Forest eyes peer at the path before her, a strangled bramble ridden path where the limbs of plant life reach out like fingers to grab hold of those who dare venture past. A shudder runs the length of her spine at the sense of foreboding the darkened trail invokes and she turns her head to peer back over her right shoulder. The sunlight bounces around the various leaves and rocks in the direction she traveled from and she considers turning back into the sun’s welcoming embrace. Chocolate lids squeeze shut as she returns to face the path ahead of her, inhaling deeply through her nostrils before releasing the breath through nervously clenched teeth. It’s just another adventure. The filly coaxes herself and she opens wide eyes before forcing herself to take several steps into the darker area. Her gaze lifts up to the canopy and she marvels at how much life grows closer to the surface when the canopy is so full and barely any light makes its way down to her level.

The spindly fingers seem to stretch toward the filly, caressing the skin along her sides in a way that furrows her brow and causes young muscles to visibly tense. The noonday sun begins to fade away even more the further she walks but to turn back now would make this moment of bravery pointless and Hollow presses onward. I should have asked Ilios to explore with me. She sighs, frustrated with herself; her lack of proper judgment (what yearling strolls about alone and unprotected?) and then because she grows weary of cowardice. I can do this. It’s just a walk She verbally continues where her thoughts leave off, ”In the woods. Dark woods.” Emerald gaze looks from side to side briefly. ”Alone.” Psyching herself out the sound of a twig snapping eagerly sends her flying down the path ignoring the brambles gathering in her mane and tail and the small lines being carved into her skin by the overgrown sticks blocking her way.

She bursts through the underbrush into a clearing with little vegetation and stops her frantic pace. Nostrils flare as her sides heave with her panicked race and she quickly looks to the rear to be sure no monsters pursue her. White rimmed pupils disappear behind brown lids and she works to slow her breathing. Chicken Mentally chiding herself she slowly opens her eyes and blinks at the bright, but welcome, sunlight. Glancing around her perusal of the area stops at the entrance to a cave, her nose wrinkling in distaste. Having spent too many nights to count in reeking caves Hollow has little desire to explore another…and yet, pink and grey hooves shift closer to the entrance. Taking in a deep breath as she reaches the entrance she is surprised that it is not entirely unpleasant smelling and hesitantly places a hoof just inside the entrance. The sound of it hitting a slab of rock echoes back to her and she waits, poised and ready to flee should a creature appear to ward her away from their home. Minutes tick by and when no one comes out she allows her curiosity to lead her deeper inside but not so far that she cannot see the light from outside.

”What is this place?” She softly questions the warm air surrounding her, once more surprised. how is it this warm here? Caves are damp and musty in her experience.