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.

Scared. But not. Lucette nodded knowingly. Maybe it be somet'in' scary, maybe not, She offered in a tone of agreement. Then she stood. Young though she was, Lucette was already certain she knew the purpose of her life — and he stood there in front of her.

So she would help him overcome his fear. Lucette started forward into the tunnel, pausing just within its mouth to look back over her shoulder as if to say see! Nothing scary!

Yet, anyway. Lucette looked back toward the tunnel, ears pulled forward with curiosity.

well, true. that was solid enough reasoning from his sister. patient sea-green eyes watched her approach, and then enter, just slightly—and with a shoulder-heaving sigh, he followed, shaking off the trepidation to join his twin at the mouth of the tunnel.

go toget'her, he said, giving her a warm smile. it would hold them together during the cold and dark of the interior, he thought.

he was no coward; he'd leap into the waves if needed. but this underground business. . .

lafayette felt a chill run through him, all of a sudden, and shook himself nose to tail-tip, not caring whether lucette noticed.

wouldn't any reasonable wolf be spooked?