Dragoncrest Cliffs adjassou-linguetor

there was a tunnel that ran through sapphique's territory. he'd seen both the entrance and the exit, but had been too timid to attempt moving through its entire length. the darkness, the unknown. . .

ah. anyway.

there was a stream of fresh water that burst from the rocks near the end of the tunnel, near the sea. he'd taken to drinking from it frequently; it was cool and sweet, and soothed the sting of the wounds the crab had left along his still-tender nose some days before.

lafayette lapped at it now, tail shifting slowly but happily behind him as he drank deeply. the sun was setting, and the light bathed him in vivid gold. the clouds were gathering above, but they were clear of the golden orb at this point.

it was nearly time to return to his mother's den for the night. he figured she'd worry over him if he didn't, after all.

Lucette was never far from Lafayette. She crept up behind him, limned in golden dusklight, and announced herself with a soft chuff and a gentle nose drawn along his flank as she came to rest at his side. Her gaze found the tunnel's entrance after a moment.

What you be t'inkin'? She wondered aloud, a prompt in her tone; would they explore this tunnel? If it was up to her they would — but she wanted Lafayette to choose.

her appearance was not a surprise; she was his shadow, and he hers. he gave her a gentle smile at her sound and touch and sighed at the question, removing his muzzle from the spill of freshwater to turn his seafoam gaze toward her own.

i dunno, lafayette admitted with a shrug. he gestured with his nose toward the tunnel. scared. but not. . .an' i. . .you know? 

words failed him; they often did, as he was still growing into his newfound adolescence: his big paws, his big speech. 

but luce would understand. she always did.