Khloros gave a gentle whuffle as he peered into the alcove. The idea of having his own little cave mystified him just a little--Booker had had a nook like this, and he'd decorated it with mosses and fungi, and it glowed so that there were myriad glittering lights scattered across its ceiling.

I'm not even sure I'd fit in that cave, anymore.

The cave where Nemesis hid her egg was strewn with dried grass, and warm. But his own...? What could he possibly put into his own cave?

The horse suddenly realized that leaving it bare seemed perfect, for now, so he simply gave an approving snort and stepped inside. Then he turned to Nemesis, a twinge of hunger driving him to ask his next question, peering at her bulk curiously. But first he thanked her, seeming to smile as he did.

"Thank you. It's perfect. What do you eat? I've been having to leave to the jungle-cave to find food, and I saw there was grass by your cocoon, do you know where I can find some... fresher stuff?"

He gave a soft and hopeful nicker, even as he settled in the cave, lowering himself slowly to knobbly knees and then lying quietly in the dark, so that only his glowing eyes were clearly visible.

________________

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

@Nemesis

Nemesis

Nemesis was pleased that Khloros liked the den, nodding her head. "Alright, no matter what, I'll make sure you always got this place. Ain't no one else gonna steal it from ya'." She smiled faintly, her ears twitching in time with her tail, swishing back behind her hind legs. It would be so nice to have someone sharing a home near her... In case anything happened. Peace of mind more than anything.

Though considering Louie's habit of disappearing-- well, all of the Merrymen, honestly-- she was half expecting him to vanish for a cycle and reappear later like nothing happened. It was so commonplace that she felt nothing of it, deciding it would be plenty simple enough to guard his nest while he was off doing the-cave-knows-what. She snorted lightly, amused at her own thoughts and then suddenly remembered she hadn't answered his question. She laughed a bit nervously, taking a step back.

"O-oh um right, sorry! Yeah, down the gorge, there's some water, right... And brushes and trees and small thickets of grass grows down there. So you can just... Wander down there and eat whenever," she explained politely, turning away from him. She flicked her tail once more, peering over her shoulder. "I'll see you around, alright?" Farewell blurted out, she started back to her den, to check on her growing baby gem.

;; nem exit <3

Khloros nickered softly in farewell, watching the trino go. Perhaps he'd slip down in awhile, he thought; slip down and nibble at the brush and the grasses that grew by the water. He wondered if he'd be able to find his way down there safely.

Meanwhile he turned, nosing over the rocks in his new little cave, getting to know it intimately. There was a crack there, in the wall, a gentle warm air rushing through it, and Khloros leaned against this contentedly for a time before moving on. There were pebbles on the ground which made him slip a little, and he used his hooves to scuff them out of the nook so that they rolled down the hill and away. The roof was mostly high enough for him to fit within, but in one spot it dipped low enough that he'd have to be careful.

At length, he folded his long legs beneath him, lying beside the warm crack in the rock wall and gazing out of the nook's mouth into Monoceros. He felt safe, for the first time in a long time--hidden away in the darkness, invisible unless someone actually came to the cave mouth and peered in. Yet he could see out; he could catch a glimpse of the canyons and light-and-shadow-riddled gorges down below.

Yes, he was content. Comfortable. Secure in this realization, and in the feeling of safety--and grateful to Nemesis for all she'd provided--he curled his head around, laying it against his flank to sleep.

His last thoughts as he drifted off were to wonder if this could truly be his new home.

________________

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

((Exit Khloros!))