The Edge of Sunset

[onehandsomeslickninja]

The cavern complex wasn't quite 'dark' -- a sort of faint atmospheric lightning pervaded it, enough that he could make out silhouettes and walls. So no disasters yet; hadn't tripped and broken something, hadn't been wandering blindly in total blackness. Just wandering blindly, which was... not really great, either.

Thus far, no signs of life -- but that was about to change.

Comments

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"I can't say that it does, honestly."

Okay, she definitely didn't seem hostile. Or else it was all a huge act to get him close, but he couldn't live his life assuming the worst. Rounding a corner, Edge saw the silhouette in the gloom of what definitely appeared to be a girl to match the voice.

"On the other hand, this isn't the worst situation I've been in."

[burningbrighter]

"It's not, huh? What was the worst?"

There he is. She lifted one hand in greeting, hoping the gesture was friendly enough. Friendly. Right. That would get her through this. She hoped.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"In the darkest depths of the Lunar Subterrane, surrounded by dragons and behemoths, on a quest to strike down the very essence of hatred, of course!"

That was not in truth his darkest moment, but he wasn't about to admit to the that one. And his battles in the Moon's depths had been pretty dark all things considered, so he'll stick to a story more likely to impress a girl! (He hoped she was cute, at least.)

Edge came to a halt not too far away, looking over her as best he can in the gloom.

[burningbrighter]

"Dragons and behemoths? Whoa, sounds pretty serious."

He had her attention for now. Sunset finally limped into view, lifting her hair out of her face just enough to see him.

"Oh, wow. Hi. Almost didn't see you there. Everything okay?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"I'm a serious guy!" He obviously was not.

But he did see, as her silhouette at last broke the gloom, that she wasn't moving quite comfortably, and his body jerked as he held himself back from rushing over. "I'm fine, but are you all right?"

[burningbrighter]

"I'm sure it's just bruises and scrapes," she said with a wave of her hand. "Nothing a serious girl can't handle...so long as those dragons aren't hanging out down here, right?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"I haven't seen any yet. You're the first sign of life I've found down here. I'm assuming you're not a dragon, of course?" Just a little humor to lighten things up, right? This situation was way too stressful, more than they really needed to handle.

[burningbrighter]

"Hah. No. Just a horse."

Yup. Totally normal. That was a joke. Please believe it was a joke.

"But seriously, it's getting a little claustrophobic in here. Was there any sign of outside back your way?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"I've been looking for one myself -- or any sign of anything in here. You're the first encounter I've had in here that hasn't been an intersection!"

Speaking of which, he flicked a knife into his hand, then began scratching an arrow on the wall.

"What's a horse?"

[burningbrighter]

"...you've never seen a horse?"

Seriously? That surprised her more than anything else she could possibly hear.

"Four legs? Big mane? Trots everywhere?"

She used a stone to scratch a small stick drawing of a horse next to the arrow. She'd get back to serious business soon! But doing this eased her nerves.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Oh, so it's some kind of monster?"

He didn't mean that cruelly, judgmentally -- or anything, except trying to understand. This was the parallel he could make, to his own world.