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

[forgefires]

The poof drinks from the blueberry spring.

"Hi!" says Tanalin. "Learn anything interesting yet?"

[pleasantsurprise]

"The anti-injury field comes from the crystals, and also the poofs, especially when they glow."

[forgefires]

"Ooh," says Tanalin. "That is interesting."

[pleasantsurprise]

"Yep. If Carinna adopts one she'll have a little portable ward."

[forgefires]

"That sounds perfect!"

The poof rolls up to her and whmms, so she cuddles it in her lap with the pink fluffbat.

[pleasantsurprise]

"Certainly does." If she's going to be occupying that poof for a while he can't really study its natural behavior, can he. Instead he goes to sit by the cave exit and watch animals failing to leave it.

[pythbox]

A piano bear galumphs up to him and tries to hug his ankle, but its wee arms won't go all the way around.

[pleasantsurprise]

Kanim laughs. He pets the piano bear.

[pythbox]

It cuddles his hand. That works much better!

[pleasantsurprise]

It does!

[pythbox]

Tiny fuzzy cuddles.

Eventually it de-cuddles and goes to get a drink from the blueberry spring.

[pleasantsurprise]

Thirsty things, aren't they.

[pythbox]

Yes. Well, there's not much to do in this cave other than drink from the springs, cuddle, and eat interesting lichens and turtle-rock flowers.

[pleasantsurprise]

No wonder they are so affectionate with their visitors!

[pythbox]

Speaking of which, another poof rolls up to him and squeaks for pettings.

[pleasantsurprise]

Pet pet pet.

[pythbox]

Glow glow whmmmmmmm.

[pleasantsurprise]

Kanim doesn't make any other relevant discoveries on this trip.

The next time, he has a look at the springs. Not their surroundings - their water.

[pythbox]

The blueberry water tastes like blueberry, and the cucumber water tastes like cucumber.

But there's a little bit of extra magic to both of them. Magic that seems to interact somehow with being drunk from.

[pleasantsurprise]

He drinks some blueberry water thoughtfully.

[pythbox]

It tastes like blueberry! It is pleasant and refreshing.

[pleasantsurprise]

He puts a dish of blueberry water in the middle of the cave, away from the spring's usual location, and also a dish of ordinary, unflavored water.

[pythbox]

Over the course of a few minutes, several creatures come up to him. Some of them want cuddles. Some of them drink from the blueberry dish.

A single piano bear sticks its nose in the unflavoured-water dish, tastes the water, meeps, and then goes and drinks from the other one instead.

[pleasantsurprise]

Hmm.

The next time he is at the cave, he brings some lemon and some lime flavored water from rivers of these flavors.

[pythbox]

A few creatures drink from those, but not very much - they seem to enjoy the flavour, but need water from the local springs to properly quench their thirst.