<i>A town in a cave?</i><br/><br/>Dawn’s curious eyes gazed into the maw. In all her travels, she’d never seen anything like it. The warm lights pierced the darkness, promising food, fire, and soft beds. Or, at least, they seemed to. She didn’t really know anyone who lived in a cave, so there was no telling how they would treat visitors. It didn’t seem like a place that would see many outsiders.<br/><br/>Still, she was getting to the point where she’d do almost anything for a bed. Or a bath. Just a normal old inn would do, really. But it seemed like fate -<i>not that it’s real</i>, she thought - was conspiring to keep her away from anything comfortable. Almost to Arebion? Stumble upon a pixie attack. Aviari village? Attacked within hours. Ship? Cold and wet.<i>Cave town? Full of man-eating spider-people.</i><br/><br/>She shook her head.<br/><br/>Dawn’s head tilted to one side as Ash approached, grey eyes following the elf curiously, but without the wariness they had held just after the battle. As chaotic as Ashy was, whatever Verita’s magic had made her was gone. Or seemed to be, at least. The orbs above her paused, too, floating without motion.<br/><br/><i>"Still strong I see, no... stronger... Still beautiful too... Nrrrrr..."</i><br/><br/><i>Not strong enough, though. Not yet. Not for the darkness that follows us.</i><br/><br/>Dawn’s eyes fluttered closed as the elf’s soft lips pressed against her own. She made a small sound in the back of her throat, part surprise, part approval, and the orbs above her suddenly began moving again, faster than before. When Ash pulled away, there was a glow to Dawn’s cheeks that hadn’t been there before.<br/><br/>And just like that, the elf was gone again.<br/><br/>Dawn moved to the head of the ship, her thumb against her lips. Ashy always… caught her off guard. She needed to… focus. “The sooner we’re off this ship, the better,” she mumbled.<i>No matter what’s in the town.</i><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>