[Gift] Heart of Pride -Part 2- endurace

     Xena looks at the massive forest and the cave up ahead. She holds onto Theo’s back, trying not to damage the gills on the sides of his neck. “This place is creepy,' she says. “Ok… let us go in” Theo walks in as Peppermint weaves through the trees pulling moss and plants off and placing them in her bag she brought. Vortex walks behind Theo as they spook Theo, nearly causing Xena to be knocked off. 

      Vortex chuckles. “The looks on your face” 

       “Not cool Vortex, this place is creepy enough without you trying to scare us to death,” Theo says. 

      Peppermint pipes in. “cool it both of you” she trunks the human and hovers over the cave entrance. “You guys ready?” they walk into a massive cave system. Xena opens her journal and starts taking notes and sketching the area. The massive forest within the cave is covered with bioluminescent moss and stones. “Xena, look” 

      She looks up at Vortex. “What” he waves his arm around as she gasps. “It's like a strange mystical trail” 

       “Actually it's just sky fungus. They glow when disturbed so that's what's making the trails'' Peppermint walks deeper in. “This place is wonderful to pick up glow moss, hanging moss, crimson glow strands, and about 40 other flavor additives.” 

         Xena writes this down. “So you guys are questioning your orientation? How do you feel?” she asks. 

         “What do you mean???” Peppermint asks her. 

         “What do you guys feel, like inside,” she says. “Usually in my home, it's like an epiphany moment,” she says remembering how she fingered it out. “Like when I realized I was xenogender. The moment came from realizing that I'm like a cat in many ways. After some talks with Lycon and my journey of reaching this part of me. I'm embracing who I am and he loves me for me” she says. “Ask questions like, do you feel like your not connecting to who you truly are? Or what makes you happiest, when you're with another gender or the same or both?” she smiles touching the locket Lycon gave her. 

         “So you're saying to look deep within me?” Vortex asks. 

       Xena nods. “Then afterward you try and live your best life” meaning that no matter what you show strength,” she says. “I remember having to deal with people who didn't like me” 

         Theo gasps. “But you're so nice?” he says as they walk up a flight of steps onto a massive plaza with a hanging light above it. “this is cool…ish” 

        Xena holds onto Theo placing her book in her bag. There are pipes everywhere sticking out of the ground and a massive waterfall. “Hey maybe after we finish this swimming test?” she laughs. 

        “That sounds fantastic. I mean, exploring can be so taxing sometimes.” Peppermint says. “There are also super tasty underwater herbs I need for my candies,” she says as she finds some glowing shrooms. 

         Vortex yelps as something hiss behind him…he bolts to peppermint. “What is that?” 

         Xena snaps her fingers as a ball of light hovers above her hand. “Ok…that's cool” she steps closer as she hears pounding footsteps...the gold sheen is unmistakable. She gaps in disbelief. “Ok guys…this is an impromptu endurance test but…um…RUN!!” she jumps on Theo as the three take off with the creature behind them. Xena sees a ramp. “Up that way!!” Peppermint flies above them as they find their way into another cave. Xena's ears pick up the creature. “Keep running!!” she says as they run deeper into the caves. They hit a fork in the road as Peppermint looked at Xena. 

        “What way!!?” she asks her. Xena looks both ways as the creature comes closer. “Left” they go down a ramp into a massive room. They shut the door as Peppermint finds a metal door lock. They lock it as they pant. “That…” the creature bangs on the door as they keep running deeper into the ruins of a forgotten civilization. Xena stops them. “Shhh…” she listens to the fading footsteps of whatever tried to kill them. “It seems to be gone” 

         Vortex looks at peppermint. “Your need for new flavors nearly killed us!!” he says. “I can't believe that i get stuck here with you guys” 

         Xena growls. “Stop it, Vortex,” she says. “At least we are safe for now and I have my abilities if we need them” 

        Theo pants. “That whole questioning thing?? Makes sense now,” he says. “Xena where are we” 

        “Don't look at me, I'm just as new to this as you are” she says. “Is everyone ok? No broken bones or bruised body parts”  They three all in unison say yes. “Ok now we have to figure out where we are,” she says. “Ok take stock of where we are, we are in ruins of some sort.” 

         “Coulda told you that moron,” Vortex says. 

         “Listen to our surroundings,” she says as the 4 listen. “What do you guys hear” 

        “I hear tapping??? Something like that” Vortex says. “Like some sort of unnatural noise” 

        “I hear sounds of steam, like something being powered by steam,” Peppermint says. 

        “I hear cave noises,” Theo says. 

         Xena smiles. “I hear that too…maybe the place isn't as abandoned as I thought.” They walk through the ruins as steam hisses and gears start to move. “Looks like this place is aware of our presence,” Peppermint says. “I wonder if there is anything I can use for my candy shop” 

         Vortex looks at her. “All you think about is candy,” he snarks. Xena rolls her eyes. “You too you and that precious journal” 

          Xena looks at him. “I'm not gonna respond to that” she shuts him down again. “Don't try it” they look around, gold and stone cover the walls in weird patterns, and small lanterns hang above using the steam noises. They reach a balcony as Xena looks down. Massive gear turns as there are three that look like arrow launchers on the walkway. Massive in looks, she doesn't have any of her weapons on her. “Guys we are going to have to be very quiet,” she says. “Those are living ballistas,” she asks herself, "how am I in Falhbtharz from Skyrim?? I mean the cave gave off black reach vibes, but this was nearly yanked right out of the game. She looks around…there's a curved ramp down to the gears. “Ok guys to your left there is a very steep incline, walk down it slowly and follow my lead,” she says wracking her brain. 

         Vortex sees living ballistas. “Those don't look scary,” he says, prancing down the ramp as one aims and fires, nearly hitting Vortex. It lodges 3 inches into the stone. The color temporarily drains from his face as he starts running. 

          “VORTEX!!” she yells as the 4 make it down and onto the gears as they jump across the gears dodging the arrows, as they make their way across as she shuts another door behind them as an arrow tip can be seen.  “Nice going Vortex,” she says as they run into another room, this time with a puzzle of what seems to be leavers much bigger than the draks or her. “Ok…a puzzle?” she asks. “Could be some sort of strength test” 

           “How did I know that those were actual WEAPONS!!” He says, panting. 

           Theo looks at him growling. “Oh I don't know, gold shell MASSIVE arrow striking out of the front should have been a dead frigging giveaway. Listen to Xena next time” 

           The two argue as Peppermint and Xena look at the puzzle. “Can you two shut it? I'm trying to think” she says as she leaps up and onto a ledge. “Ok…these look like they are connected to the steam table here” she leaps over to a circular panel with blue lights. She counts them up and looks at them. “There are twenty here.” she looks at the levers. “Ok guys get in position there and there” she points to three levers. “Theo, that one is about your size, Vortex, same, Peppermint, you go after the above one” 

          “Ok,” they say, they get in position. “Ok, now what” 

         She flips off landing in front of them. “Ok Peppermint, move your leaver first,” she says as peppermint raises the leaver with her nose. 7 blue lights move to show round glowing pistons. “Ok” she pulls out her journal and writes it down. “Theo you next.” he does as 6 glowing pistons move up. “Ok vortex” he does as they see something open. “Oh crap wrong levers,” she says as Peppermint slaps the creature out of the way and it shatters onto the wall. 

           “Ok let's make this count,” she says as the puzzle resets. “Vortex you first” he does. “Then peppermint then Theo” they open the door and she smiles. “Yes” good work guys!!” They walk through as the noises fade into the distance, glowing crystals shimmer in the darkness as they return to the caves they were in. “we must have been in the city”