Stealth Mission!

Charon frowned as xe began making xer way through the caves.

This place was scary! Not only was xe claustraphobic, this was one of the worst case scenarios for xer. Having to find safe food and drink while in a survival situation did not bode well for xer sensory issues that came alongside xer autism. What if xe had to eat moss that had a weird texture? The thought was too frightening to bear!

Xe had to make it through, though. Somehow. Xe had to get back to the Port and tell them all about the strange other species that lived down here in these caves! Xe had only caught glimpses of them, and saw their footprints at a glance, but there was definitely something else down here, and they seemed... not aggressive? Not yet, at least.

Xe took a short breath. Right. Xe had to focus. Xer first priority should be finding a safe source of water to drink from. Unless these other creatures didn't need to drink to survive, there had to be a clean source of water somewhere nearby that xe could find. Once xe had that, xe had a little more time to find food - as long as xe had drink, xe was safe. Xe just had to keep telling xerself this!

Xe continued to search for something - maybe a lake? A river, perhaps. Xe would even take salt water, if xe had to!

Luckily, it seemed as though xe wouldn't have to stoop to such levels. There was a river winding through these caves, and it looked like freshwater. That also meant something even better - this part had to lead back to the surface! This water had to have a source it was coming from!

Xe perked up almost instantly, running over to go take a small sip. Xe needed to make sure the water didn't taste bad, after all... xe didn't want to end up drinking something gross without a fair warning.

But to xer surprise, it tasted even better than the tapwater back home! Xe frowned, licking xer lips before taking another sip as a test. Xe wasn't imagining it - this water tasted mineral rich and clean. Maybe all of the rocks in this tunnel were super healthy, actually? What would the merits be of eating the clay that the walls were made out of?

Xe shook xer head. Xe shouldn't be stooping that low quite yet. There was still a chance to potentially find some root-based foods, xe thought. Like carrots, or potatoes. Since those grew underground, maybe some were growing in the walls! And now that xe had found a clean water source, xe could wash off any remaining dirt from the veggies, making them both clean and safe to eat.

Charon beamed as xe continued xer walk through the cabin, now following the cave that followed the small stream. Xe practically had forgotten the danger promised to xer by the clayfoxes that weren't as forgiving in regards to unfamiliar species poking around their personal business. Xe was on a roll of good ideas - what could possibly ruin xer stride?

"Hey! I think I heard something over there! I thought that cavern was off-limits? Wasn't it supposed to be super unstable?"

The fur on the back of xer neck stood on end. Oh. That could. An unfamiliar voice echoed off the cavern walls, and xe figured that they wouldn't be friendly.

"Yeah, the caverns are super unstable because of that river - erosion and stuff? I didn't really listen, but it's supposed to be prone to cave-ins. We should probably go warn whoever's up in there, maybe they didn't get the memo."

Uh-oh. Not only were a group coming xer way, apparently this place was also supposedly super dangerous. What luck xe had - great one minute, undoing it all the next. Xe had to come up with a plan, and fast - xe could hear the sounds of paws on the ground coming closer.

Should xe run? That would cause a lot of noise, potentially making them realize someone else really was there. There wasn't anywhere to hide, since there were just the cave walls and the stream. How deep was the stream? Should xe just stay still.

Having only a split second more to think, xe slowly slid down the concave area and into the stream - enough that no sound was made. Hopefully, that also reduced the ripples that showed up, too...

"Did you hear something?"

"Just the stream flowing... that's natural, since it'll come in through the dirt, probably. Y'know, get a little stronger when it rains, be a little weaker when it's a dry spell."

"Oh. Okay, that makes a lot more sense. Maybe I was just hearing that before..."

The water was just deep enough for xer plan to work. Xe raised xer snout above it and into the air, taking in a deep breath before making sure xe was beneath the water...

It was hard to hear when xe was underwater. Xe closed xer eyes, trying to figure out what was happening above water. Xe thought xe could make out two voices...

And then, they were gone.

Xe gasped as xe surfaced again, allowing xerself to breathe once more. There wasn't anyone else here anymore - xer plan had worked.

Now, xe just had to find the connection to the surface. If xe could get past this, xe could get through anything.

At least, xe had to tell xerself that.