60 Underground

Raven's head was hurting. But he was laying on something that was incredibly soft. There were two small forms curled up next to him.

It took him a minute to remember the ground trembling, and the rush that had made him lose his balance. He had managed to shove some of the kids out of the way before slipping and falling.

Rex and Jem had fallen with him, and he had done his best to protect them from the fall.

Raven was a bit surprised to be alive. He tried to stand, but his head felt dizzy and he fell back down.

He realized that the surface they were on was moving. Muscles flexed and while there was no wind here, he could still feel the passing air.

He tried to focus on the creature under him. It was a mammal of some kind. And he felt that it was not hostile.

He was not sure what kind of creature it was, but its fur was just long enough it was tickling his nose. Not to mention soft and sleek.

Raven took a few deep breaths, trying to get his dizziness to subside. It did, and he carefully sat up. And then had to flatten again as he hit his head on the dirt above them.

Somewhat frustrated, he stretched across the creature that was carrying them.

He could feel it as the two children by him began to move, and he spoke softly, "Are you two alright?"

He wished he could see that way he could actually check them for injuries.

"Shouldn't we be asking you that? You took the brunt of the fall." Then his voice took on a softer tone, "Thank you for that…"

"…" Raven had no clear idea how to respond. All in all, he did not feel to bad. Just his head seemed to have been struck hard, but if he managed to keep the children from getting hurt it was worth it. More than worth it really.

And the headache was already fading.

"How much can you all see?" His hands buried themselves in the fur. As soft as the top layer was, the bottom layer was even more so.

"Too dark to really see."

Raven hummed in response. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

He felt the critter slow and then he felt himself sliding off of it as it sat up on its hind legs. They tumbled onto a soft mass of what felt like old furs. A nest of some kind.

Then he felt a snout push into his face as he was smelled by this large mammal.

He did not feel any hostile intent and so he let it. It was hard to explain but he just knew that the creature had a friendly attitude towards him.

He wished he remembered more fully what all he was actually capable as a druid. Would he have been able to actually commune with it? Or get it to help them get back to… where were their companions?

He felt worry flash through him and he tried his hardest to ignore who he was most worried about.

He felt the soft furs on his hand as it butted its gigantic head against him.

Taking a deep breath, he decided to try his luck, "Hello, friend. Can I ask you for some help? We need to be on the surface… if you could take us there it would be much appreciated."

He felt a little silly when it ignored him and nudged him into the nest, curling its long flexible body around him and the two children.

He let out a sigh, deciding to leave it be for now. It might be better to sleep on it, he still felt rather exhausted by the events of last night and today.

Jem and Rex curled up beside him and he heard Rex whisper softly, "I hope Lyta is okay."

Raven did his best to comfort them, "She should be. All you kids are resourceful, and she is with Dawn."

"Dawn seems very capable," Jem was cuddling into Raven's side, almost clinging to him, "If a little cold."

"She is not cold," Raven could not stop himself before the defensive statement slipped past his lips, "Just heartbroken, and perhaps a bit shy?"

He heard Rex's snort, "Yeah, but she also keeps a distance."

"She just lost her husband who she loved very much," Raven tried his hardest to ignore the jealousy that went through him at the thought. At first he had just assumed his slight jealousy towards Arrion stemmed from the fact that he had been so loved by his wife whereas he himself had never had that, but there was also that bit of himself that wanted Dawn's affections for himself. A part he despised.

He took another deep breath, "Sleep you two, we'll see what happens tomorrow."