Shiny

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

 

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Ipsili was a self proclaimed treasure hunter. She was extremely proud of her egg collection which had become prolific and vast over her years of collecting. Often she showed off the shiniest ones when she could, though she was careful who she showed them to for fear of thievery. It had been her idea to go into the cave and go "spleunking" for gems. She was pretty sure that if she found some gems that were of good enough quality that she could use them in displaying her eggs--not that she often showed them off. But really, the beauty of her collection was what it meant to her and what it looked like to her. She thought it one of the most loveliest things in the world. To look at them, her eggs, she felt her heart soar with pride. Ispili thought that perhaps the only one in all the world that understood her was Rosalva.

From the moment they'd met, they'd been kindred spirits. They didn't always enjoy the same things, but they could appreciate the other's love for it. It truly was a beautiful and blessed friendship.

Rosalva had been game to go on an adventure when Ipsili had told her of a cave she wanted to explore. Naturally, Ipsili knew the dangers of going alone somewhere without telling someone. However, when she'd told Rosalva of her plans, Rosalva knew that she had to go. Not just because her friend was going, but because she wanted to see this cave with gems and crystals.

The air was cool and there was a damp in the air that leaked into your bones. Ipsili carried a lantern in one of her claws lighting the way as Rosalva followed. After thirty or so minutes, Rosalva spotted something shiny. Excitement flooded her veins as she darted forward to see what it was.

There was a small recess in the wall where crystals had formed. They weren't as spectacuar as they had looked from a distance, but they were lovely nonetheless. She knew that Ipsili would never use these as settings for her eggs, so she scooped up a few to trade or make into jewelry and put them in her pouch.


Gem Total: 1 Gem  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

The ground inside the cave was mostly flat. There were areas that had deep lakes, so deep and dark as to appear fathomless. They tried to stay away from those, knowing that in these ancient caves something much more ancient might be lurking beneath the dark water.

After awhile the air started to feel colder, as though when you inhaled it was like ice water. Rosalva ruffled her feathers up more and continued on as Ipsili told her about the various rock formations and what they meant. She said that she could tell by the type of rock what kind of stones were likely to be around. Rosalva didn't understand all the science of it but she knew that Ipsili was an expert so she trusted her.

Time did not exist in the same way in the cave as outside. They could have been in here for a ay or a thousand years. It felt as though when they surfaced they might come out into a world entirely different than the one they'd left.

Rosalva's flights of fancy were cut short by a sharp cry from Ipsili. She knitted her brows in concern, "Are you okay?"

Ipsili waved her claw and held the light out. The stone caught the light and cast reflected light off the cave walls in a splendour Rosalva had never seen before.


Ipsili was speechless as she examined the large piece of amber. It was beautiful, a bit oddly shaped but mosty smooth on the surface. With a little polishing this gem would be fantastic in her collection. She knew just the egg that she would display with this. The gem was the perfect size for a setting.


Gem Total: 6 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

As they moved on one of the passages was darker than normal, almost as thick as ink. The light sputtered for a moment and went out at the same time that Rosalva's feet hit a patch of gravel. She felt herself sliding and rolling, bouncing on the ground before finally skidding to a halt. Her legs were bloody and she had bits of gravel stuck in her skin.

Ipsili called out, "Are you okay?" Then a sudden glow emanated from the lantern and once again there was light.

"Yes, just bruised and bloody." Rosalva checked her pack, "One of the small crystals are gone."

Ipsili held up the light and looked into the gloom, "I don't think we'll find it." Her claw pointed out a few feet away into a massive lake. "I don't think it wise to chance swimming in there."


Rosalva grimmaced as she got on her feet. With Ipsili's help, they cautiously crept to the edge of the water. Ipsili watche while Rosalva washed out the debris so they could continue on their journey.

Gem Total: 5 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Sore and freezing time seemed to halt. After a long discussion, they found a small nook an made a nest of blankets and anything else they could find to pass the night. Ipsili caught a few fish and Rosalva roasted them over the fire she'd coaxed into existence. It was a small fire, but the little nook they were in was just the right size to stay warm by it.

Slowly the chill left and when they both stopped shivering, they fell into a light sleep prepared to jump up at any mysterious sound.

Hours passed and it was what Ipsili believe to be morning. As there was no light there wasn't really a way to know for sure. A hundred years coul have passed in this ageless cave. The thought made her shiver, because it felt here in the dark, that this could be true.

Packing up their blankets and gmes, they travelled on to another branch of the cave. They hadn't made it more than fifty feet down the passage when they saw aother gem. This one was large an magnificent. Red and as big as a fist. The clarity of was impeccable. A Ruby.

Ipsili turned the gem to the light and studied it for a moment before giving it to Rosalva. "For you," she said simply.

Rosalva tilted her head, "But it would make an excellent setting for one of your eggs."

Ipsili smiled, "It would. But it would look far better on you. Your friendship is as rare and coveted as ruby. I could think of no better setting then to one day see it around your neck."

Tears filled Rosalva's eyes as Ipsili swept her up in her wings, "I don't know what I'd do without a friend like you."

Ipsili smiled, "You'd be hopelessly lost."

Rosalva rolled her eyes.

Gem Total: 10 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Taking a right at the next fork, Rosava was barely able to pull Ispili back before she went careening down a steep slope into the lake. They were both breathless as they looked down the steep incline. If Ipsili had slipped down the slope the only way she'd have been able to get back up would have been if she was uninjured enough to fly. They'd lost another of the smaller crystals but it seemed a small price to pay to be safe.


Gem Total: 9  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Turning around they went back to the other fork in the cave--the left. The air felt a bit fresher here, not as stale. Somewhere there was a draft seeping in which meant that there would likely be a way out somewhere in the area up ahead.

The light from the lantern glimmers and reveals a wall of gems, each one bigger than the last. Five in total in a range of sizes an colors. Ipsili's eyes seemed to glow in the lantern light. Rosalva carefully laid the stones in her pouch before they continued on their way.

Total Gems: 14 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

The cave was moist, slick with water. It became difficult to stay upright the further they went. Every once in awhile one or the other would skid or slip. The walls narrowed an it helped them to keep their balance better. The water turned to icy mud and before long they were shivering.


Total Gems: 13 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

The only sound in the cave was the steady dripping water from stalactites an the chattering of Rosalva's teeth. Ipsili was better suited to the cold, the down feathers close to her skin keeping her body heat trapped. After awhile of more slipping and sliding, they took a break for lunch.

They ate a meager meal of left-over fish. It was warm from the Ipsili's body heat and it went a long way to reviving both of them.

Gem Total: 13 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Fresh air blows from somewhere, the scent of cedars drifting in with it. They found a few more cyrstals, small but of good enough quality as to make a few small pieces or jewelry or to sell outright They didn't stop for long though, Rosalva was more than ready to leave the cave. It was beautiful bt it was also treacherous an cold. Sunlight would feel wonderful on her skin.


Total Gems: 14 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Rosalva had thought it a joke when Ipsili first told her about the bats. Apparently in this cave system, the bats were used to a certain level of privacy and safety. They were also deeply suspicious of outsiders to the point of attacking anything that thought intrusive.

They had basically dive bombed her. Ipsili more used to this treatment wielded her lantern like a flaming torch. Slowly they picked up their stones and moved along, The bats returned to their perches and gave irritable glances down at the trespassers. But they didnt try again.

Final Tally. 12 Gems  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

The air smells of fresh air, a breeze wafting through bringing the sweet scents of life above ground.

The cave begins to shake. Rosalva and Ipsili race through the muddy thin corridors searching for a way out. The feel of moving air brings them closer to the surface. As they break out into the fresh air gasping, there's a terrible rumble behind them and the mouth of the cave is gone.

Rosalva hopes that no one was trapped below but they hadn't seen anyone down there the whole time they' been in the cave. Both of them layed out on the fresh, damp grass and breathed. The sun warmed their bodies as the quiet lulls them into a stupor.

"If I never go into a cave again," Rosalva said as she tuned towards Ipsili. "Then it'll be too soon!" She gave a small huff of air. The flowers swayed in the breeze, their scent filling their lungs with the fresh earthy scent of life.



10+ gems: +5 gold pieces