"As far as luring out the Vygrons goes, Cora, I'll take you up on that offer, as much as we appreciate your dedication, I think a large pillar of fire should do the trick."
"Beau would be welcome company, I agree." Cora nodded to Shida, feeling a slight dismissal colour her words. "Not that I'm sure why you think they need two hints of Elementals on site, but we'll need everyone for this first act. That way if anything goes amiss we have numbers with us."
Cora didn't recall someone interacting with Thema since entering the cave, so her momentary speech (the lack thereof) was intriguing. Cora assumed it was from being away from friendly people. But she confirmed her name, and told her the power Cora almost envied her for. That was, she felt, their greatest connection: Nature. Cora revered it, Thema embodied it.
Cora followed Thema's gaze to the emeralds and yellows that coloured the cave, listening. “This place, it’s very special to me. Back in Atlanta, I’m lucky if I see a weed sprout between the cracks of the pavement floor. But here, I look around and there’s life in every crevice. It can be a bit… overwhelming."
"You and I are more alike than you know. I lived in Atlanta too, actually broke into a greenery one night, took as much as I could. The look of surprise on my boyfriend's face back home was priceless." Cora chuckled, eyes oddly dim and withdrawn.
"Someone's coming." Irys bounced up from Cora's frosted palms, twirling around her head. Her crystalline appendages pulsated with light, casting pale shadows on the back wall.
Cora's gray eyes widened, glancing at Thema. "Irys says someone's intruding. But I don't know... how."
"It's Irys's sixth sense, to know and feel those close. This one, however, does not seem threatening. Just cautious."
Could have told me that waaay sooner, Irys. Cora thought back, annoyance flickering in her face. No danger, plus that may be the tactical edge we'll need.
He entered the cave, young and wide-eyed. His hair was a curious shade of white and his hand held a most intriguing dagger; it hummed with light. Cora knew what he was just from a glance. The fates that be are a darkly humorous one to send a Lux so soon.
There was a tense commotion when the Lux Hygron entered stage right. But quickly enough the other elementals also saw the lack of a threat, and the weapons and harsh words were sheathed.
Shida took charge in telling the new guy what's what. "I'm with Beau, and new guy.. I'm putting you on the team with Aerilyn, Cora, and Beau."
Shit. Hopefully he doesn't get in my way. Cora thought crossly, raising her hand in a half-wave when Shida mentioned her name to the newcomer.
While Will dabbled with the Lux Hygron's potential, the atmosphere of the cave was one of readiness. Cora, going through a final checklist in her head, filled her zipper pockets with wrapped cheese and bread. Out of the fallen seeds in the cave Cora picked a couple to tuck away in another pocket. She figured it was for good luck.
Cora picked her way back to Aerilyn, combing out the knots in her chocolate hair. She met eyes with the Air elemental, portraying a sense of coldness, irritation. All the bodies around them made her feel claustrophobic. Her best efforts to be chill only made her building temper harder to ignore. She just needed to be outside, the quiet would thaw the ice nipping at her head. In a breath, she stifled the rawness of her feelings and softened her gaze.
"Aerilyn, meet me outside. I'll be waiting down the road -- we could use a chat along the way."
She met the glances of others as she made her way out of the cave. The light of pastel-coloured gloworms led her to the barren surface world. Silence was in the night as she tilted her gaze up to the black, black sky.
She graced through the heaps of trash, slowing her pace for Aerilyn on the assumption she followed.