Armin didn't even bother looking at the clock; he knew it was getting late, but as usual, he was feeling lazy.

'Mhmmm, I don't know about that... Wouldn't it be easier to just... stay here?...' he suggested, yawning.

Dianne: "Unless you can convince Rex to bring me breakfast in bed, no."

{She states, amused.}

Dianne: "Why do you hate getting up?"

'Getting up used to be slightly easier, when I wasn't sharing a bed with anyone. Now... it's just very comfortable... and it's not like I need to get up for food or anything important... so staying here with you just feels like the most pleasant option.'

Dianne: "Yes, it is very comfortable, but I need to eat, and Esme needs care and supervision. We can't stay in bed all day, as tempting as it is."

(I'm gonna have Fred call them about something in a minute, if you have nothing planned today.)

Armin sighed. 'I suppose so...' He took a moment to nuzzle along her jawline, before kissing the corner of her jaw affectionately. 'I need to get you drunk more often, so you'll sing beautiful songs at me...' he said with amusement.

(Go ahead, I got nothin'. XD)

Dianne: "Heh, given that it's Triticum's ale, you might have luck on that endeavor..."

{Turning his head, she kisses him on the lips, then draws back and snuggles into his neck.}

'And we've got plenty of it... Plenty of opportunities...'

Smiling slightly when she snuggled into him, he ran his hands up and down her back, striving to keep her with him for as long as possible.

{Dianne chuckles when she feels his hands, taking a moment to enjoy the sensation.}

Dianne: "Ok....Up we go."

{She then stands up, picking him up in the process.}

Armin grunted, holding onto her until they were upright, then letting go. He swept his gaze around the room briefly before finding his sweater and jeans. Once he was dressed, he headed downstairs to see what Rex and Esme were up to.

{Dianne changed into a shirt and jeans. The shirt had a picture of a ferret on it. Bringing Jerry's coat with her, she heads downstairs.}

Dianne: "Good morning, everyone."

{She states cheerrily.}

Rex was standing in the kitchen doorway, sipping a mug of coffee. He eyed Dianne as she came in with a look of amusement, his mouth twitching as he tried to suppress a smirk.

'Good morning. You seem to be in a fine mood, I have to say.'

Esme was running in circles around the kitchen. Possibly chasing her own tail.

Dianne: "I am. You look amused by something yourself."

{She observes as she begins to cook herself food.}

'...Mhm, it's nothing...'

Rex subsided into silence, though his expression remained vaguely amused.

Armin, unaware of what Rex found so funny, came over to the kitchen doorway and finally noticed the picture on Dianne's shirt.

'Wait, you actually own a shirt with a ferret on it?'

Dianne: "Yes. Yes, I do. I don't wear it that often, but I like it. What's so wrong with that?"

'Nothing's wrong with it. It's just not something I'd expect you to have lying around. I think it's kinda cute.'

Armin then glanced at Rex, squinting slightly.

'Also, why do you seem to be in a better mood than usual?'

Rex raised his eyebrows. 'Oh, sorry, I'll go back to being miserable.'

Dianne: "Hey, I don't just wear dresses. Actually, Rex, it's nice to see you more upbeat. It suits you."

Rex sipped his coffee. 'Well, I can't say there isn't a reason for it.'

'So, what's the reason?' said Armin, folding his arms.

'I might have a job interview for a position at a school tomorrow. They're looking for a teacher, and they don't seem off-put by the fact that I'm a vampire.'

Dianne: "Well, good for you, Rex! I hope you get it."

{Having finished her meal, she walks to the living room to eat.}

'We'll see,' said Rex thoughtfully, remaining in the kitchen with his coffee.

'They should hire you. The kids would probably think it's cool to have a vampire teacher,' Armin remarked.

He then followed Dianne and sat down on the couch, while Esme began to ravenously tear into her breakfast.

{Dianne began eating. Looking up at the window, she squints.}

Dianne: "Hmmm...It's cloudy...Glad Jerry let me borrow his coat."

'Oh yes. The weather's cooling down, ready for winter. Give it a few weeks and that early snow might show up.' Armin gazed out of the window. 'I suppose summer is your favourite season?'

Dianne: "Spring or summer. Both are good. Nice and warm, prey is plentiful, a very good time of the year. Snow, though? Not a fan..."

'Yes, you've said that many times,' said Armin with amusement. 'I like every season. They all have their merits. I guess, where you came from, it was never very cold.'

Dianne: "Yes, well, I grew up in a place where there was always magma and steam. It was hot even in winter. But, being a...I think they classified my species as "Ferrosian Marbled Dragons", I'm basically made for that harsh environment."

'Certainly seems like it. That kind of place doesn't sound at all pleasant to live in, but I guess if that's what you're designed for... And I was beginning to think your species didn't have a name. Nice to know there is one.'

Dianne: "Oh, it was no picnic. But it was home. Yeah, that's what the humans called us. Apparently, we're an endangered species. I wonder if that nature documentary has anything to say about us."

'I haven't seen anything about it yet, but maybe there is a documentary about them. Endangered? So, when was the last time you actually saw another one?'

{Dianne just shrugs as she eats her meal.}

Dianne: "I haven't seen another member of my species since I left Ferros. I was honestly surprised to hear that our species hadn't died out entirely."

'I kind of assumed they were extinct as well. I guess there's still a few out there somewhere.'

Armin continued to gaze thoughtfully out at the cloudy sky, contemplating what they could do this afternoon.

Dianne: "Must be a colony or something somewhere...Not sure..."

{Subsiding into silence, she continues to eat.}

A few minutes later, when Dianne and Esme were done eating, Armin took the empty plates into the kitchen for washing. As he was doing this, Dianne's phone started ringing. It was Frederick.

{With a quizzical expression, she picks up the phone.}

Dianne: "Hello?"

'Dianne. Good afternoon,' said Frederick. 'I know this is sudden, but we have a minor problem that we were hoping you - and Armin - could help with.'

Hearing Fred's voice from the kitchen, Armin emerged, listening intently.

Dianne: "Of course, what's up?"

{She asks, wondering what Frederick could possibly need from them.}

'Earlier this morning, a juvenile dragon went to explore a cave outside the city. However, he hasn't come out since. When I heard, I sent some vampires down there to investigate, and it turns out that he lost his footing and fell into a narrow pit. It's only about 20ft deep, but the walls are so close, he can't fly back out. I sent Ryder to try and pull him out, but his neck wasn't long enough to reach to the bottom of the pit.'

Dianne: "Alright, that doesn't sound like a big problem. We'll get down there as soon as we can. Maybe Barnabas' chain is long enough...Do you know if he can shift?"

'No, he's not a shifter,' said Frederick. 'He's a Poison Dragon. About nine feet tall, quite sturdy and heavy, green, lots of venomous spikes. His name's Artie. Not that that's relevant.'

Armin was standing quietly, able to hear everything Fred said through the phone line.

{Getting up, Dianne heads upstairs with the phone.}

Dianne: "Alright, tell me where this cave is, and we'll make our way there now. Anything else we ought to know?"

'It's in the mountain next to Lake Topaz, just above the city. You'll find it on the side of the mountain that faces the lake. Now, the chamber where Artie is trapped is large enough for your dragon form, but the tunnels leading to the chamber are much narrower. It's pitch-black once you're completely inside, and there may be uneven footing, sheer drops, and pits like what Artie fell into. So, just watch your step.'

Dianne: "No problem, Frederick. I used to live in a cave system, and I have the ability to traverse them. We'll be there as soon as we can. Are there people on scene as we speak?"

'Artie's friend, Lichen - the one who told us about this - is outside the cave, but he can't fit inside. One of the vampires, Owel, has stayed in the chamber with Artie while waiting for help.'

Dianne: "Ok, let them know we're coming. Armin, tell Rex to watch Esme. I need to put on my armor, then we'll go."

'Be careful,' said Fred, then hung up.

'Alright. Rex, you're babysitting again,' said Armin, briskly walking off. 'Don't let her burn my house down.'

He put his shoes on and stepped outside to wait in the truck. He assumed that if they needed anything else, Dianne would bring it.

{Dianne appears outside minutes later, in her armor. She had her short sword, a lantern, and some water. Hopping in the car, she turns to Armin.}

Dianne: "Alright, to the mountains facing Lake Topaz. There should be a dragon at the mouth of the cave named Lichen. Let's go."

Armin swiftly set off towards the edge of the city, glancing at Dianne's small array of gear.

'You're going pretty well-prepared. That's good. I would have just walked in there with nothing.'

Dianne: "It's not much, but I'd at least like to be able to see. So, how did this kid end up in the pit?"

'What? Why are you asking me? I wasn't there.' Armin kept driving, trying to avoid the worst of the traffic. 'I thought Fred said he just lost his footing.'

Dianne: "I just wanted your speculation. I mean, aren't you wondering why he was in the cave in the first place?"

'I don't know. From the sounds of it, he's not very familiar with caves. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten himself stuck in there. I guess we won't know for sure until we ask him...'

Dianne: "I suppose so...Also, why do you think Frederick would ask us for help? We're not expert spelunkers or anything. Our specialty is combat."

'I'm guessing he just doesn't have anyone else on hand. I mean, lifting a nine-foot dragon out of a ravine can't be easy. Ryder couldn't even reach him, and a vampire wouldn't be able to carry him out. You're bigger than Ryder, and you've got magic, and Barnabas. I guess he hopes you can do something.'

Dianne: "I guess. Well, I'm happy to help regardless. I'll need to see the ravine to decide how best to rescue him."

{She subsides into silence, waiting to arrive.}

A short while later, Armin slowed down. They were now out of the city, approaching the foot of the mountain. He stopped the car and jumped out. Just as Fred had described, there was a cave mouth in the bottom of the mountain, which led into a somewhat narrow and low-ceilinged tunnel. Beside it, a dark-green dragon sat, hunched up worriedly.

'Oh... Excuse me? Are you the ones who came to help? I was told someone was coming...'

{Dianne hops out, carrying her helmet and supplies under her arm.}

Dianne: "Lichen, I presume? My name is Dianne, and this is Armin. Frederick sent us to save your friend Artie."

'Yes, I'm Lichen. I'm glad you're here. Some other dragon went in earlier, but couldn't rescue him. I've been getting quite worried.'

Armin approached the cave mouth, peering in eagerly. However, he made himself wait for Dianne instead of rushing inside.

Dianne: "Alright, sit tight. We'll get him out. Armin, let's go."

{She proceeds to walk into the cave.}

Armin followed, staying close behind. The ceiling of the tunnel was only about six feet high, so neither of them could stand fully upright. The flooring was made of a mixture of smooth and jagged rocks, and was quite uneven.

'I always wanted to explore a cave...' Armin murmured.

{Dianne continued through the tunnel, looking for the larger chamber.}

Dianne: "I've explored plenty of caves. A lot of times, people hide treasure in them. Barnabas' crypt was a cave that people carved into a mausoleum."

'Oh, yeah. I forgot about the crypt for a moment. Well, that wasn't really a proper cave anymore.'

After a short walk, the narrow tunnel opened into a larger cavern. By that point, it was quite dark. The floor at the sides of the cavern had fallen away, leaving nothing but a thin 'bridge' of rock that went from one end to the other. The bridge was only a foot or so wide.

Armin cautiously leaned over to look into one of the pits. 'This isn't where the dragon is. I can't smell him, or reach him with telepathy.'

{Putting her helmet on, Dianne turns on the lantern. She surveys the rock bridge before even attempting to cross.}

Dianne: "Does that look stable to you?"

Armin eyed the bridge. 'I wouldn't say I have the most experience with rock structures...' He stretched out one foot and placed it on the bridge, testing it. 'I think it feels solid enough, but you're a lot heavier than me, so I'm not sure.'

Dianne: "Yeah....Hold on..."

{Dianne summons Barnabas and hands him the lantern. Becoming a smokelike mass, she traverses the bridge and rematerializes on the opposite side.}

Dianne: "Ok, make your way across."

Armin stepped onto the rock bridge and started to slowly, but confidently, make his way across. It seemed to take his weight. On the last quarter of the bridge, he felt a bit of loose rock giving way beneath his foot. In response, he jumped the rest of the way, landing next to Dianne.

'OK. Let's continue onwards.'

Beyond the rock bridge lay another section of dark, claustrophobic tunnel.

Dianne: "Barnabas, lead with the lantern."

{With Barnabas going first, Dianne makes her way through the cave. The narrowness doesn't seem to bother her at all.}

Armin followed, hunched over to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling. Along the way, he reached down and scooped up a couple of loose stones, jagged and black, and stuffed them into his pocket.

'There'd better not be any huge cave spiders in here...'

Dianne: "Doubtful. Even cave araneos would venture out at night. We would have heard tales."

{She looks back when Armin picks up the rocks.}

Dianne: "Collecting souvenirs?"

'I thought Esme might like one,' he replied. 'I want to get her a rock from every place we visit. Then, when she's older, I can tell her the stories of how we got them all.'

Dianne: "Awww, that's sweet. She's lucky to have a dad like you."

{She was smiling under her helmet, but Armin couldn't tell.}

Armin smiled faintly, looking a bit wistful. //Is she, though? Well, I'll try to be a good one.//

The passageway began to angle upwards into a slope, littered with rocks. Scratches in the floor showed where Artie must have clambered to the top. The path was walkable, but steep.

Dianne: "There are claw marks in the floor. This kid must have been motivated to explore this place."

{Dianne began sliding back down a bit with every step. Luckily, her gauntlets had pointed metal fingertips, made to look like claws. Using these, she clawed her way up, whenever necessary.}

Not having this advantage, Armin shifted into his wolf form and began to scamper up the slope, following the lantern glow ahead. With his four clawed paws, he could run up relatively easily, and got to the top first. He then stopped to wait for Dianne.

{Getting to the top, Dianne shoots him an amused glance.}

Dianne: "Cheater."

Armin shifted back. 'It's not cheating, it's just using what I have.'

He continued down the next section of passageway, walking ahead of Dianne this time.

(If you like, you can decide what's in the next part of the cave. The room after the next will be Artie's chamber.)

(Alright.)

{As they approached the next chamber, there was the sound of roaring water. There was a waterfall, flowing into a black abyss on the right side of the room, and a narrow cliff along the left side of the room to serve as the pass. At the end of the room was the next set of tunnels.}

Dianne: "Alright, Barnabas, go first."

{With careful steps, she begins to traverse the cliffside.}

Armin paused momentarily to gaze, awestruck, at the waterfall. Then he confidently stepped onto the thin cliff and started to edge his way along, careful to watch his footing.

{Dianne very carefully made her way across. The last thing she wanted was to fall into an abyss that surely had water at the bottom. Once on the other side, she breathed a faint sigh of relief.}

Dianne: "Ok, forward."

'That was cool,' Armin commented, as he jumped the last bit of the cliff and followed her into the next section of narrow tunnel. 'I wonder how deep that pit was?'

Dianne: "Yes, it was cool. I'd rather not find out how deep it is, however."

{Dianne continues through the next set of tunnels, following Barnabas closely.}

After a few minutes of walking through the uneven tunnel, they reached another cavern. This one was considerably larger, with a high, domed ceiling and smooth floor. A long, thin crevice lay across the centre of the chamber. It had smooth, vertical sides, and was about 10ft across at its widest point. The bottom was at least 20ft down.

A soft lantern glow came from beside the crevice. It was being held by a small woman with greying-brown hair and large round glasses. She looked up when Armin, Dianne and Barnabas entered.

'Oh. I think help has arrived, Artie.'

Dianne: "Owel, I presume?"

{Dianne asks as she enters the room.}

Dianne: "Frederick sent us. Give me a sitrep."

'Well, you can see for yourself,' said Owel, nodding towards the crevice.

At the bottom of the pit, only visible if light was shone down, sat a medium-sized spiky dragon. He looked unhurt, but extremely sheepish.

'Ryder tried to lift him out, but he couldn't reach. We tried lowering down a makeshift stretcher on chains, but didn't have any chains sturdy enough to take his weight. It was too dangerous.'

{Dianne scratched her chin, thinking. She then walks to the edge.}

Dianne: "Hello, Artie? My name is Dianne. How are you feeling down there? Are you hurt?"

Artie gazed upwards, seeing Dianne and Armin at the top of the crevice.

'Oh... I'm OK,' he said, with a weak chuckle. 'I just feel a bit stupid. And I'm starting to think I might never get out of here...'

Dianne: "Don't worry, we'll get you out."

{She looks around the cave before continuing.}

Dianne: "Maybe quite easily...Hey, kid, Frederick mentioned that you're a poisonous dragon. Are your claws venom laced, and is your toxin fatal?"

'My claws aren't. Just my spikes and fangs,' said Artie. 'And it's only fatal to small animals. With anything bigger, it just makes you drowsy and hurts like hell.'

'I can confirm,' said Armin. 'I've been run through by one of those spines before, and it's not an experience I'd like to repeat.'

Dianne: "Alright...Ok, Artie, here's what I'll do for you. My dragon form is very large. So large, that my tail will reach the bottom of that crevasse. So, I'll lower my tail down, and all you will need to do is climb up and out. Sound good?"

Artie tilted his head in thought. 'I'm not the best climber, but OK. I'll try.'

Dianne: "Alright, let's give this a go."

{Shifting to her dragon from, Dianne lowers her tail down to Artie.}

Dianne: "Ok, try climbing out."

Artie gingerly started to climb up the tail. It was difficult, with him being a nine-foot, heavyset dragon, but he was doing his best despite slow progress.

He was nearly at the top of the crevice when he slipped. Scrabbling frantically, he saved himself from falling, though his claws cut into Dianne's tail in the process. 'AAAH! ...Oh, sorry.'

{Dianne winces, digging her claws into the ground in pain.}

Dianne: "It's fine...Just keep going, Artie, you're almost there..."

Looking scared of falling, Artie scrambled the rest of the way as fast as he could. Once the edge of the ravine was within reach, he half-climbed, half-jumped onto it. He then sunk to the ground, breathing heavily.

'Ooooh... I'm never doing that again...'

Armin, who had been watching intently, eyed Dianne's tail. 'You alright?' he called out.

Dianne: "Yeah, I'm fine."

{She takes a moment to look her tail over before continuing.}

Dianne: "What were you doing in here anyway, kid?"

Artie gave a sheepish grin.

'Well, someone from my tribe told me that there was treasure in this cave... I think they might have been messing with me... I never found anything, and I've been through every room.'

Dianne: "Ah, the old fake treasure hunt. Whoever told you that is a real jerk. Anyway, Artie, Owel, let's get out of here."

{Shifting back, she starts to head for the tunnel.}

Armin followed Dianne, letting her take the lead. Artie stayed close behind him, while Owel stayed further away at the back.

When they got into the waterfall cavern, Artie didn't try to walk along the narrow cliff edge, but opened his wings and flew to the other side of the abyss. He was just about small enough to do so.

{Dianne carefully made her way across, eyeing the abyss nervously.}

Dianne: "It would be a nice sight, if it wasn't for the fact that I can't see the bottom..."

Armin followed Dianne, even though he was capable of flying over the abyss.

'And I don't think it would be good news for /you/ if you fell down there,' he said. 'There's probably an underground river. Last I heard, you don't do well with water.'

Owel flew the gap by turning into an owl, then waited for Dianne and Armin to catch up.

Dianne: "Exactly."

{Making her way across, Dianne enters the next tunnel before looking back at the room.}

Dianne: "Yup, never coming back here."

Armin made a faint noise of agreement as he followed her, Artie and Owel bringing up the rear.

The next section of tunnel contained the steep slope they had climbed before. Armin paused and looked down at it.

'Hmm, I feel like going /down/ that isn't going to be as easy as coming up...'

Dianne: "Just lean back."

{She then starts carefully sliding down into it, trailing a hand behind her so she keeps from tumbling.}

Armin shifted into his wolf form again, to give himself more stability. He then started to descend the slope, angling his body sideways and crouching low, so he was almost crawling down.

Artie let them get ahead a little before he followed, not wanting to slip and hit them.

{Dianne slid down as carefully as she could. Once she got to thje bottom, she stopped to wait for everyone else.}

(Will post a new room)