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

Through the night she stared, though she saw nothing. Whilst her eyes remained open, she was not actively recognising the world around her, having been trapped within her own mind. Even after the male had settled down before her, she was unable to acknowledge his presence, oblivious to that which was, quite literally, right in front of her. Unconsciously, she understood that there was something there, but assumed—by the glow of his eyes—it to be nothing more than a few stray glowflies. Not until he’d spoken had she been yanked from the depths of thoughts, startled and needing to blink several times before realising that the glowing orbs weren’t produced by insects. In an instant, her heartbeat increased almost tenfold, a wave of panic washing over her as she took into consideration his words.

Trapped.

Although the word left her terribly unsettled, she forced herself to relax; several deep breaths, coupled with Asterr’s voice repeating through her head, allowed for her to slow her heart back down to a normal pace. Swallowing, she wondered what his intentions might be, only to discard both the question and her answers shortly after. She was so used to searching for the good in others—the exception being her sister, for there wasn’t a single fiber of kindness within her—that she couldn’t think of any negative outcomes, only neutral or positive.

“I will remain here,” she answered steadily. “What will you do?” Leave, she thought briefly, before deciding that, that was mean and he’d done nothing to warrant her being anything less than civil. Still, she couldn’t keep from shifting uncomfortably beneath his gaze, unnerved for reasons she could not pinpoint.