gently introductory spelunking

[pleasantsurprise]

"I have found," Kanim announces to the small princesses (although they are getting taller) at their next group lesson with him, "a cave that I think even Carinna will like. It has not the least bit of hazard or inconvenience anywhere in it. It's very small, we'll probably be able to see all of it this afternoon, and it doesn't have a name yet as far as I can see, so we can pick something to call it while we're there."

"What is in it? Caves always have hazards and inconveniences," says Carinna warily.

"Harmless plants and creatures," Kanim says, "two springs, attractive crystal formations, a small maze, things like that - I will leave the specifics to be discovered, it's more fun that way, don't you think?"

"I think so," agrees Kiawen. "As long as you're sure Carinna won't be bothered!"

"Quite sure," says Kanim, "and if she is bothered we can always nip her out of there, it doesn't distort space or anything tricky like that."

"Okay," says Carinna decisively, "then I guess we can go to it."

Comments

[pythbox]

The little creature nestles up against her neck and licks her earlobe with its tiny tickly tongue. (It can't reach any higher.)

[guessguess]

"Can we bring critters home?" asks Kiawen.

[pleasantsurprise]

"I think Cricket would probably terrorize them, and also, the fact that none of them have left the cave on their own suggests that they need to be here," says Kanim. "But you can come here and visit them whenever you like."

[forgefires]

Tanalin is by this time sitting on the cave floor with three of the round fluffy glowy ones - blue, pink, and yellow - bouncing happily on the trampoline made by her skirt as it stretches across her knees.

"I want to come back here a lot," she announces.

[exactlyright]

"Me, too," says Carinna. "This is the best cave." She rubs her puffball-critter on her cheek.

[pythbox]

Her puffball-critter whmmmms contentedly.

[guessguess]

"What should we name it?" asks Kiawen, doubling back from an excursion into the crystal maze in the back. "The cave I mean."

[exactlyright]

"I don't know. The Cave of Small Fluffy Things seems like a silly name for a cave."

[forgefires]

"But it's true," says Tanalin, giggling down at her lapful of small fluffy things.

[exactlyright]

"It i-i-is," allows Carinna. "Or the Caves of Blueberry and Cucumber?"

[guessguess]

"The Cave of the Crystal Maze. The Cave of Pocket Creatures," says Kiawen, trying her black-and-white in her pocket and finding it a good fit.

[forgefires]

"The Cave of Soft Fluffy Things," says Tanalin, when one of her puffballs rolls into her hand.

[exactlyright]

"They are very soft."

[guessguess]

"And they make cute little noises."

[forgefires]

"How about," says Tanalin, petting her puffballs, "the Gentle Cave?"

[exactlyright]

"I like that," says Carinna. "Most caves are nasty and just want to trap you in the dark or shut you up with monsters or something - this one is nice."

[guessguess]

"Sounds good to me," giggles Kiawen.

[pythbox]

A green puffball hops onto Kanim's foot and squeaks at him.

[pleasantsurprise]

Kanim picks it up and pats it. "Gentle Cave it is. I'll write a paper on it."

[pythbox]

Kanim's puffball glows brightly and whmmmmms.

[exactlyright]

"What should we name the creatures?"

[forgefires]

"I'm not sure!" says Tanalin. "Round Fluffy Glowy Things With No Discernible Features is a bit of a mouthful. And it leaves out how warm and soft and nice they are. And the cute little sounds they make. What about yours, Kiawen? They almost look like round little bears."

[guessguess]

"They do! Little black and white bears that don't bite and fit in my pocket. Hmmm. They are black and white. Piano bears?"

[exactlyright]

"Poofs," says Carinna of her purple poof.

[forgefires]

"Poofs," giggles Tanalin. She gathers her lapful of poofs into her arms and hugs them all at once. They squeak a chorus of tiny squeaks and glow softly.