Larksong Grotto “No trespassing” that’s what it said

Weary and homesick, there was little more for the girl to do than press on. The more distance she covered, the more often she wondered if it had all been a mistake. Had she not left the Draconid Tribe, her mother and family, she wouldn’t be cold and alone. She would go to sleep each night with a full stomach, then wake up the following morning and attend her lessons. Yet, instead of being surrounded by loved ones, she had allowed for herself to be whisked away by the need to follow some hidden calling—a calling that may or may not be something worth following. The colder it got, the more she considered turning tail and returning whence she’d come, stopped only by the vividness of her dreams; each time she closed her eyes, everything within her mind came to life, making it awfully difficult to ignore. And so, she continued almost begrudgingly, knowing that she couldn’t both abandon her journey and maintain a clear conscious thereafter.

Initially, the plan had been to seek out the cavern previously inhabited by the Ryūjin Tribe. Yet, rather than reaching that seemingly set destination, the yearling had turned at some point in her journey and set out to see the north—unintentionally, truthfully, becoming a mistake that she couldn’t so easily correct. All she could do was embrace her new journey—for the time being, that is—and hope that, when the time came, she’d be able to find her way home. Home. Where was that, though? The cavern? It was where she’d taken her first ever breath, but it was also the place where her family had separated. No longer was there anyone there that she could count on, could turn to for assistance and advice. Going back would mean setting herself up to be all alone, which was, perhaps, the most unpleasant outcome she could think of living through. The thought alone sent a shiver down her spine—or maybe that was the result of being kissed by the night’s chilled lips? No matter, it pushed her to seek shelter, or at least a quiet place where she could think and thoroughly consider her options.

Guided by the stars, Kaori eventually found herself carefully descending rocky staircases and ledges, the terrain fairly familiar to her; it was, by no means, any easier to traverse because of this, it merely gave her the single ounce of confidence that was needed to conquer the challenge at hand. Whilst working her way down, she sensed the danger of her decision. This she did not regret, however, for the sight beheld upon reaching the land below made it all seem worth it—the descent, the risk, even her departure from home. It seemed warmer within the forest’s embrace, the trees providing shelter from the ferocious winds that normally wreaked havoc on the plains. Appreciating the territory, she uttered a quiet, “Thank you,” her words becoming nothing more than a whisper on the wind.

Undoubtedly satisfied with her find the lamb delved deeper into the woodland. What she sought, she knew not until it’d been found: a hollowed space amongst and beneath the roots of a particularly large tree, filled with the stale stench of a wolverine. With the scent being so faint, she presumed it was abandoned and nestled herself right into it. Although she had spent the majority of her life sleeping out beneath the stars, rather than tucked into the earth, the winter and her need to keep warm convinced her to alter her sleeping arrangement. After all, she was alone now, having none other than herself to rely on for warmth—but even being tucked into a den and curled into a tight ball didn’t provide the same warmth that she needed and missed. Saddened and frustrated, she could not sleep, only peer out into the darkness and wish for an opportunity to travel back in time.