Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

Xia didn't understand his words, but she understood the tone of question, so she grinned , and sighed * curiosity?* pointing at pit hopefully with bathed breath.

[Mirach]

"Yes, that's right," Svarik nodded, and took the animals into his hands safely before walking in the direction towards the pit.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia took on winged form, and she was hopping playfully behind him, trusting him to know best to get by in this strain world to her, and being calm with him since she trusted his judgement, and was happy her desire to explore fit into his vision.

[Mirach]

Svarik in turn trusted Melody, thinking she wouldn't mark a dangerous place as something worth seeing. He led Xia to the pit, and looked down carefully before climbing on her back. "Let's go," he told her.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia squealed with excitement, and once everyone was safe on her back, she slowly and carefully flew into the pit and started to descend, flying down and down, into what seemed like an endless path. Strange was, however, how it didn't get dark even after they were so far down that sunlight no longer was reaching the place; because there was a light source coming from somewhere far down below.

[Mirach]

Svarik was looking down, trying to discern something in the strange light  below them as they were descending.

[VisAnastasis]

It was hard to figure out what it was until they got closer - it was some kind od portal, giving away bright colorful light. Around it gravity was acting strange, growing so low they hovered above it, and it was washing away soothing waves of light upon them, like little sun. Hesitanly, Xia lowered them down, and they passed through portal - and as if a graceful hand, a whirling of wind brushed around them and lowered them at last to ground level. They found themselves in land most peculiar - some strange kind of little pocket dimension, overflowing with mytical energy that was permeating the mind and making them drowsy. Fabric of this place was mesmeryzing, every changing and shifting, and the land beneath them was soft like marsmallows... But apperance of the place was more like a desert, with scorching sand pleasant under their toes, and lot of colorful crystals were illuminating the sky as if it was dawn, filled with soft fluffy clouds.

[Mirach]

Svarik was alarmed as they passed to an apparently different dimension or layer, immediately looking behind to see if they can get back the same way.

[VisAnastasis]

His trust in Melody was well founded, though - up in the sky, portal was still there, remaining safe and sounds, like little peculiar sun. Apparently, if someone fell down in the pit, he would not be harmed, only pass through the portal and stay in magical pocket dimension. Humans would be unfortunate to meet one awful fate - as, while fall wouldn't kill them, they could not climb upwards and escape this place. Thanks to Xia, there was no dangerous for them to end trapped, though - they were able to fly up and go back and forth however many time they liked.

[Mirach]

When Svarik realized that, he started looking around with some worry, wondering if they would find some humans or animals trapped there, or some traces of them.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed as if the place responded to his thoughts, not replying to him, but seeming to understand his worry on some distant, basic way - as it seemed it was changing lightly, and all around them, in distance, king could feel presences of quite a few creature, thought it was uncertain what they were, as if the immense magic of the cave protected them from gazes of possible ill meaners. It appeared as if this place, whatever it was, was able to seperate creature that would fall down in however many various little distant pocket dimensions it desires, and that it was trial and error system that it was developing over long period of time. But judging by how unlikely it was for them all to be alive if they fell who knows when, the cave probably had its own way of keeping its inhabitants living for its purposes.

[Mirach]

Svarik felt uneasy with the thought of a prison. He was glancing at the portal above them nervously to every moment, but walked towards one of the uncertain shapes that revealed themselves. 

[VisAnastasis]

Xia and the animals did not to share his worry, as they were following him, but exploring the place with delight, feeling safe enough with him. It seemed that sensing their confusion, cave paired them up with pocket dimension of some old peculiar creature, and soon they reached oasis where it lived, filled with trees and meadow with colorful flowers. It peeked out from behind one tree, observing them curiously. King could see then that it was some archaic demon, with pale sickly skin and unsightly torn clothes, its face was concealed with tree bark. Beside that bark mask hiding its features, it seemed to be able to see them perfectly, and king could feel its intent gaze firmly locked upon them.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/df/ff/31/dfff3150af1d1f4f95831e2ea9be9055.jpg

[Mirach]

Svarik did not dare closer, to not be perceived as a threat. He bowed his head slowly, not letting his sight off the creature. "Greetings," he said, but wasn't sure if it understands.

[VisAnastasis]

Creature tilted its head at him, observing his lips, as if trying to get the taste of his language. Then it quietly spoke up.
" Greetings..." it said, and its voice mirrored completely and sounded like Svarik's, only a touch deeper - it seemed that creature had ability to speak same language of whoever it spoke to. King could feel some anxiety and fear in the voice of the critters, though, as it seemed ill, and it was probably very rarely paired up with others, so it was expectedly tense, feeling Melody 's hair in Svarik's posession.

[Mirach]

"We mean you no harm," Svarik assured him. "What is this place?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Who is this place. " Demon corrected them a little hesitantly. " And it's still too unformed, it does not call itself anything yet - but I like to call it San, because it is a a sanctuary. " Despite not seeing his face, Svarik could feel little smile in his vibrant voice." Nicknames please her. "

[Mirach]

"I am Svarik, and this is Xia," Svarik introduced them. "And you? Who are you? Are you a prisoner here, or can you leave if you want?"

[VisAnastasis]

Creature shook his head a little dumbfoundedly ya them, as if their way of appealing bemusedly it.
" You know me not. You should not reveal your names like that to a stranger. " It berated them lightly. " But since you already did, I wil tell you my name. I am The Willow. And do not come closer to me. I have a human plague. I don't want you to get it. " It warned them, timidly hiding itself further behind his tree. " I don't know if I can leave or not. I never tried. I am here by my own will, little human child, and I do not want to leave. Spirits and other Demons often come and go, though, by what I know. But I have been here for quite a while already and I am okay that way. "

[Mirach]

"I'm sorry to hear that you are sick..." Svarik said compassionately, but obeyed the creature and did not go further. "Is this a sanctuary for Beings who want to hide here, then?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Not officially, that I know of. It is an old creature of magic that gained conciousness. There are lot of primordial critters, that are neither one of us either one of them. " Willow whispered. " San is something in between, but is still an infant - she can not take her own form. She feeds on  good emotions of those that live in this place, so it adapted to use its magic to make people and critters that live here happy. Lot people love to come here, because she is so gentle.  " He patted the tree tightly to show affection, as every thing here was an extention of San. " She is fast learner. She leaned Spirits attack Demons, so she does not pair up our kinds anymore. That is why it is safe here - San does not let you reached anyone she feeds you wish harm to. She is kind. But nobody I knew knows of her. Her existence must be obscure knowledge. I jumped in here by my own will, thinking this is but a pit - I heard stories that humans throw unwanted criminals, children or elders here, so I jumped in. I can not die from fall, like human, I thought, and was just hoping I can not spread the plague further if I am somewhere I can not touch anyone..."

[Mirach]

"Is there no cure?" Svarik asked. "And does it mean there are humans here as well?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I am at fault for my own condition. I was healing humans, but their ilness turned to be too much for me too, in the end. It corrupted me through my flesh, and I could no longer transform or heal. It is slowly getting better here, though... San's magic is soothing and it helps... " creature said slowly, but it seemed to slowly grow uncomfortable with talking with strangers like this, as if giving a report. It hesitanyly raised its bandaged hand covered in scars and wounds, and pointed at clear place amids blooming flowers where they could sit, further from him - as he must have felt threatened being interogated like that, with them standing aggitatingly before them.

[Mirach]

Svarik thanked him for the offered seat, and sat down into the grass together with Xia. "Will San leave us to talk with you for a while?" he asked to assure if they have time for it.

[VisAnastasis]

" San liked to make people feel good as it makes her feel good. Hurt people or suffering people don't feed her, so unless you decided you wished to go, she won't create paths for you to leave. " Critter explained quietly, and slowly and carefully, it said down to ground too, leaning on his tree, nodding, as if offering a truce. " She never tosses people out randomly. Only if you grow violent, she will. Once she paired me with a Spirit, and it was find at first.. but then Spirit atacked me. She tossed him out in the sea before a blink until he called and left. If you are not keen on ill acts, little human, I am willing to speak with you as long as you desire. I think she probably paired you with me because of your lovely youngling friend who shares kinship with me, and because she felt you must have questions I could know to reply to.  "