[SpringsSong]

Honestly, Rosie.  You think other people will be out here at this time of night? A Windgill Paragon wondered to herself as she looked around the caverns, carefully plodding along.  It had been the longest time since she had even left her home; in fact, the only time she had left her home was when she moved in from one pen to Fire's Arena.  She'd finally managed to get out of the Arena; after all, Angela had been gone for the longest time, and still hadn't returned.

Something about finding her man... I wish I was as lucky as her.

She held her wings close to her body as she walked into one of the tunnels.  Don't be ridiculous, Rosie.  I'm sure the right one is out there... he just hasn't found us yet, if at all. She thought to herself.  But I cannot help but wonder... is Angela always going to be luckier than I, just as she is always lucker than her sister, Aila?  I hope not.  At least I have my final form; poor Aila's trapped in Slynx form. She added to her thoughts, looking around.

[1.1]

[[Open to two others at most.  I'd really like it if a couple other Paragon could join in, please~]]

[Freezair]

"'Ow we lookin', Pete?"

"Good; good!" The blue Batti pushed up the visor on his helmet, scanning the inside of the cave walls. He ran his claws up and down the seam between the rolling stone door and the rest of the wall. The door was snapped shut and closed sardine-tight; not even a Rattegan could find a space to slip inside. Giving himself a satisfied nod, Pete shouted to Carlita, "Mark it down!"

The Jewel Batti happily obliged. She scratched her claw against the boxed clay slab hanging across her armor plate, leaving a number there.

"Roight! Almost don wit' 'em all," she said. "We can just abou' check in fer the evenin' an'--"

Both Batties turned abruptly. A sound resonated in the deep gloom. Their ears twitched like antennae. It wasn't the skritching or the hissing breathing of an Akail. Not yet cause for relaxation, though. There was a gentle whupping, like the movement of air over wings.

"Hide," they both hissed in unison.

"Door?"

"'Idden," she shook her head. "Can't use if we might be found! Rock!"

With only minimal clanking of plate mail, the two Batties dove behind a rock to wait out--well, whatever it was. Wanderers were common in the caves nowadays, but this was uncommonly late for them. Hopefully they bore no ill will.

"Think it's a spy?"

"Sho' hope no--"

A deep, crystal-shaking bellow tumbled out of the deep caves. "HALT! INTRUDER! WHO GOES THERE?!" A hint of glow-in-the-dark gold sparkled from the cave's depths.

"Eurydice..."

[21, 1]

((Happy to oblige, my good Fire. 8D))

[SpringsSong]

The sounds of wings and a little clinking reached Rosie, causing her to turn around slightly.  "Who... who's there?" she asked, looking around.  She hadn't considered that she was probably intruding in someone else's territory.  After a few moments, she spoke again.

"I-I'm terribly sorry, I didn't think I was intruding.  M-my name's Rosiealinda.  I-I'm--I was just roaming around some.  I-I didn't realize..."

Rosie, maybe you should stop talking now.  It's not going to help you any.  Just find out who they are and tell them that you mean them no harm, that you're just an insomniac who finally got out from her pen and was just exploring some and happened to find them on accident.

[1.2]

[Freezair]

Stumbling over the gravelly floor, Eurydice burst out of the depths of the cave, wings spread as intimidatingly as the confines of the cave would let her. The Windgill's deep eyes glinted zealously. She blasted in front of the other Paragon, beating her wings to slow her sprint. Rocks shook at her feet.

"Liar!" Eurydice burst. "My name is Eurydice! That rhymes with Justice-y! Now! You tell me what you're doing down here this instant--or I'm-a draggin' you down to the hoosegoooowwww." She shoved her face up against Rosie's, pupils dilating as they tried to focus at such a short distance.

"Oh, fer the luv o'--Cut it out, Eurydice!" Carlita peeped out from behind the stone, glaring at the purple Paragon.

"Yeah! She's obviously scared," Pete sighed. "Probably just a lost tourist or something."

[27, 2] ((Haa, got the counting wrong last time. XD))

[SpringsSong]

Goodness gracious! Rosie thought to herself.  Seems the one time I finally get out to explore, I get in trouble.  For goodness sakes... this is madness.  She cleared her throat as she said, "I was just exploring... honestly.  I've never been outside of my home in Nori before.  I had no idea that there were tunnels that weren't open to the public."

She didn't back off any as Eurydice pushed her face up against hers.  However, she did hear what the Batties said, and she flicked her tail slightly.  "I'm not lost... I don't think." She said.  "Unless you call wandering without a destination in mind 'lost', in which case... then I am."

[1.3]

[Freezair]

Eurydice peered into Rosie's eyes, seemingly looking for something in the back of them. Her long, crimped face went sharp and uncomfortable. Her neck pulling back, she sunk into her torso, her whole body the visual embodiment of a mutter.

"...Alright. You're clean. Jeez, I never get to have fun any more..."

Carlita and Pete edged their way out from behind the boulder, giving Eurydice reproachful looks. They brushed off their breastplates to ensure they shined (well, Pete did; Carlita still had her clay tally-slab on) and tried to look proud for Rosie.

"We're sorry, Miss," Pete said. "Deesie is a bit overzealous about her job."

"She means well, eh?" Carlita said. "Now. Ya lost, y'say? Well, if t'would please ya, we can 'elp you find yo'way back!"

[28, 3]

[SpringsSong]

"I'm honestly not sure if I'm lost." Rosie said.  "I mean, if I just turn around and walk back the way I came, I'll end up back at the entrance of this tunnel, so I can't say I'm lost.  What I meant by what I had said before was I have no destination in mind right now--I haven't done any exploring before this." She turned her head to face Eurydice, and then, she looked back at the two Batties.

"You... know her?" she asked, tilting her head.

[1.4]

[Freezair]

"Know me? Why, all who dare to walk these caves, all who would defy the glory of this kingdom, all tremble in fear at my very name for I--"

"CAN IT!" Pete snapped.

Eurydice folded her wings submissively and closed her mouth.

"Yeah, we knows 'er," Carlita said. "She's da Inquisitor 'round these parts, yeah? She knows 'oo tellin' da truth an' 'oo lyin'. Very useful when dealin' wit' intruders. We live down 'ere, ya see. But she has a tendency to be a bit... overzealous, yeah?"

"I said that already," Pete said. "And for the record... these tunnels, right here, these are open. There's a couple of us, we all live in little nooks and crannies below the surface." His face looked a little too self-assured. "But you're not in danger of brushin' into 'em, not right here. Deesie just..."

"...I can hear you, you know," the purple Paragon said.

[29, 4]

[SpringsSong]

Rosie flicked her tail as she cast a glance at Eurydice.  "Well, I'm sorry, Miss Eurydice, but as I said before, I haven't even left my home before this.  So, I can't say I exactly 'defy the glory of this kingdom', unless entering unknowingly is defying its glory." She said as she looked back at Carlita and Pete.

"I am terribly sorry, but I don't think I got your names.  I am Rosie, as you probably heard just now." The Windgill said, offering a slight smile to them.

[2.0]

[Freezair]

"Pleasure to meetcha, Miss Rosie," Pete said. He bowed. "I'm Pete Rowanforth, and this here's my patrol partner--"

"--Carlita Pagan," she said. "And as ya may 'ave caught, this here is Eurydice. Rhymes with 'Justice-y,' yeah... though if it really did rhyme, it'd be 'Jus-TEESE-y.'"

"Whatever," Eurydice said dismissively.

"Nori, huh? All the way over in Barakka? Seems like a long way to come... And it's so late! Gotta be careful down here. The Akail ain't usually too friendly," Pete said worriedly. "Would you like us to show you out, or show you a safe haven here in the caves?"

[30, 5]

[SpringsSong]

Rosie thought for a few minutes.  She looked back over her shoulder; yes, she could see the exit still... she looked back at the Batties.  "Well, Pete, Carlita... I'm actually most curious about the caverns.  Like I mentioned before, I live back in Nori, and this is the first chance I've had to get out, so I took it." She said, giving a slightly sheepish smile.  She felt kind of silly for never having been outside her own home before this, and she herself was questioning why she hadn't thought to come here in the morning...

[2.1]

[Freezair]

"Can be a might dangerous, 'ere in the caves late-like," Carlita said. She shifted her spear defensively. "The Akails out, yanno? Dangerous fellas... Even I den't like bein' down 'ere late like this..."

"S'what we're here for, ain't it?" Pete said. "I'm sure we can protect--"

"Miss!" Eurydice struck a proud, gargoyle-like pose, her tail curled inquisitively, and her head turned toward the sky. Well, the ceiling. "I swear to you! So long as I am by your side, no beast most foul or lurking abomination shall bring harm to you! By the power vested in me by the Dream Lands, I shall mightily scold--"

"DEESIE!"

"...Sorry," she said. "Err... at least let me, uh... y'know. Make up for... gettin' in your face and all that. Sorry for that, too. ...Um."

[31, 6]

[SpringsSong]

[[I officially fail at posting on time or noticing that this had been replied to. @^@]]

Rosie chuckled slightly as she said, "It's no big problem--honestly.  It just kinda startled me and all, but not any worse than when the Paragon lady of the house I live in goes off at any of us." She shook her head slightly as she added, "Oh, Akail?  I know of those--live with one, actually.  A Void Akail, to be precise.  Oh, do she and the Hunter I also live with love to go at each other like no one's business..."

Here, she ruffled her wings slightly before she looked around again.  These caves certainly were interesting...

[2.2]

[Freezair]

"Den't be underestimatin' 'em now," Carlita said cautioningly. "These en't your civil how-d'you-do Akails, them's wild. Dangerous anyway." The Batti looked down the passageway curiously, as if to check. "Though... nice to know some of 'em can at least manage a conversation. Fuh..."

"If you're heading down," Pete said, "we still offer you our escort services! It's our job, after all. We can keep you company with a word and keep you safe with a spear! We understand if you choose not to, but we're just putting that out there."

Eurydice held herself proudly. She did not speak, but the glint in her eyes made it apparent that no matter what Rosie said, she was going to have at least one protector.