Celeste had grown comfortable within Armada lands. For a fleeting moment, she had wondered if Sirius would allow them to stay permanently. Yet, she could tell by their own numbers that they were soon running out of space. So for now, she went to scout other places they could venture before they began turning south for Kiyohime's wedding and eventually make their way down to Auster. This reminded her that she should probably send Oki's kite down to the Hallows so they could also have a playdate there as well. A lot was on the band leader's mind as she approached the shadowed entryway of the mine shaft. Some would say it was eerie, but Celeste rather found it inviting. What with the cobwebs, bats, rats, and other various creepy things scuttling about the corridor, her focus began to shift to what she was doing. Entering the mineshaft, she continued down in hopes to find something interesting.

She'd been feeling... less than excellent. The pups were thriving. The band was doing well. Things were normal, and life went on... why did she feel like this? Cyanide had always been a bitter beast, but this was different. This was a different kind of feeling. Hell, she had nothing to be bitter about. There was no reason for her to be miserable, so... why was she? There had to be something wrong with her, Cy decided. Why was she sleeping so much? Why was she so... like this? What was this weird funk that had settled over her, replacing the bitterness with something else. Something she didn't know how to put words to. Cy didn't want to try. Being on her own made it worse, so she'd just... not do that, she guessed. She catches a glimpse of Celeste's black and pale tail as she moves down the mineshaft. Cy squints, her brow furrowing. With her head held high, curious, she trotted to close the gap between them. "Don't go getting eaten or lost, I dunno what I'd do without you." She calls in after Celeste, sighing heavily. Should she follow? Who knows. cyanide he said to be cool but i'm already coolest

The petite woman is distracted by some glittering rocks. Her aquamarine gaze glances at the shimmering geodes that protrude through the walls. Is this what someone had been looking for? Reaching her paw out to touch it gingerly, she is quickly startled by a soft voice. Rather than be completely spooked, she smiles. Turning to look at Cy, Cel lets out a giggle. "Maybe if I did, it would give you an excuse to leave your den every once in a while," she coos as she leaves the geodes to approach Cy. Leaning up on her toes to give the wraith a wet lick on her cheek, she brushes her own cheek against the wraith's neck before moving away. Picking up a quick trot herself, Celeste looks back at Cy. "C'mon, let's get lost together," she calls out to Cy as she flicks her tail in the woman's direction. Without waiting for a response, the piebald-koi woman continues down into the depths. Their path is barely lit by old lanterns that someone had taken care of recently. A brisk wind winds its way up from the bottom of the mines as a reminder that they truly didn't know what was down there.

 

   

Cy stepped into the cave, drawing up beside Celeste. The woman's company is... comforting, actually. Being beside her makes her feel like she's part of something. Part of something real, part of something good. Part of a family. This was her family, even if she didn't always feel like she belonged within it. What a real goddamn bitch of a feeling that was. Still, that's mostly put to rest, feeling Cel soft against her face. The wraith leaned down to lick the space between the woman's eyes, a fondness in her gaze. Close. They can be close. "Hey, I'm here now," she shot back, unable to keep the little smile out of her tone of voice.

Celeste trotted deeper into the cave, and she couldn't say no. Taking off after her, the wraith's long strides seem to eat the ground beneath her feet. Not long before she'd caught up, she could feel the strange little breeze as it kicked up around her. "What a weird place," she remarked, gaze roving the walls. The low light of the lanterns seemed to catch on the different facets, throwing odd shadows up against the walls. "Pretty though," a little bit of mischief twinkled in her gaze, the light reflecting off of them. "Like you." Smooth, Cy, real smooth. Maybe Oki was rubbing off on her.
     
   

 

Having company to explore the mines was comforting and even more so knowing that it was Cy with her instead of a stranger. She especially didn’t want the pups down here either - they surely would get lost or into some kind of trouble. Admiring the mine with its gem encrusted walls, she only paused when Cy mentioned that it was weird. Cel would agree as the chilly draft pressed against her face. Wondering if there was possibly a second entrance somewhere else, her gaze turned to try and peer into the darkness.  Her own gaze was pulled back to Cy when she flirted with her. Letting out a soft ’pffft’ noise, she raised a paw to bat in Cy’s direction. “Getting some sleep does you well, doesn’t it?” Cel teased as she stuck her tongue out toward Cy. “Maybe if we get lost enough, we can find some extracurriculars to do while we wait to be saved,” her eyelashes are batted in Cy’s direction before lowering her chin to give her a hooded and slightly seductive look. Without waiting for a reaction, Cel turned to start trotting further into the mine as her flirtatious giggle echoed back down to Cy.