Reborn

31: Breathe

Breaks:

[L1,2 or 3] represents the beginning of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives. There is more than one past life, which is why I have put up the numbers. Though, these memories are usually told as she sleeps and Elena herself cannot remember them.

[/L1,2 or 3] represents the end of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives.

[P] represents the beginning of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.

[/P] represents the end of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.

~3~ is just a time skip

__

Going from a dimly lit cave into a full-sun environment had me wince. Sunlight pierced through my firmly shut eyelids- as though determined to cause some sort of harm today.

Thankfully, not enough time had passed for the heat of the day to be completely gone. I laid myself down on my back and draped an arm over my eyes. Just on time to absorb the last of the sun's warmth and also use it to dry off. As I did so, I couldn't help but cast my mind back to the cave I had found underwater.

It was strange, but only because there were clear signs of something or someone who lived there. Perhaps even some people rather than someone. There were too many fish there for it to be for just one person. One being (I couldn't be sure I hadn't stumbled upon some monster's layer or something. Monsters... didn't count as people... right?). However the fish were harvested, they certainly weren't killed in that cave- the fish wouldn't be nearly as friendly if they were.

Too many too friendly fish.

The underground beauty of that place was rather fascinating though. Those glowing plants reminded me of the root tunnels in the mountain under the Summit Tree. Though, the dripping stars were new. What could have caused those? Were the dripping stars another sort of plant? Stone? When I returned, I would get a proper sample to examine further.

With a quiet exhale, I rolled over onto my stomach. The stone beneath me was still warm from the day, the heat pressing evenly along my front now instead of my back. Even with the sand everywhere, now that I was clean and half-way dry, I thought that this felt quite nice.

I gathered my hair over one shoulder, fingers combing through the still-damp strands so it wouldn't cling to my back again. It slipped forward easily, heavier than usual, the ends brushing against my arm as I settled. Then I folded my arms beneath me and rested my chin on the backs of my hands.

My biggest thoughts were on the footsteps that I had heard retreating deeper into the cave- and how exactly I would tell Yugo and Adamai about the entire adventure.

Adamai... would probably want to go see as soon as possible wouldn't he? Make sure this place was actually related to the Dofus or not. After all, he's the only one among us who really knew where we were going.

I was fairly sure Nox hadn't gotten here before us though. The collapsed part I'd swam through seemed too old for that. But that didn't mean that the Dofus was safe either. Maybe asking Adamai if a Dofus could break and how would be a good thing to do before I tell him and Yugo about the cave.

Or the question could put Adamai ill at ease.

My brow furrowed faintly against my arms. The distant crash of waves below kept my attention for a few moments, my mind clearing. A faint shift in the wind caused it to brush across my shoulders, cooling the last traces of damp against my skin. I adjusted slightly, pressing my weight more comfortably into the sandy stone.