I Give It All I've Got

[Gemma Sloan]

The rumbling went further away before they began to hear it coming down another passage.

[Trev Anderson]

Trev paused for a moment and held his hand out to stop Vertie. He wasn't especially good at manipulating his voice this way, but it was certainly possible, especially in an environment like a cave system where he could play with echoes a bit.

"No! This way! She's close!" he spoke down the tunnel, his brow furrowed in concentration. If it worked, it would sound very much to Gemma that they were *behind* her and not where they stood.

Of course if it didn't work, he led them right to them.

"C'mon. Let's run this way," he whispered, pulling Vertie down a side passage.

[Vertie Easley]

Vertie focused too, lightly touching Ignata with pride and satisfaction at "overhearing" Trev. Vertie felt around and took a hold of Trev's shirt. "Gar's ability to see in the dark would be really nice here." She whispered back.

[Gemma Sloan]

The sound coming down the passageway stopped, turned around and headed back down the passage.

[Trev Anderson]

"Yeah...it's a lot darker away from her main cave with the fire and the shiny treasure," he whispered, resorting to feeling along the wall carefully to move forward.

"This is bad. We probably should have been heading towards the light and fresh air to get out of the cave,"

[Vertie Easley]

"We can see about finding a side passage, ducking in and hoping she passes us and head farther in so that we can double back into the hoard chamber." She offered softly.

[Gemma Sloan]

A rock bounced up the passageway from the direction they were heading and a pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness in front of them. "I see you..."

[Trev Anderson]

Trev yelped in surprise, his heart suddenly in his throat, sounding more like an 8 year old girl than a man in college.

He was a real tough guy.

He grabbed for Vertie's hand and ran the opposite direction--directly into a cave wall.

"Ow..." He wheezed, from the floor, the wind knocked out of him.

[Vertie Easley]

"Oh pooh." Vertie pouted then was pulled away from GemmaIggy by Trev, then Trev fell over. "Geebus, Trev!" She was on her knees beside him.

[Gemma Sloan]

Ignata's shoulders ignited, providing light as she moved forward slowly. "Is he alright?"

[Vertie Easley]

Vertie moved her hands along Trev's limbs and ribs before looking around his head and face. "I think he's just tried to kiss the far wall." She chuckled.

[Trev Anderson]

"....Nothing hurt but my pride," he wheezed.

[Gemma Sloan]

"Poor Trev," Ignata said, looking down at his face.

[Trev Anderson]

Trev smiled bashfully up at Ignata from the floor. "Hi..."

[Vertie Easley]

"Good try at echolocation, but I think you should leave it for the bats." She chuckled and stood, offering Trev a hand up.

[Gemma Sloan]

The fire on Ignata's shoulders died and the leading edge of her wings burst into flames, giving off more light. "I agree with Vertie."

[Trev Anderson]

"Just means I need to practice more," he said accepting the offered hand. Trev was heavy.

"More likely to get that right than figure out flying, anyway."

[Vertie Easley]

"First one then the other?" She was stronger then she looked and actually helped hm up. "Not dizzy?"

[Trev Anderson]

"Chest hit the wall before my head had a chance to. I'm fine, really." he said now more embarrassed than anything else.

[Gemma Sloan]

Ignata smiled, "I'll let Gemma have the reigns back." Her head shook and she moved to snuffle Trev's cheek. "Glad you're okay."

[Trev Anderson]

Trev's stomach fluttered and he smiled goofily at the snuffle. I mean. How could he not? That was almost a kiss!

"Me too. I could picture the awkward conversations in the infirmary. 'So. You broke your nose running away from a cute girl?'"

[Vertie Easley]

"I think mentioning she was a dragon at the time maybe less awkward. Most mammal brains freak out when faced to face with a predator. No shame in that."

[Trev Anderson]

"I suppose," he chuckled nervously.

[Gemma Sloan]

Gemma laughed, "I'm just glad you didn't hurt yourself."

[Vertie Easley]

"Same and we won't tell." She smiled.

[Trev Anderson]

"Oh, this is probably not even in the top 100 of embarrassing things I've done," he chuckled.

[Gemma Sloan]

Gemma grinned, "So there's a list? What's number 100?"

[Trev Anderson]

"Not a formal list. And even if there was one, no one gets to see it," he stuck his tongue out playfully.