Gaia's Ice Cavern... [RP w/kasumu_sekai]

[feathered_mages]

The dripping sounds and occasional gurgle of running water are more noticeable inside the Ice Cavern. A few patches of bare rock show through, but in most places the ice is still thick. The water and slush make the floor even more slippery than solidly frozen ice would be, as the Magelets soon find out. They seem to find it fun, though, not bothered at all by the cold as they look around.

Mistral looks around as well. He can see the place falling apart with the underlying magic gone, making it look changed and somewhat unfamiliar - but not as unfamiliar as it should be for someone who's never been inside it. He knows the way through, if none of the paths have been blocked by the thaw. And if they had, ice spells should let them make a way around.

Comments

[mage_hatchlings]

The Magelets occasionally pick up rupees as well. Not because they know of any use they have for them, but because they are pretty and shiny.

And soon they'll reach Lake Hylia. There's no danger of nighttime Stalkids here, though there are other things. Not so much near the very edge, though, where the Magelets immediately beeline to splash in the water.

It's quite pretty here.

[mage_hatchlings]

Mistral nods agreement. "Yes, it does." He's taken to the water as well, splashing like a bird in a big birdbath to get any mountain dust off his wings.

The Magelets are looking around, noting landmarks and wondering about them as they try to decide what to do.

"There's a house here," says Teo.

"I wonder who lives there," adds Tavi.

Kaze stumbles onto one of the underwater structures in the water, literally, standing on top of it. "I think there's another house under water." He'll creep to the edge and blink down at the sunken doorway. "Why would someone put a house under the water?"

"Maybe it belongs to Zora?" guesses Luca, paddling over to have a look.

Kaze leans too far, trying to see things down near the door, and takes a tumble and goes sploosh. Another splash right next to him startles the little mage further, but luckily that splash was caused by a Zora who helps the Magelet back onto land.

Juro has waddled a bit further along the edge of the lake and spotted the small garden with its two scarecrows. Misunderstanding, given what grave markers look like in the Black Mage Village, he looks sad for a moment before heading back to the others.

[feathered_mages]

The Zora looks back, just as curious. Rydia herself doesn't look that strange for a land-dweller, but the Magelets look like some kind of Poes. They're far too friendly and solid for that, though. "Hello," he replies, just bobbing calmly in the water.

The Magelets congregate from paddling around in the shadows to come see the Zora as well.

[feathered_mages]

Luckily the Zora is nearly as curious. If they'd visited the Gerudo it would be a whole other matter. "Yes, I am."

The Magelets seem ok now, but maybe someday they should learn to swim a bit better than doggy-paddling. They float really well, though, and aren't too likely to sink. It's probably the blubber that does that.

Mistral hasn't seen the Zora yet, as he'd taken off to get an aerial view of the lake and see if he can spot any interesting creatures. There's something - a shadow under the water - near the rope bridges, but he can't quite make out what it could be. So he'll land back by the others and join in on being curious about the Zora.

[feathered_mages]

"You're not Poes, are you?" asks the Zora, giving one of the Magelets a careful poke as they dog-paddle around him.

"No, we're Black Mages," says Teo, while Tavi just giggles at being poked.

He'll nod in response to Rydia and tell her about all the creatures found in the lake.

[feathered_mages]

"I'm Luta," says the Zora.

"I saw something in the water over that way when I flew over," says Mistral, "near the bridges.

Luta nods. "Octoroks like to swim there, in hopes of knocking someone off."

[feathered_mages]

There's a sort of shadow under the surface of the water there, but it's some distance away and the Octorok isn't easily visible unless it jumps out of the water.

[feathered_mages]

Which is when Luta the Zora offers to herd a few interesting creatures their way for them to look at.

[feathered_mages]

The first few things the Zora brings to show them are just fish and small harmless aquatic creatures from the lake. Some of these are quite colorful, so the Magelets are happy to watch them and go 'oooo' anyway.

Then he says he's going to bring something a little more special. It takes him a while to return with it since he's had to herd it along without touching it and it isn't the kind of creature to give chase. "This is a type of fish found in the Water Temple. It can live in the air for a time, but you have to be careful because it will shock you if it's disturbed."

The stinger leaps out of the water and drifts around for a moment before diving back into the lake.

[feathered_mages]

Luta is amazed when the stinger leaves the water again to drift lazily around Rydia in a sort of orbit. "It seems to like you. I've never seen one behave like that before."

Mistral chuckles and watches it too. It is a pretty little flying fish.

It's starting to get dark now, and Teo and Tavi are using the baby dodongo for a pillow.

[feathered_mages]

Luta blinks in surprise when she isn't shocked, though Rydia might notice a slight tingle of current. Not sure what to think of this, eventually the Zora nods. "I think it wants to stay with you. You should keep it."

[mage_hatchlings]

"We should find it a bowl or something," says Mistral, "so it can stay wet."

The rest of the Magelets are making their way out of the water now. Luca sits down next to Rydia and yawns.

[feathered_mages]

Mistral nods, and gives her a hug. "I should take them home to get some sleep," he says, indicating the dozy Magelets. "And you can find somewhere to keep your new pets. Maybe we can meet up in the Nexus tomorrow, or in a day or two - or you could come to the village - and we can go somewhere else to look for more pets."