Nightingale's Lullaby: Main Chapter

The smooth walls and increasing darkness were already setting Kestrel on edge as she led the team deeper into the cave, the only light coming from Arden hovering somewhere to her right and the glittering crystals reflecting above. Callum hadn't said a word beyond giving her the quest details, he'd barely said anything at all since the 'egg argument' and she wasn't sure if that was her fault or he really was just too busy with the mysteriously appearing egg that had still yet to hatch. She hated to think she'd actually hurt him even if it was partially still her ignorance of this new world.

A sharp buzz from Arden drew her out of her thoughts, the dragon rotom had moved ahead while she was distracted and was now illuminating streaks of paint along the floor and left wall. As Kestrel joined him she could tell that the streaks were already dried but it meant they were on the right path and they seemed to lead into an alcove that opened up just beyond them on the left. She drew in a breath to calm herself and spared a glance back at Callum but his focus was on the glittering stones above and her gaze instead locked on the flapplin that had moved to rest on his head, zir wings partially spread now for balance.

"Are we fighting?" Kiwi's voice was soft, barely a whisper but it still seemed too loud in the eerily quiet cave.

She knew what the flapplin meant but the simple question was just vague enough that her thoughts flashed back to the argument for a second. She steeled herself again and shook her head, both as a response and to clear it of such stray thoughts. "Not yet, be on guard but we're assessing the situation first."

Callum's head dropped when she spoke, his gaze drifting over her and to the opening yawning ahead as Kiwi readjusted, before he padded forward to sniff at the darkness hiding whatever was inside. As he passed his left wing gently brushed against Kestrel's side, the quiet gesture reassuring the frazzled leader that whatever was going on they were still partners.