Ever since the raid, Comet had been hard at work exploring the new caves and tunnels. There was just so many more things to see now! Eridanus and all the previous caves she had explored were old, since she had already seen all there was to see there.

The trees that made up this tunnel were living. It was like this tunnel was alive, which it was. This was already her favorite tunnel out of all the ones she had explored, since it was both mysterious, and full of potential. Usually with the tunnel made out of rock you couldn't really interact with it, but here were trees. Living, breathing trees!

Comet had been poking her nose in between every crystal and tree there was, when she noticed something. There was a gap in between two trees, and something beyond it. Could she fit?

Being even a small pup, well, a growing pup anyways, she had only been able to squeeze part of her body in before back out. Darn, that was not good. Perhaps it was the fact that she was doing it wrong? Comet did not want to damage the trees just so she could get in, she wouldn't harm them like that.

This time she sucked in her breath, and ran headfirst towards the gap.

Faster, faster... BAM! She rammed her head too hard into the gap and bounced backwards, feeling a bruise form on her head. That was not good, she thought back to try and think of a way to get in. She had water magic... yes! Water made things slippery, perhaps she could do the same thing with this gap.

With the gap nice and slippery, and her head still bruised, Comet decided that she would take it slow this time. She didn't want another bruise on top of her head. Standing in front of the gap, she held her breath and pressed her head in slowly, and worked on getting the rest of her body in.

The tiny alcove had once been lovingly-tended. Even now, after decades or even centuries of disuse, the grasses grew as if to cup a sleeping form about Comet's size. Clustered carefully in a tiny divot to one side were a few minor trinkets. First were three beads of gemstone, decorative in nature and quite small, with holes pushed through them; one was an orange-brown, the other a richer, darker brown, the last a turquoise blue. Then there was a small pair of feathers: one larger than the other, both a faded, soft gray. Time had left them barely more than spiderweb wisps. Lastly was a small doll or perhaps a little totem, a figure formed of soft, dried grass and ancient cloth, its paint long-faded and its form nearly dust.

Someone had lived here; someone had loved.

@Comet

Comet tumbled into the alcove with a slight pop! And looked around. It looked like this had once been the home of a creature that was about her size. She walked over to the divot and investigated the trinkets, careful not to touch them. They were not her's, it had belonged to the creature who lived here, who had lived here. They were probably long gone now.

The beads and feathers looked like they had been treasured possessions of who had once been here. Her gaze finally drifted to the doll, what was probably the most loved of them all. Comet felt like a stranger here, intruding into someone's else's home. Leaving things undisturbed, she settled herself into the small circle of grass in the center where they had once slept. This was a nice home.

The pup was about to leave when she had an idea. Would she be able to find a stone here? The stone of the creature that had passed away? She would have to try.

No magic lingered here; only long-forgotten memories remained. Though it was difficult, perhaps, to feel alone among such keepsakes, in such a warm and welcome place, there were no stones of the dead keeping Comet company.

@Comet

It was a bit disappointing that no stone remained here. Comet had hoped she would be able to place it in the den along with the other trinkets. Taking one last glance at the place, she exited. The trees seemed to close behind her, sealing the den shut. Hopefully forever, encasing the memory of a den, and the animal, inside of its roots.

That had been really cool, but also sad. She wondered if there were any other dens like that around here for her to explore. Looking around the place, she came to another nook between two roots that hopefully she would be able to fit in.

Not all of these places would boast 'treasure'--be they personal relics or something else. This nook, however, held something strange.

It was a small, fiery-hued statue of a snake--only a few inches tall, slender, and rough-scaled. In craftsmanship it was something to admire: not perfect, but lifelike enough, its parted jaws and fangs, extended tongue, and ruby-red eyes all inviting close scrutiny. Most noticeable, however, was the warmth of it; the stone snake was almost hot to the touch, and would remain that way.

@Comet

"Wow." the snake was so cool! Comet briefly wondered who had made the statue, and why they would keep it here. She reached out her nose to touch it, and quickly withdrew when she realized it was quite warm. That would have to be because of magic. Comet sort of wanted to take it, but left it there instead, she did not own it, so she would not take it.

The pup exited that area and continued looking around. Seeing these small places had given her an idea. What if she were to claim an empty one for herself? Comet continued looking around with the thought in her head. Every gap she saw was a win-win. If it had things in it, cool! Something to explore! If it were empty, she could use it as her storage place! Or maybe even a small den for her to go to on longer expeditions.

Her keen eyes eventually caught sight of another gap. So, of course, she tried fitting into this one.