these clouds breathe for you
The promise of treasure was not something that particularly interested Nils, but what did catch his eye was the idea of discovery. To learn more about this natural world that seemed so foreign to him, as tropical landscapes were a completely new sight for the young dragon. First growing up in the cooler lands of Ilia, and then a frigid mountain temple in the new world. Even his journey through Elibe kept him mostly on the mainland. Sure, the dread isle may have been an island, but its desolate gloom was a far cry from the lively and beautiful and bright ecosystem flourishing on this archipelago. A place as wonderful as this made him want to learn, and explore.
But doing so on his own was dangerous, he knew that well enough. Despite his training, his body was still fragile, and he didn’t want to give any locals a fright by transforming.. Thankfully he didn’t have to, as he met with a woman that seemed to be interested in exploration as well. Something about her felt… familiar, in a way Nils could not quite explain. There was a warmth to her that reminded him of an old friend… so the idea of traveling together with her did not sound bad at all.
And so they did, which led them to their current situation.
“How interesting.. Yes, let’s head down!” He answered her with a pleasant expression as he took her hand. As the pair carefully descended down into the cavern, what greeted them was an odd cave in which a stream seemed to run and glittering coral grew out of bodies of water and the light reflecting off them onto the cavern walls, creating a unique yet beautiful scenery. “Wow….” Nils took in the incredible sight and sensations, crimson eyes glittering with wonder and curiosity. The air was slightly salty, so the water running through the cave most likely came from the ocean.
“This appears to be some sort of beach cave!” He noted with interest. Judging from what they could see so far, it was very likely if they followed the path, at least one exit would end up by the beach. “This is so incredible..! Thank you again for coming with me, Lady Igrene!” He was sure he wouldn’t have had the guts to explore on his own, and he’d have missed out on this incredible sight. His excitement was palpable, befitting his youthful features.
“Shall we go further in? Perhaps we’ll find some unique coral, or maybe even a pearl!”
"So it would seem..."
It was incredible. The farther in they traveled, the more the light seemed to bend and refract along the surface of the water, lighting the cavern from within. If Igrene had not seen the walls around them and the ceiling over their heads, the blue of the sky peeking through nooks and crannies, she might have truly thought that they simply walked along any other stretch of beach. The salt air grazed against her skin, the sand soft beneath her feet.
It was almost soothing, to feel the tread of her steps to familiar, despite being so far from home.
The young man seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, and Igrene felt her heart squeeze, her mind's eye flickering to the soft round faces that had always awaited her whenever she stepped foot out into the desert wind. She returned his smile easily, feeling the home from within him.
She did not think she was imagining the sensations of familiarity that she felt, but...
The returning smile curved her lips easily. "Let us follow the trail for now – see how it forks? As long as we keep the trail in sight, we will not get lost. But I suppose we can venture farther in."
Cautiously, Igrene moved along the gentle stream of water that trickled in from without – if it continued to move, perhaps there was another body where the current was stronger?
"What tales have you heard of these caves? Surely we are not the first to have set foot here..."











