Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

Svarik noticed it after they landed, and despite he was already tired, he was curious about the place, and since it seemed uninhabited, he decided to go there. He studied the map for a while to get the direction and distance right, and then asked Xia to fly again. 

[VisAnastasis]

When they were up in the air above it, they could see that in middle of the valley, there was something peculiar - a little river was falling down into a big hole in the ground. However, it must had been falling so far below, that no sound of river splashing the ground could be heard - it was apparently a peculiar, deep, bottomless pit. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a0/00/4a/a0004a59dca6c493d5ee6f57112a4a3a.jpg

Now, humans on their own would probably have little to no chance reaching the bottom alive... But someone with ability to fly down, well, that was already another story....

[Mirach]

It was already dark, and Svarik wasn't sure how deep and how big the cave is, so he didn't want to explore it now, already tired. He just stopped near the edge, and listened to assure it's safe to stay there.

[VisAnastasis]

He could feel that it stretched many miles beneath surface - it was a real, deafening abyss, and there were no homes around, as it probably was a feared place in these areas. However, it was at odds, because it felt very nice to be here, and Xia and animals were both curious about it - there seemed to be warmth coming from somewhere deep beneath what could be seen, and it felt soothing and inviting. It was a little eerie to be there, though, as in his mind, he knew that it would be logical for the fall from such height to kill so it induced some fear to risk one's life, but there was some presence deep beneath it, apparently some kind of peculiar magic, that was alluring, giving him an itchy urge to let go of the worry and jump down. Xia was a little agitated, too, observing down wonderingly, and Sunshine jumped out of her bag, leaning over the edge curiously.

[Mirach]

Svarik took her and Yiska into his arms, worried that they might accidentally fall down there. "Tomorrow," he told Xia. "Now we're going to sleep..." he pointed further from the cave, hoping to get out of its influence for the night.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia, who didn't need to sleep like Svarik, seemed a little hesitant, her look lingering for a moment toward the soothing place curiously. But she nodded slowly despite displeasure, and licked his face lightly to mark her obedience. She anew led him further from the place, after a little stirring, as animals weren't as willing to go - to a safer distance form the bottomless pit.

[Mirach]

Svarik first fed Sunshine and Yiska and gave them some water, and then he gave them to Xia. "Guard them, alright?" he asked her, still worried that they might want to go to the pit. Only then he went to gather some wood for a little fire, on which he burned the two hair, and warmed his and Xia's dinner from Cernunnos. After they ate, he just sat for a while leaning on a tree, and listened to the land.

[VisAnastasis]

Yiska and Sunshine were still quite interested in the pit, but Xia took on her obligations seriously. Every now and then, when some of them would try to sneak out curiously toward the place that instinctively called for them, she would take them in her teeth gently, and return them back to the safe space, wagging her tail. In meantime, she seemed to very much enjoy the fire, despite not being cold here, it reminding her on pleasant things, and safety in home of old Cernunnos whom she missed. The place was very peaceful, and it was nice to be there, beside the fire, in the wild, so far from civilization, from all the buzz of the capital and all the countless people, and listen to the lingering heartbeat of the land, especially vibrant and clear there, close to that strange magic that stretched deep underground.

[Mirach]

Svarik closed his eyes and just listened and let the melodies of the land wash over him and his thoughts. It was his first chance in a long time to truly get away from people and everything, and he suddenly felt very tired, but also like one finally able to rest after a long day.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia seemed to long to come to him and cuddle with him, sensing he's feeling good. She understood his love for little animals well, though, and to buy that peace of his mind, she watched over them, making sure they are safe and not wondering of with dedication and care, often licking their fur and grooming them, doing her best to keep them calm.

[Mirach]

Svarik took off his boots, and put his hands on the ground as well, digging his fingers into the earth. He remained so for a while, but when he felt he's too tired to stay awake, he took out the sleeping bag. Before wrapping himself in it, he hugged Xia to bid her goodnight.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia took on the form of a little fox child as he approached her, and she shyly embraced him back. In that form, she could communicate with him best, and she timidly signed *protector* and pointed at animals confidently, marking that she'll look after them now that Erdel wasn't with them and couldn't. To mark it, she adorably took both tiny animals in her fluffy paws, and hugged them lightly, keeping them close, warm by the fire, as king was falling asleep, making sure he can see them and feel they're alright.

[Mirach]

"Thank you," Svarik smiled and caressed her once more before lying down. He fell asleep soon, feeling free again without any roof or walls around him.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia was content to watch over the animals, knowing it's an important task. When their little fire slowly faded away into darkness, though - well, that was already more alarming to her, and she watched last flames died down anxiously, not knowing how to keep it going. As soon as darkness and fresh night air enveloped them, she started missing its safety and warmth, and poked Svarik for a while, and after somehow leading and convincing Sunshine and Yiska to crawl underneath king's blanket, she herself took on the form of the little dog, and crawled in there with Svarik, leaning against Svarik's chest, and purring to make herself comforted there. Together, the four spent the night like that, as night was growing cold, warm blanket and soft fur of little timid but powerful demon keeping little animals and Svarik warm.

[Mirach]

Svarik awoke with dawn, as he was used to when sleeping outside. It took him a short moment to realize that the dog under his blanket is Xia. He smiled and caressed her. "Good morning..."

[VisAnastasis]

Xia immediately started licking his face in greeting, howling lightly and wagging her tail, seeming relieved to see him awake, as since the fire went of, she wasn't as calm as before that point. She was eager for king to wake up, as she wasn't able to fall asleep herself, anticipating it for whole night that seemed endless, and now that it finally ended, it brought her great relief and joy.

[Mirach]

Svarik snuggled with her, seeing how eagerly she anticipated his waking. "Were you bored?" he asked her with compassion. "Or lonely? Or afraid?"

[VisAnastasis]

Dog licked his face, before it turned into  little fox child in his hold. *Afraid*, she sighed timidly to him, and pointed to the fire that went out, leaving her in darkness and making her anxious until he could wake up to reassure her everything is fine, along with sun that was slowly rising.

[Mirach]

"Oh, I see..." Svarik embraced her soothingly. "Let's warm our breakfast, I will show you how to make a fire and keep it going, alright?" He gathered some wood and showed her how to light it and how to add more branches to it.

[VisAnastasis]

Young demon was fascinated by the process, and it stretched its paws with delight toward the fire, warming them, not knowing exactly why, but understanding touching playful pretty flames was bad for some reason.
Around that time, with their stirring, Sunshine woke up, though, and she cunningly tried to sneak out toward the direction of cliff edge. Xia senses it, and she made a snickering bemused sound, before she turned to a winged animal and went to bring her back to king.

[Mirach]

Svarik smiled. "We will explore soon. Let's just have a meal first..." While their breakfast was warming together with water for tea, he fed both animals.

[VisAnastasis]

Once she was taken and laid in king's lap, Sunshine was calmer then, gladness to engage with Svarik bigger than curiosity right now. Yiska, since Cernunnos gave her his blessing, seemed more trustful to Svarik and more soothed by his presence and care, and she enjoyed her food and his company earnestly as well. Xia seemed to grow a little jealous of the animals all being fed, and once they ate, she shyly transformed into a dog again, and rolled over, innocently revealing her belly the same way Sunshine used to, as if trying to see if she can pass as them and if he'll feed her like them too.

[Mirach]

Svarik chuckled and scratched her on the belly like she would be a real dog. "Our breakfast will be ready soon," he assured her. When the tea was ready, he poured it into her cup, and divided the breakfast between the two of them.

[VisAnastasis]

Little demon was delighted with his attention, glad to not be left out, and feeling good with that consistent care. She took on the form of a child, and first she drank the nice smelling tea readily, wagging her tail, before she started munching loudly on her share of the breakfast, occasionally giving crumbs and bites to Yiska and Sunshine.. She was sharing selflessly and equally, but seeming specially fond of the tiny fox, seeing her as distant fox relative, and often caressing her belly protectively, able to sense the growing kits.

[Mirach]

"So, shall we explore now?" Svarik asked after they finished with the breakfasts and he packed everything.