[PRP] Into the Deep (Panlong & Finn)

[xo maho]

Finn faces his fears of entering a dark tunnel... Only to be greeted by someone he was not expecting to find!  

[xo maho]

Panlong navigated the dark tunnels of his underwater caverns with ease. While he enjoyed spending time in the warm shallows with his mate's family, this was still his favorite place to be. He had spent so much time here, in the depths, that this was still home. After a long day in the sun with Tahuya, he could return here, let his eyes feel the relief of the lightless caves and feel his body cool after the sun's relentless rays had warmed him almost to the point of discomfort.

Of course, she was worth it, but the familiarity of this place would always welcome him.

His whiskers and fins guided him through the narrows toward the largest cavern, the place he had settled when he had found these caves. At the top of the cave was a hole, which let in just enough light for him to see details and for a little bit of algae to grow. The water made a tinkling sound as waves washed over the opening above.

Panlong sighed, letting out just a few air bubbles from his breath reserve. It was good to be home.

wc: 190  

[magnadearel]

The little seathi had spent most, more like all, of his life in the shallows of the coral reef he called home. He'd been happy for the most part, except when he got bullied of course. It had never occurred to him to venture further into the deep. Until he'd met Triakisis. The brave stallion who he looked up to and admired. Nothing ever seemed to bother his friend.

Finn wanted to be more like his hero. So when Triakisis swam off on some errand, the little seathi plucked up his courage and swam towards some deeper water. It was a battle of wills; Finn lost count of how many times he almost turned around. But he'd seen Triakisis vanish into deeper water than this numerous times. It was the only thing that kept him going forward.

Eventually he found himself in front of a cave. Finn hovered outside the entrance fluttering his fins to keep him in place as he observed the dark hole from a safe distance. It was 100% dark and scary. He took a deep breath. He had come this far, surely he could go just a little bit further? Maybe?


WC: 195  

[xo maho]

Panlong busied himself in his cave, organizing a handful of things that had been upset by the minute current in the cavern since he had been gone. It was mostly lightweight stuff Tahuya had given him from the shore, dried flowers and the like. It was all very delicate, so he had to be especially careful as he gathered it back in place.

Something - he didn't know what - made him turn his attention back to the front of the cave. He didn't hear anything consciously, but his senses told him something was different. The last time he had felt this way, he had had to convince an eel that they could not both share this home. Proceeding cautiously, aware that he was well-armed with his antlers, hooves, and teeth, Panlong moved back into the tunnels.

wc: 135  

[magnadearel]

Finn gulped almost audibly. It really was a big, dark scary cave. Big relative to him at least. Who knew what horrors lurked just past the maw, waiting to swallow a delicious tiny seathi up! Finn felt a shiver go up his back. "It's ok, itsokitsokitsok," he muttered as he swam back and forth a bit. If he thought about it much more he'd never get inside!

"Buck up." What would Triakisis think if he found out Finn couldn't even set hoof inside. No no. Think how proud Triakisis would be when he told the bigger stallion what he'd done. Yes that was much more positive. Finn faced the cave opening and swallowed his fear. Slowly fluttering his fins he drifted towards it; the ball of fear a hard lump in his throat. His eyes darting back and forth trying to peer into the inky blackness before him.


WC: 148  

[xo maho]

As Panlong made his way through the tunnels, he heard the faintest of audible voices. "Buck up." With the wending nature of the caves, he heard the words all around him - and he sighed. It seemed another pirate had come to call. Perhaps the gold trinket he kept outside his cave had gone missing... Again. Somewhat funnily, though, it seemed that this pirate was maybe not as bold as the others he had met. He seemed to be convincing himself to wander into the caves, rather than swimming headlong into them without turning back.

His brow furrowed in curiosity, Panlong continued forward at his slow pace, ears turned forward to catch whatever other sound echoed through the caves.

wc: 118  

[magnadearel]

Slowly the world of light shrunk down to a small opening as he proceeded into the mouth and then further in. His skin crawled and he was positive there were eyes from all manner of crevasses watching him. Each time the current shifted, he twitched and muffled a tiny sound. Finn was undeniably certain that he heard something in the tunnel.

The tiny seathi hugged one side of the tunnel. It was large and he didn't want to get lost in case he DID find something bigger than him and needed to make a fast exit. He could honestly tell Triakisis now that he had ventured into the cave. He didn't have to tell the stallion how far he'd gone. His eyes were slowly adjusting the dimmer light, and he could make out a little more. Maybe he'd just go a little bit further.


WC: 144  

[xo maho]

Hearing more little swishes in the water of the tunnels, Panlong nodded to himself. Indeed, someone was in the tunnels, and they felt ill-at-ease. They moved slowly but fidgeted, based on the shifting of the water as it echoed against the rock.

He slowed his pace even more. He would hate to frighten the ghost from this poor creature if they met coming around the corner or something. Adjusting his posture to be more relaxed, Panlong peered around each corner as he crept by it. He had no doubt that he moved quietly; his short fins and smooth tail made him near-silent. And he was fairly certain that increasing his noise level wouldn't help the situation.

Determined, he made his way slowly toward the intruder, intending to help them if he could.

wc: 132  

[magnadearel]

Finn was just starting to convince himself that perhaps there wasn't anything else in this tunnel at all. It was all in his mind, and the terrors it created. This cave system was pretty close to the surface too. A real cave monster would probably want an even deeper and darker cave. Now that his eyes had adjusted a big, it wasn't nearly as dark as he'd first thought. This was doable. He breathed a tiny stream of bubbles with his relieved sigh.

Just a little bit further so he could boast to Triakisis and then he was out of here. Maybe he could bring his friend here some day and they could explore further. He would feel much safer with the bigger stallion with him. Triakisis didn't back down from no one and he had the scars to prove it! Finn came around a bend and found something large, living, and moving in the middle of the tunnel.

He let out a scream of fear, mostly of bubbles, as his tail spasmed and he shoot down a random tunnel. His only thoughts was that he hoped he could get away, and that he should have brought Triakisis!


WC: 198  

[xo maho]

Panlong had hardly a chance to blink as he saw a small orange seathi, said small orange seathi spotted him, and the the little finned soquili darted off down a tunnel that would lead him exactly... nowhere. Panlong almost sighed again, then stopped himself - at this rate, he'd run out of air long before he expected to, just from a little bit of exasperation!

Rather than follow the seathi down the tunnel, which would lead to the poor thing being cornered, Panlong called after it, "Excuse me! You might not want to wander down strange tunnels alone."

wc: 97  

[magnadearel]

Finn swam for all he was worth. Like his life depended upon it. Which of course it clearly did. There was a monster down in these tunnels after all! He was hoping that this tunnel would lead him back out into open water before the thing got him.

Instead he ran smack nose first into a wall. He groaned with the collision, and then seeing stars, tucked himself into the smallest corner he could find. Finn squeezed his eyes shut as he heard a voice calling after him. "Leave me alone! I'm not delicious or tasty or yummy at all! I'll- I'll give you a belly ache!"


WC: 107  

[xo maho]

Shaking his head, Panlong swam after the seathi. This poor fool was out of his wits. Panlong had just started after him when he heard a thud and couldn't help but wince. He imagined the small soquili would feel that impact for quite some time.

Given his much larger size, Panlong reached the end of the tunnel much faster than the seathi, so he stopped a respectful distance from where the seathi cowered against the wall, quivering with fear. Filling his voice with as much warmth as he could manage, Panlong rumbled, "Believe it or not, young sir, I have no taste for mammals. I much prefer the delicate yellow shoots of young kelp that drifts upon the currents." His voice was melodic as he attempted to soothe the seathi.

wc: 130  

[magnadearel]

The painful first bite never came. Instead a deep rumbling voice filled the tunnel. Finn cracked an eye. There was the creature, wispy fronts waving slightly. "R-really?" It was hard to believe this creature, now that he had a slightly better looked did appear to be a strange mer, actually didn't want to eat him. The evidence was right there before him, or to say he was the evidence!

"Oh a-apologies for the mistaken identity. I-i thought a fierce sea monster might have been living here. I'm Finn. I can bring you some kelp shoots as a thank you for not eating me."


WC: 103  

[xo maho]

Cracking a smile as the seathi came around, Panlong turned in the tunnel. "No need to threaten me with gifts over something like this," he said, chuckling. "Come. There isn't much for you to see in these tunnels side from eerie shadows in the rock. Allow me to guide you back."

51  

[magnadearel]

Maybe dark holes weren't always as scary as he'd thought, Finn mulled as he followed after the strange mer. But a gift couldn't possibly hurt. It would give him another chance to visit and maybe get to know this potential new friend a little bit better.

WC: 46

Fin: 1,794