, spill!" Rise added, smiling.
Nyras' lips twitched in amusement, "Hm, that depends on what it is you want to know."
"Ny-ras!" Tirin whined, pouting, "Surprises!"
"Grak, who cares?!" Korval demanded, and Yu could swear the red eyes of his helmet glowed just a bit brighter.
"Well, it would be kind of fun, wouldn't it?"
Everyone looked at Yukiko, who shrunk a little under the curious stares, "Um, I mean, not that its for everyone, but . . ." she continued on a little more confidently, "We already know we're going to meet them, right? I think it would be sort of fun to be surprised! Its sort of like a present; you know you're getting a gift, you just don't know what it is until you open it."
"Well, when you put it like that . . ." Chie mused.
"Still, I think some hints would be nice," Yosuke's voice fell to a whisper Yu barely caught, "Just so I don't have to be too disappointed . . ."
"That would be fun, I'll admit," Rise acquiesced, looking thoughtful.
"If that is your choice, we can keep silent on the issue," Nyras said with an obliging tilt of her head.
Tirin pumped his arm in, whispering, "Yes!"
Korval sighed.
A few more paces were walked in silence. Then, Naoto spoke out again, "If it is alright to ask, Nyras-san, I am a little curious over something."
The elder glanced her way, looking intrigued, "Carry on."
"Last night, you mentioned you were a ranger," Naoto continued, "I'd like to know a little more about that, if it is information you can share."
"Of course," Nyras said, giving Naoto an approving look, "It is important we cover this subject anyway, so I am glad you brought it up."
"There are many professions that exist in this world. Adventurers are no different," Nyras continued, "A ranger, like myself, is one such profession. Tracking elusive prey, exploration of unknown lands, and mastery of specialized weapons are my personal fields of experience."
"So you're like a hunter," Rise said.
"That is certainly a ranger's forte. Usually, our skills are centered around specific creatures and environments, but as it is prudent to have an expansive knowledge of all types, a ranger is therefore very versatile when it comes to battle," Nyras said.
"You know, that actually sounds a lot like what Naoto does," Yukiko chimed in.
"I will take that as a compliment, Yukiko-san, but our fields of expertise aren't that closely aligned," Naoto said.
"No, she's right actually!" Rise interjected, "Think about it; you hunt bad guys all the time using environmental clues, you're good at tracking things, you're really, really smart, and you're versatile! Sure the names are different, but what you do isn't."
"Hm. Are you a ranger of sorts in your world?" Nyras asked, looking keenly at Naoto.
"Well . . . I suppose in a way. I am a detective. It is my job to solve crimes and capture suspects," Naoto explained, looking a little shy, "To put it simply. Also, its not nearly so fantastical as your occupation is, I'm sure."
"Maybe all the stuff about magic and demons, but protectin' people from dirtbags ain't exactly borin'," Korval cut in from the back, "You puttin' your talents where they work best is pretty fantastic in its own way, is what I say."
"Y . . . yeah! W-what he said!" Kanji put in, cheeks going a little red.
"Ah . . ." a flush of red warmed Naoto's cheeks, and she self-consciously pulled her hat a little lower.
Yu gnawed at his bottom lip. They were right, Naoto was fantastic and he'd always be proud of her for her accomplishments, but knowing what he knew had made this exchange way more subliminal than he was comfortable with.
Especially when Rise cooed, "Aw, that's so sweet of you to say about our Naoto-kun!"
Chie playfully nudged Kanji in the ribs, "Hey, why don't you add a little somethin' to that, Kanji-kun?"
That's right, a lot of his friends 'shipped' the two together behind their backs. That was gonna make this harder.
. . . And maybe he'd been one of those shippers, but it was different (read: weird) when in one place the relationship had happened and in another it . . . hadn't. And you were stuck keeping that fact a secret lest all hell break loose.
Kanji flushed, "S-shut up! I-I don't have to say nothin'!"
Behind him, he heard Korval chuckle under his breath.
"Tch, Kanji, I'm disappointed in you!" Teddie admonished, "For a lovely girl like Nao-chan, you should be singing her praises!"
"I'll break you, Ted," Kanji warned.
Yu quickly stepped in before things took a violent turn, "So, what about the rest of you? What, um, professions did you take?"
"Ain't much to talk about," Korval answered, "I'm a barbarian. S'pretty much all I need to say."
"Whoa, a barbarian?" Chie asked, looking greatly intrigued, "Like the Hulk?"
"I don't think the Hulk was a barbarian, Chie . . ." Yosuke said.
"What's a 'Hulk?" Teddie asked, "Is that like a bear?"
Yosuke sighed.
"You're making Korval angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry," Yukiko chanted ominously.
"Huh? I ain't angry right now," Korval said, frowning in puzzlement, "But, yeah, I guess that's the easiest way a puttin' what I do into words."
"So you literally get angry, and it helps you in a fight," Yosuke stated, looking a little disbelieving.
"Basically. The point a bein' a barbarian is that I can use anger to give me a boost. I can fight better, move quicker, even heal faster if I need it," Korval said, "Also, it scares the fuck outta people, which is great."
Yu remembered quite well the rage that had suffused Korval's entire being in the last battle they'd been in, and nodded, "That makes a lot of sense, yes."
A mischievous spark flashed in Yosuke's eyes as he glanced at Kanji, smirking, "Hey Kanji, kinda sounds like you too, doesn't it?"
The other boy growled at him, "And just what the hell is that supposed to mean, Yosuke-senpai?"
"Well, ya know, getting angry tends to be your default," Yosuke supplied rather foolishly, "And, not to be mean about it, but you used to scare the fuck out of us too."
Kanji's eyes flashed, and Yu genuinely worried that if Yosuke didn't shut up, he'd be seeing stars real soon.
Thankfully, Nyras' calm voice intervened, "Anger on its own is not intrinsically good or evil, for it is just an emotion. Rather, it is what one does with that anger that decides morality. Barbarians who use their rage to harm and cause chaos are undoubtedly evil, just like barbarians who use their power to protect and endure, like Korval, are seen as good. And another thing . . ." she glanced at Kanji, "Anger is not the only thing that makes up a barbarian. It is also courage, loyalty, and steadfastness, as well as a will that cannot be broken. Therefore, if it is true that you carry the rage of a barbarian in your heart, I am willing to believe that you carry these other qualities alongside it."
"U-uh . . ." Kanji stuttered, red-faced but no longer from anger. Looking down, he awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and mumbled, "T-thanks . . ."
" . . . I can attest that such qualities are indeed ones Kanji owns," Naoto put in quietly, "We have all seen it, have we not?"
"U-UH . . . !" Kanji floundered.
Rise was beaming, "Aw, of course we know that, but its so nice of you to point it out, Naoto-kun!"
"I-it is simply the truth," Naoto said, a little defensively.
Yu noticed Nyras smile in amusement, and he shook his head. If Korval and Nyras had been anything like this, he really had to wonder how and when they had finally noticed each other in that way. And if Kanji and Naoto would do the same.
. . . maybe he should cut that out. The tension the aforementioned pair were exuding was more than enough.
"And what about you?" he heard Yosuke ask, looking at Tirin, "What are you supposed to be?"
"Ah, you can't just ask someone what they are, Yosuke, it's very impolite," Tirin admonished teasingly.
Yosuke narrowed his eyes, and Tirin chuckled, "Hehe, I'm just kidding! Anyway, I'm a rogue!"
"Isn't that like a thief?" Yukiko asked.
"Oh no, so much more than that! Rogues are people who live by their wits, luck and prowess. They can be diplomats, manipulators, thrill seekers, all sorts of things! Me, I'm good at being seen only when I want to be seen, and hitting people where it really hurts," Tirin gave Yukiko a sultry wink, "And I'm good at charming people, wouldn't you say?"
"Um . . ."
"But!" Tirin continued, holding up a finger, "That's not all! I've also trained as a shadowdancer!"
"A what dancer?" Chie asked.
"A shadowdancer is similar to a rogue," Nyras informed, "But they rely much more heavily on the darkness to give them an edge in combat. The most highly skilled can bend shadows to their will and give it form and substance. Most never see a shadowdancer coming until its too late."
Yu remembered how easily Tirin could slip into the shadows, seeming to meld with its very form like he were darkness itself, "Yes, that makes sense as well."
"So, does that mean you can, like, control shadows?" Kanji asked.
"Sort of," Tirin replied, "It's a lot easier for me because I'm a gloaming. One foot in that world, or something like that."
"Were the wings a shadowdancer trick, then?" Yosuke asked.
"Nope, that's a gloaming trait!" Tirin replied with a smile, "All gloamings have wings!"
He heard Teddie huff under his breath, "I bet he doesn't have fur . . ."
Tirin, unfortunately, had heard, the gloaming smirking and leaning towards the bear with a hand cupped around his ear, "Hm? What was that? Speak up, I'd love to hear the jealously clearly!"
"I'm not jealous!" Teddie defended, spastically waving his arms around, "How could I be jealous! Of all the nerve to imply that I, Teddie, would be jealous is absurd!"
"He is totally jealous," Chie whispered.
"Don't tell him that," Rise responded.
Yukiko giggled.
Just then, Yosuke's arm shot out to Yu, waving it front of him to get his attention as he pointed ahead with the other, "D-dude, do you see that?"
Puzzled, Yu stared at where Yosuke was pointing. At first, all he saw was the same dark tunnel. But then, like the clearing of a fog-covered window, Yu's eyes focused on a small, bright something near the very end. It was only the size of a pinhead, but that glow could not be mistaken.
It was light.
"Is that-?!" Chie started.
"It is," Nyras told them.
On a single, surging cue, they all broke into a run. Even when their legs began to burn and their breaths came in pants, the light coming ever closer only spurred them on.
And then it was upon them, and they were running through the hole and into the space beyond.
Another large cavern, but this one was vastly different. Fifty feet wide and fifty feet deep, the stony ground remained flat for only about twenty of it before rising in a horizontal slant, a long, semi-flat path zigzagging up the hill, bordered by rising tufts of stone. The roof soared overhead, slowly narrowing down to a truncated point so it seemed like a gigantic cone had been placed above their heads, the jagged walls lined with clefts and narrow rifts. A large crack running down the side all the way to the ground before them, growing wider as it reached the bottom. The largest gap was at the opposite end of the path, placed squarely in front of it like a door before a carpet.
But the greatest difference of all was the sunlight streaming in through the fissure, painting the walls and ground with slanted bars of gold. Warmth radiated from the opening, fresh air wafting through and stirring their hair and clothes with a gentle, comforting breeze.
Yu's eyes watered, having become accustomed to the darkness of the underground, but he could not tear his gaze away. The days below had felt far longer than just days, and the light he saw now brought him a relief so great he felt lighter than air. His friends faces were filled with pure delight and happiness, feelings so strong they seemed to shine brighter than the sun.
"W-we're finally here!" Chie shouted, overjoyed.
"Fresh air! It smells wonderful!" Rise said, the tears in her eyes not all from the light.
"Oh man, it feels like its been ages!" Kanji said, grinning ear to ear.
"Come on, let's go up there!" Teddie squealed, already eagerly moving forward.
Everyone followed his lead, scrambling up the rocky path as fast as their feet were able. The rock slowly changed to crunchy grit, their frantic pace sending showers of tiny pebbles falling back to the cavern below.
When at last, at last, they crossed the threshold, Yu had to momentarily cover his eyes as the light dug into his eyes, blinding him. But he adjusted quickly, and when he could finally move his hand away, his breath caught in his throat.
They'd emerged from a crack between two great stones that lay pressed against one another, the underground entrance situated on a plateau of rock that crowned the top of a small hill. One side fell into a sheer drop, where water consciously crashed into the hollowed wall below. On his right, a glimmering lake, far bigger than any lake he'd ever seen, stretched out before him, the sunlight striking the lapping waves and making the water sparkle. Miles out, he could see some sort of behemoth monument jutting out of the water, the gray stone slick with water, the carvings wrought into its form impossible to make out. The opposite shore was only a thin, dark sliver against the horizon, nearly invisible against the waves. To the east, he thought he saw something glimmer, something large and overlooking the entire lake, but it was too far away to tell what it was. On his left were rolling, verdant hills of grass and flowers, copses of trees interspersed amongst the rising and falling landscapes. A flock of birds flew overhead, twittering merrily and landing in a gnarled oak that grew between the cracks on the stone plateau to their immediate left, its leaves bountiful, its wooded trunk sturdy and thick. Life bloomed all around him, and he felt he could break into dance at any moment.
Just then, something large out over the water caught his eye.
There, in the sky and flying fast from the west, came a great creature, whose size was so vast its shadow fell over the water like a great, stormy cloud. The sun streamed over it's scaled body, the light refracting apart and making the creature glitter like a giant topaz. It's neck was long and crowned by a frill that ran all the way down to its back, while enormous wings were spread out in the air horizontally from the rest of it's body, the sail-like protrusions growing more narrow as it reached the tip of it's long, sinuous tail. It slithered through the like some kind of great snake, riding the currents like a kite, until it reached the behemoth stone and proceeded to land. Four taloned claws gripped the stone, wings sweeping forward to steady itself, tail winding around the cylindrical body as it lifted it's great head to survey the lake.
No . . . way . . . he thought, staring in awe. There was only one thing that creature was. There was only one name that fit it.
"A d- . . . a d- . . ." Chie couldn't get the words out.
"Holy shit . . ." Yosuke mumbled piteously, unable to look away.
Everyone else was struck speechless, unable to communicate their thoughts at all.
The dragon's head twitched, then swiveled their way, and Yu felt himself freeze to the spot.
It had seen them. It was watching them. He knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
But it seemed to find nothing of interest, for then it flexed it's great wings and leapt from it's perch. Snapping it's wings down and up, down and up, it quickly rose into the air and carried on down the lake, traveling east.
Yu released the breath he didn't know he had been holding, watching the great beast fly away. Someone stepped beside him, but he was too captivated to bother seeing who it was.
His question was answered regardless when Nyras spoke;
"Welcome to Endrivan."
And we are out of the Underdark! Woo! Also, we get a bit more romance-y up in here! Woo!
Quick translations:
Grak - Fuck
Rate and review if it pleases. (Seriously though, this is my first time writing lovey-dovey stuff, I'd appreciate a little feedback)
