[Fallen_Snow]

I would say keeping straight is our best bet. he thought to her. If this was just holed out by a stream of water, it wouldn't meander much. It would flow as straight as possible.

Egads felt a bit afraid. It was so odd, being in a cave... she just wanted to run as fast as she could and get out of here quickly. But if she left the group, well, she'd be running into walls and have all sorts of problems with trying to see. Though a small tug of her heartstrings made her glance back at Regalo. She really needed to just forget about him. It wasn't fair to her, but it wasn't her love to have, apparently.

[SpringsSong]

I agree... this would be the best way to go.  Kanika... just keep going straight ahead. Iounia said, her ears perked forward for any hints of another sound or something else.  Kanika nodded, although she would not turn her head to acknowledge that she'd heard her cousin.  She jsut kept walking forward, silent and cautious.

{39}{37}

[Fallen_Snow]

Regalo decided that while he was in the cave, he might as well take it in while he could. He looked at the walls that surrounded him, rubbing against them sometimes to find a smooth slippery surface. The cave took the orange torchlight and twisted it so it flashed shadows of many odd pictures onto the walls. It interested and spooked him. It's so neat down here... I wonder if anyone else ever explored down here? he thought to the others. And suddenly his thoughts turned to the last time he saw his literally little brother Ze'res. When he'd left to go with Egads to the Falls, he'd had a small fight with his brother. They'd been in the library, his brother's maw shoved into another large volume from Marie's large collection of encyclopedias. He barely ever went outside to explore. He was afraid of the world. Regalo had motioned for him to come with him and Egads, but he refused, writing to him that he had his own exploring to do. Regalo got angry then. He used his body to show that his brother was silly to believe that he could experience out there what he learned in the library at home. Zee wrote back to him that learning was quicker, easier and less dangerous. Then Regalo decided that to prove to him that experience was better than learning, he pushed Ze'res out of his chair and chased him down the hall, his teeth bared and his tails lashing. It scared Ze'res to bits. After Regalo had stopped and walked back with Ze'res to the library so he could write a response to that, he wrote: What's your problem?! You want me to die of fear and running? I could barely keep away from you! And with that, Regalo motioned that he experienced real fear, not written pretend fear. Ze'res scribbled down that Regalo was just being stupid and he should leave him alone. So he did, leaving without him. Regalo wondered what his brother was doing right that minute...

[SpringsSong]

Io gently nuzzled Regalo as they walked along inside the cavern.  I don't think anyone's been down here... otherwise it would be on some sort of map. She said.  And then, she asked, What's on your mind?  I know you've got to be thinking about something... She asked.

Kanika coughed nervously.  "Yeah... if someone had explored down here, we'd know how to get out of here." She said, her eyes scanning the rocks.

[9.0][8.3]

[Fallen_Snow]

My brother... his actions bother me. He never wants to go outside and ACTUALLY explore. He's always sticking his maw into books instead of new discoveries. He has no life outside our pen. It makes me worried about him... and angry that he doesn't even want to try to go outside. he fumed, his tails twitching.

Egads listened in polite silence, looking ahead. She wasn't sure what to say, really. So she decided that it was better to say nothing.

[SpringsSong]

"If it weren't for the fact that he sounds afraid to explore," Iounia said, smiling, "I'd almost be willing to say that he sounds like your type, Nika." She laughed at this, slowly twisting one of her tails into Regalo's.

"Ha, ha.  Really funny, Iounia.  You know I have to explore." The Berry Kuhna said sarcastically as she continued to walk.  After a moment, she stopped.  There were three openings ahead; one to the left, one to the right, and one straight ahead.  "Which way, guys?" She asked, looking at the yawning maws of the caverns nervously.

[9.1][8.4]

[Fallen_Snow]

Regalo smiled and twisted his tail back. Hmmmm... maybe Nika could get him to explore... he started to think, smiling mischeviously.

Egads decided she would pay attention to this problem, unlike Regalo who was trying to play matchmaker. "Hmmm... who has a really good nose here? We were going up a small slope, one of these should smell of fresh air." she commented, looking back at the group.

[SpringsSong]

Kanika shook her head.  "Not me," she said.  "Explorer though I may be, I don't have that stellar of a nose." She sat down and growled in Iounia's direction.  "Maybe lover boy and lover girl can help out here." She said, her voice very snippy.

Iounia gave her cousin a sharp glare.  "I'll go and see which one has fresh air scent coming from it." She said as she stood up.  Silently, to Regalo, she added, But how would we get him out of your Pen?  That would be the first manner.  Maybe... have him go to a library outside of your home? She suggested.

[9.2][9.0]

[Fallen_Snow]

Regalo was glad Io had some suggestions. Hmm... that may work. But if it doesn't, there's always the option of forcing him out... he thought to her, smiling deviously.

Egads watched Iounia stand up, then turned back to the tunnels. She opened her maw a bit, to let the scents go over her glands. It seemed that all of them had air coming from them, but she couldn't tell which air was fresh. All she could tell was cold. Everything was a bit cold and stale down in the cave, but all of the air from ALL the tunnels was colder than the tunnel they'd been traveling in. Egads had heard Nika's comment too, and had wanted to join in on the remark, but decided against it. The last thing they needed was the four of them splitting up...

[SpringsSong]

Iounia carefully walked to the entrances of the tunnels, carefully lifting her maw to each of them.  Her face was perplexed as she tried to get a fresh scent, but after a moment, she shook her head.  "No luck," she said, "None of these are a direct shot to the outside."

Kanika snorted.  "Well that's lovely." She said, very sarcastically.  Io growled as she turned to Regalo.  I think that we should just try all of them, and then mark whichever one seems to give us more success.  I think that our best bet would be to go through the left one first.  The air seemed the teeniest bit fresher there.

[9.3][9.1]

[Fallen_Snow]

Wherever we find fresh air is our best bet, even if there's just a whiff. Tell them to go that way. Regalo answered, smiling slightly at Io. He stepped forward to sniff heavily at the one tunnel Iounia indicated. He nodded to her. He could barely detect it, but it was there.

Egads narrowed her eyes as she watched Regalo move towards the caves. He was sniffing the wrong tunnel! She was sure she smelled fresh air coming from the one beside it, the middle one. She stepped forward. "I think fresh air is coming from this one." she said firmly, almost looking like she was challenging Regalo and Io. But she was wrong. Her sense of smell was off, and it was coming from the tunnel Io had originally picked.

[SpringsSong]

Io gave Egads a firm glare as she said, "Would you rather split up and go separate ways?  I'm sure we could go with that idea."  Turning to Kanika, she said, "What do you think?  Which way should we go?"

The Berry Kuhna stammered for a moment, looking from Regalo and Io to Egads.  After a moment of serious thought, she said, "Personally, Io's never steered me wrong when we've gone exploring in the past.  I trust her."  She could feel Io smile a little as she turned back to Egads; "So, either we all go through this tunnel and see if we have any luck, or we can split up.  Just know that you'd likely be going alone." Io said.

[9.4][9.2]

[Fallen_Snow]

Egads glared at Kanika. She was not liking her odds.

"Fine. We'll go with her way." she muttered, emphasizing the her with disgust. Regalo heard her acidic tone, and turned to stare her down. His voice suddenly invaded her head. You better back off, Eadburga. I may be smaller than you, but I can overpower you. And you really can't escape my voice anyways, since it goes inside your head. Give up. he thought to her, trying to keep his speech as even as possible, but it was hard. Egads was so insulting!

Regalo turned to Iounia and smiled. Lead the way.

[SpringsSong]

Io smiled as she took a few steps forward, trying her best to not snap back at Egads for the tone in her voice.  Kanika followed closely--but not too closely--behind Regalo and Iounia, keeping her distance because she was still a little hurt that love had found her cousin, but not her.

She is so lucky... Nika thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Io walked alongside Regalo quietly, her ears perked for the slightest hint of sounds.  Of course, the only thing that she seemed to be answered with was the dull sound of the waterfall outside.  I sure hope we can get OUT of here... she said to Regalo.

[10.0][9.3]

[Fallen_Snow]

I hope for that too. Regalo thought back to her, comforted that she was on the same page as him. He felt the tunnel incline upward, and he felt a spark of joy. We're going up he thought excitedly to the three kuhnas.


Egads rolled her eyes. "Joy. Iounia was right. Can we hurry up?" she asked brusquely, her eyes all the more unforgiving. She wasn't very happy with Regalo's life choices, and the fact she was shown up by Miss Flirt didn't make it better. Her sour mood was becoming stagnant.

Regalo narrowed his eyes. Give it a rest, Egads. he said monotonely. He was growing bored with her underenthusiasm.