Exploration: Hell's River

After the events of the last season Tyrian was in need of a respite. His crystals were gone, his injuries healed, his sheep gathered. There wasn't much left to do expect breathe. So he and Lachlan were taking a mini vacation. Nothing major, just a quick trip up north along a route Tyrian had never taken. For him the north was largely unexplored. He knew it was a wild and beautiful place, but aside from that he knew little else. It was time to fix that. Broaden his horizons and all that. And who better to go with him than Lachlan? Tyrian felt like they were at a crossroads. Either they were going to go places together or apart and it was time to find out which scenario was for them. Reaching the entrance to a smelly cave, Tyrian stepped up to peer into the darkness. He could see nothing but shadowy walls but the smell grew stronger. It was almost enough to turn his stomach and reminded him of rotting eggs. And that was what he found intriguing. Caves didn't just stink without reason. He peeked back at Lachlan, his expression mischievous, then said, "Smells like adventure to me. What do you think?" ""

Lachlan had kind of hid away during the long night, he didn’t leave the sheep these days. He just prayed that he wouldn’t contract the illness. What he hadn’t expected was his ram to fall ill. Ears suffered greatly and Lachlan thought for a long time he was going to lose the sheep he loved and the man that gave him to him. Lach internally celebrated as the sun returned, the illness dissipated, and the world seemed to go back to the way it was. Tyrian’s crystals dropped, Ears’ illness released, and all felt right in the world.

After the stress he didn’t hesitate a moment to accept Tyrian’s offer to get out of the pack for a while. Breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the sunlight. A shy smile played on his features as he loped beside Fireside’s alpha, feeling that their approach of the path was more than literal. The two of them were at a crossroads figuratively. He realized how fragile and swift life was, how could he not when he worked so closely with livestock.

Adventure, something that felt like a far away dream these days. ”So.. refreshing.” He joked softly, making a face at the smell of sulfur, but he wasn’t about to back down from a challenge like this. Especially not when he was beside Tyr. ”Life’s too short to say no when you can smell the risks and rewards.” He added with an amused grin.

Tyrian snorted and looked down the passageway. "Oh, is that what we're smelling? Rewards?" He clamored into the tunnel and stood just inside waiting for his eyes to adjust. Normally when one stepped into a cave the first thing they noticed was the chill, but not this time. The air was ever so slightly warmer than the air outside. Just enough to be noticed if you were paying attention but not enough to slap you in the face and grab that attention. His vision adjusted and brought to him a cave that was...totally unremarkable. He'd been in lots of caves over the years and this one was more or less what one would expect minus the subtle warmth and the noxious stench. Tyrian walked over to the nearest dark wall and placed a paw on it. He'd picked it thinking that maybe out of the sunlight he'd get a different result; that he'd find something typical and unremarkable. But no. It too was uncharacteristically warm. Certainly not hot, but definitely not the cold, clammy surface he expected to find. A fresh wave of sulfur was carried to them on the breeze. Yes, breeze. It came up from the depths and aside from stinking Tyrian didn't know what to make of it. Breezes were kind of an outside thing, no? He wrinkled his nose and said, "Mmm rewards." ""

Tyrian didn’t seem particularly amused by Lachlan’s assessment but he did get a little chuckle out of him. ”Fortune favors the brave?” He added on another useless saying as he resisted the temptation to pinch his nose in disgust. What was more though, the sulfur was accompanied with a warmth that shouldn’t have been coming from a cave entrance. That fact didn’t stop either of them. Lach’s pale paws carried him beside Tyrian as he inched into the cave. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to lift his own toes to the wall, and was glad when he saw the surprise in the alpha’s features.

Silence fell over them as a warm breeze wafted from the deep cave system and with it another wave of rotten egg smell. Lachlan tried to shake it off as Tyrian teased him again. The smell of rewards and fortune coming their way. ”Or maybe just suffering and death.” He cough lightly so he didn’t gag on the air. It would get better the deeper they went right? Or he’d get used to it? ”Either way it has gotta be good, right?” Deep down Lachlan was still a young boy eager for his next adventure, and this was as epic as any adventure he’d had so far.

Tyrian resisted the urge to boo Lachlan for his platitudes. All in good fun, of course. If they couldn't pick at each other in a time like this what could they do? He didn't though - not because Lachlan didn't deserve it and not to spare his feelings, but because it would require Tyrian to suck in another lungful of stink. If he was going to razz him it would have to be worth it and booing? Just not worth it. Instead he settled for a scoff that used just enough breath to get his sentiment across and rolling his eyes. "Yeah that sounds..." his sarcastic comment trailed off as he peeked around a corner. There was an ominous (and promising) glow up ahead. "About right. Looky there." He leaned back to let Lachlan look. "Any guess what that is? I'm thinkin' dragons or uh, I dunno, the entrance to hell, maybe." Casually, he added, "If you say 'rewards' I'll let the dragons have you." ""

He could tell Tyrian was losing his patience for Lach’s life’s sayings, he couldn’t help but grin at his small annoyance to Tyrian. He enjoyed far too much messing with the slate alpha. Especially right now with so many rewards to be gleaned. He chuckled as Tyr scoffed at him. He grinned to himself as he followed after Tyrian into the smelly cave, looking up from the cave floor as his voice trailed off. Silvery blue eyes followed his attention to the glow ahead.

It was very obviously not the sun, it was the wrong color for starters. Lachlan tilted his head curiously, completely stumped at what they were looking at. He tilted his red marked features towards Tyrian as he spoke again. He was obviously casual about the strange sight despite the ominous unknown glow. He also mentioned feeding him to the dragons if he called any of it ‘rewards.’

Lachlan burst out with a laugh, instantly regretting the action as he sucked in a deep breath of sulfuric air. ”Absolutely no rewards.” He chuckled amusedly as he continued to follow after Tyrian into the strange cavern. Whit paws carried him over the dark stone, his claws clicking rhythmically against it. Though slightly cautious his curiosity whisked away any fear of dragons or facing the gates of hell.

Every step created more tension in his core the closer they got, and he didn’t realize it but it brought more and more warmth. Though it didn’t come from within like his nervous heat usually did… Then they turned the last corner and all was revealed.

Lachlan’s jaw dropped and his eyes widened as he took in the river before him. It was a vast cavern, with a dry heat he had never experienced. The glowing molten… not water flowed through a winding river like structure. Struck speechless he was certain there was some kind of reward in all of this.

The heat was unbelievable. It felt like they were approaching the sun. Rounding that last corner was as abrupt as walking from shade into full summer heat only hotter by leaps and bounds. From that point on there was a noticeable increase in heat with every step. That alone would have had Tyrian in awe and while his paws were already quite tingly from the heat it was the glowing river of fire that held his attention and kept him moving. "Wow," he breathed. A clatter as Tyrian's paws sent loose rock skittering finally broke the spell the lava had on him. Blinking, he looked down and found the rocks, and was seized with an idea. Selecting the largest he sent it flying skipping stone style towards the lava. Much to his surprise it broke the surface with a firm plop and a hiss without so much as a hint of bounce. "Hm." Tyrian glanced at Lachlan to see what he was thinking, because for once he couldn't think of any worthy quips. The only thing he could compare the river to was the volcanic eruption that had shaken Boreas a few years ago. Then, the trails of lava that oozed from the mountain's broken top were obscured by cloud and ash. Here the lava could be seen in all its glory. ""