Blackfoot Forest that's steel

the forest is a place straight from one of his sahar's fairytales; enchanting and sun-dappled by the golden glow of the early morning. the bugs and birds begin their morning symphony and it carries thru the shadows of the canopy as ridgeback makes his way towards the forest's heart. the stench of foxes lays the heaviest here and he marks this for later when hunger takes hold of him. for now, the viator is simply content explore what the forest has to offer him. the loom of the mountain is not far off and leisurely, ridgeback makes his way towards it assuming — from previous experience — that there might be worth investigating to see if there is a cave hidden from view.

moriah looked between the towering arbors and wondered what secrets they might know. what wealth of knowledge might be hiding in the forest, hidden carefully from sight? winter's streak of death ended with the consummation of spring, breathed from its mouth the breath of life.

she stopped beside a small pond and knelt down for a drink. harmonic birdsong rang out overhead, accenting the yips of fox cubs. moriah scoffed, displeased by the ruckus. there was another wolf somewhere nearby — its shadow was too unique to be anything else — but moriah hoped that she would remain unnoticed.

ridgeback, typical rain upon the parades of others, happens to notice the woman. it was a chance — the brush of a spindly tree branch against its neighbor that initially draws the ranger's eye as he walks past. only then, with keen visioned honed by years of training, does he notice her. naturally, her shape stands out of place by the pond, among the trees ...as surely as his own does. a chuff is given only after his steps halt, fiery orange gaze peering over the foliage at her.

the stranger's greeting was not welcomed. instead, moriah flagged her tail without turning, wondering if the apathetic display might convince him to leave. she looked with darted eyes over her shoulder and silently appraised the man. he was certainly attractive, if not in appearance then demeanor.

she turned back to the water and continued to drink.

ridgeback notices the raise of her tail in warning; can read her body language as if she's spoken the words. unwelcome. alas, he feels a bit of impudence rise beneath the curve of his chest. he has as much right to this place as she does, he thinks, but in truth he knows it has nothing to do with that. not really. she hasn't tried to chase him off, only warn him away from her immediate vicinity. admittedly, this isn't something he's used to though he's done his fair share of it in the past. i only want to check out those vines behind you. he assures her, gesturing to the rockface, spidery vined and thick with foliage that suggests that his assumption of there being a cave might be right. and i don't fancy walking the long way 'round. he adds, as if that might make her willing.

you want to walk through me then? moriah looked blankly in his direction, unimpressed by the excuse. she didn't understand why he couldn't see them without speaking — did his eyes and mouth work in conjunction? — but was pleased with her own dismissal of the idea. words guttural and scarred with the remnants of an accent, moriah quipped: you can leap over me, if that path suits your needs.

ridgeback doesn't find her quip all that funny, though what she says makes some semblance of sense. still, he holds to his belief that cutting thru the area she currently occupies will shorten his trip. if only i could, ridgeback sighs with faux morose. i'm afraid if i tried to leap over you, we might end up a tangled mess of limbs. a lofty shrug is given. i think there's a cave beneath those vines and foliage. he informs her, and takes a step thru the bushes that separate him, the pond and her. you could join me if you'd like? though he holds the suspicion that she would welcome that as much as she initially welcomed him.

moriah hadn't intended for the joke to be funny, and so didn't take offense to his obscured sense of humor. her eyes trailed in the direction of the vines, looking between and behind for the cave at which he hinted. she thought that the idea sounded dangerous, wandering somewhere unknown with a strange man, but what else did she have to do?

she gave the offer some thought. i'll go, moriah replied, but we will keep our distance. at the very least, the stranger could provide reinforcements should things go awry with whatever might be hidden inside of the cave.

surprise draws apart ridgeback's lips in a soft exhale, erasing his ghosting grin as she accepts his offer. to say that he expected it would be little more than a lie. then again, this serves as proof that first impressions weren't always correct. alright, he draws in and skirts around the small pond, stepping awkwardly towards her though sure — as she warns him — to keep distance between them. sound fair enough. he murmurs, though he wants to add that he didn't intend to do anything to her; he doesn't. he takes the lead, pausing only when he reaches the vine covered rocks, nudging his nose thru to find air in the stead of rocks. i was right. it's a cave. ridgeback crows, triumphant. he shrugs thru the rocks and underbrush, eyes adjusting to the limited light at the mouth of the concealed cave, the damp, musk scent of moss, mildew and slick rock always an unpleasant greeting.

the scent could have been worse, she reminded herself. the cave was dark and damp, the hallway thick with moisture. moriah, forced to take shallow breaths, wondered how long it might be before she suffocated from the oppressive air. it took her eyes a moment to adjust; she looked at her guide, then toward another path. which way? she asked.

despite ridgeback's personal and unfounded distaste for mountains in general, he's become something of an explorer of cave tunnels and caverns lately. there is something he finds satisfying about knowing the secret veins of a territory, of traversing them until they are familiar and known by him even though he has no intention of staying. in the moments after her question fades off, absorbed into moisture and moss slick stone around them, ridgeback is quiet; breath stilled. listening. left. he finally answers, hoping that his instinct does not lead them wrong as he takes the lead down the left tunnel; steps careful and controlled. last thing he fancied doing was slipping in front of her.

there was something deeper in the cavern emitting an eery blue light. moriah wanted to explore more in that direction, but continued following the stranger as he broke left. whatever light had lingered before, it was now swallowed wholly by darkness.

oh! moriah called. she'd managed to trip and tumble, snagging her fur on a nearby rock. the anchoress stood, shaking the debris from her fur, then scolded: you are trying to kill me on this path.

ridgeback's steps pause as he hears her call out in surprise, and his ears taper back to catch the sound of flesh hitting stone wall. he glimpses over his shoulder though he saw only her silhouette. assured that she was alright he continues on, slower this time. eyes roll theatrically — and it was a shame it went missed — as she scolds him. no, he answers briskly and then, with a sneer curling upon his lips and speaks in a taunting matter-of-fact tone: that would be murder. a dramatic pause is given. i am many things but not a murderer. he informs her and then as the path gives way to a fork in the tunnels announces we're turning right. in his best tour-guide voice. right, towards the eerie blue glow creeping to eradicate the abysmal shadows that currently engulf them.

moriah muttered: maybe, but you are a putz. she followed behind him, her own curiousity drawing her closer to the hidden light. what was waiting for them? hurry up, she scolded.

turning the corner, moriah could see the misplaced stream slowly materialize. it didn't make sense for such a marvel to be hidden this far underground, so how had it gotten here? her attention turned to her guide, wondering if he had any guesses.

putz.

though she had murmured it, ridgeback heard it all the same a byproduct of being in such an inclosed space with her and the acute hearing of their species. admittedly, ridgeback isn't familiar with the word but he can deduce well enough that it had been an insult. not necessarily wanting to her to know he isn't quite sure what a 'putz' is he lets out a small, noncommittal grunt and continues trudging forward, toward the light that with each step seeps and grows, beckoning the pair nearer, nearer. if you'd like to take the lead, be my guest. ridgeback grumbles at her scolding, steps faltering and a sharp look given over his shoulder though whether it was seen in the dim blue glow or not he doesn't know for sure.

i laughed writing this b/c their snipping at each other reminds me of an old married couple.

this entire thread is perfect

unimpressed by his response, moriah shrugged and stepped in front. the scene quickly came fully into view; there was a steady stream, seemingly disconnected from the outside. its aura was a bright cerulean which bounced between cave walls, illuminating the pair in its eery light.

moriah walked toward the water and apprehensively dipped a paw into its depths. ripples beamed from the point of contact, spreading down the stream's length. it reminded her of the mutilated man in the stone cave; had his soul settled?

ridgeback, while she doesn't respond, is not left to disappointment as she brushes past him and takes the lead. take care not to kill me on the path. ridgeback chides mockingly, hoping — without really knowing why — to get a rise out of her. thus far, she proved fairly easy to provoke when he wasn't even trying to and he wonders if she would be easy to rile with some effort. soon enough she leads them to the end of the tunnel where is yawns into a large cavern. he lets out a grumpy soft hmph as fiery gaze peers around the cavern set alight by the cerulean waters. he steps off the incline and heads slowly around the pool and then to the stream which he steps across, splashing water loudly and up his legs and against his underbelly before stepping onto the opposite bank. refreshing. he comments idly, giving his coat a shake.

moriah wasn't impressed with ridgeback's reply, but she did think that it warranted a smirk. however, she definitely think there was anything funny or admirable about his flippant dip in the water. who could know which spirits dwelled here? just like the other outsiders, he was ignorant to the world's wealth.

you are an idiot, she scolded, what if the water is poisonous? you could die just by lounging in it. of course, moriah wouldn't complain. she figured that he might be better company without the ability to respond.

you are an idiot.

mhm. he agrees jovially to her scolding and cannot help the theatrical roll of his eyes at her following question as to the toxicity of the water and how he could die. he tenses for a moment, playing into her concern — for that is how he perceives her scolding — before he grins devilishly at her. please, he laughs breezily. you wouldn't get so lucky. he assures her as if he is her own personal devil. knowing he irritates her, for some reason or another, makes him only want to do it more. to press the buttons, to see where all that ire leads.

trying to fade so she can exit the game!

their interaction was becoming more draining. moriah chose to ignore him and fell onto her side, preparing herself for a nap. whether ridgeback stayed or went, she was impartial.