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Chapter Text

Finding Cavern in Prairie Peaks was about as surprising as the Sun rising in the morning or Eden spitting out crystals at inconvenient moments. Most Descendants their age didn’t travel there much unless they needed to collect Winged Light or were just bored, and most didn’t stay there as long as Cavern always did. But every time they showed up, Cavern was always there somewhere, either at the fire pit directly under the Peaks’ entrance or swimming in the river or sitting at the top of the waterfall, overlooking the area that might as well be his domain at this point. The funniest part about it - at least to him - was that he had a nest, but the little hammock, tarp, fire pit, and tea set he’d put together in one of the caves felt infinitely homier than the place that should’ve been home. 

Despite his relative isolation, Cavern was still a social creature, and it wasn’t surprising when he was woken up that morning by the flapping of another Descendant’s cape. He only needed a glimpse to know who it was. 

Morning, Lightning, Cavern mumbled sleepily. 

Lightning was only about a month or so older than Cavern and liked to pretend that ae was grumpier than ae was, not that Cavern ever bought it. Not that most Descendants ever bought it, really. Ae, like quite a few of Cavern’s friends, had what could best be described as a signature outfit: a fireworks staff, a train conductor’s hat, and a black cape that closed at a ring around the neck. The pants, mask, and tunic were the only parts up for debate on any given day; in this case, ae were wearing charcoal-grey pants and a black mask with a gold band around the forehead. It had been a while since Cavern had last seen aem wearing that mask; he’d almost forgotten ae had it. 

Lightning skidded to a stop. Ae adjusted aer cloak - rumpled by the flight - and crossed aer arms stubbornly. 

Did I startle you? 

No, Cavern said, awkwardly stretching his limbs. His shell groaned in complaint. Well, maybe a little. I expected you to stop by at night. 

Lightning scoffed. I like being unpredictable. 

Cavern stared at aem blankly for a few moments, not believing a word of that sentence. Then he shrugged. 

Well, it’s nice to see you, he said, sliding out of his hammock. What’s with the visit? Did you need Winged Light, or did you just want to see my pretty face? 

He batted his nonexistent eyelashes at Lightning. Ae shoved him into a nearby pool of water in response. 

Hey! he spluttered. What was that for?! 

For being you, Lightning said, as if that was a perfectly reasonable explanation. 

Cavern sighed and flicked his cape, lifting him out of the water in a shower of sparks and shed Light. He landed gracefully on the shore and paused to wring the water out of his hair and cape. 

I stopped by to check in on you, but if you’re going to be annoying- 

They’d played this game before. Cavern wasn’t buying it. He sat down next to his fire pit, close enough to burn anything that wasn’t a creature of pure Light in a clay shell. As it was, the heat felt like more of a gentle tickle, and he felt the water begin to steam and boil away. He closed his eyes, lavishing in the feeling of his Light returning to him. 

If you want to leave, then leave, Cavern said simply. I won’t stop you. 

Lightning hesitated. Then, after a moment, ae huffed and sat down on a log next to the fire. 

I’ll give you one chance, ae said. If you say something stupid, I’m leaving. 

Cavern hummed. Sure ae would. If Cavern’s presence in the Peaks was as consistent as the Sun, then Lightning’s visits were red shard eruptions: not uncommon by any means, but precious and rather difficult to get rid of. 

The duo sat in silence for a minute; not an uncomfortable one, just a silence that comes when two people know each other well enough that there’s nothing they have to say anymore. After a minute, Cavern broke it. 

I heard Sparrow has a new moth, he said. 

Really? From who? 

Shadow. 

Shadow was on the older end as far as Descendants went; he’d fallen shortly after the discovery of the Forgotten Ark and had been a constant presence ever since. Even by Descendants' standards, he was a social butterfly; even if he didn’t actively seek it out, he loved being the center of attention. He was also the closest Descendant to Sparrow, who marked the farthest end of the age timeline in their friend group. 

And you trust Shadow? 

Cavern shrugged. Why would he lie about it? There’s not really a benefit to it. 

It’s not that he’s untrustworthy, it’s that he’s a drama queen. He’s probably exaggerating- 

Exaggerating what? Cavern asked evenly. 

Lightning stuttered for a moment. Aer eyes narrowed. 

I’ll figure it out eventually, ae said. 

Cavern finally stepped away from the fire pit and sat on the log next to Shadow. He rested his head on aer shoulder and closed his eyes. Lightning, after a few moments stuck processing whether ae should push him away or return the gesture, awkwardly draped an arm over his shoulders. 

You’re warm, Cavern noted. 

Lightning gave him a funny look. 

Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be? 

It was a compliment. 

Lightning stared at him blankly, then huffed, torn somewhere between affectionate and annoyed. Ae drew Cavern closer, close enough that ae could comfortably lean aer head against his. 

I missed you, Cavern said quietly. It gets lonely out here sometimes. The only people who come through are moths and Descendants more interested in getting their Winged Lights back than in talk. 

Then why don’t you move somewhere where there’s more people? 

Cavern chirped lightly. 

Because this place is my home, he said. I like it here. It just has its downsides, you know? 

Lightning was quiet for a moment. Aer shoulders sank, just a bit. 

Yeah, I know. 

Lightning thankfully stayed for tea, even though both knew ae didn’t like it much. Ae did go through Cavern’s entire (admittedly very small) stash of puffs, though. 

Thanks for stopping by, Cavern told aem as ae were preparing to leave. I missed you. 

I’m sure you did, Lightning replied. Hidden somewhere under the snark was genuine sincerity, and a sentence ae thought themselves too tough to say out loud despite how plainly obvious it was to Cavern: I missed you, too. 

Stop by anytime, he said, then paused. Bring your own puffs next time, though. 

Hey! 

Cavern giggled. Lightning fetched aer fireworks staff from where ae’d propped it against a rock, slid it into place on aer back, and headed out to the cliff looming far below Cavern’s nest. Before ae could jump off, though, Cavern darted after aem. 

Wait! he cried. 

Lightning stopped and turned back to look at aem. Cavern pinned a sprig of holly to aer cape, just above aer heart, then dragged aem into a shell-crushing hug. 

Be careful out there, he warned. Dangerous things are afoot. 

He didn’t realize until later how ironic that sentence would become. In the moment, all he was referring to was Lightning’s fondness for the Golden Wasteland and general lack of concern for aer own safety. 

Lightning chuckled. 

I am the danger. 

Then, before Cavern could process that edgy disaster of a sentence, ae stepped off the ledge, spread aer cape, and took off, headed for the other side of the valley. Cavern sat down and watched aem, core half-lightened by aer visit and half-darkened by the fact that ae had to go. 

Wait. What was that? 

Cavern glanced around for the source of the noise - the distant, gentle sounds of a grand piano, too far away for him to pick up the melody, but close enough that he could tell what it was. He stood and flew up to the ridge above his cave, scanning the surrounding area. The cliff here was steep and sharp, and outside of the ledge Cavern called home, there wasn’t enough space nearby for a grand piano; stars, there was barely enough space for himself and all ten or so of his prized belongings. 

But as soon as the melody began, it stopped, its last lingering notes swept away by the wind. Cavern blinked, then shook his head. It was probably nothing; maybe it was the isolation finally getting to him, or maybe he’d mistaken a simple piano for a grand one. Wouldn’t be the first time; he was more partial to woodwinds, anyway. 

Chapter Text

Cavern’s next visitor showed up a few days after Lightning and came in the form of a blue blur that crash-landed in the pool at the top of the waterfall. The intruder resurfaced, spluttering and chirping frantically. Cavern almost laughed at the sight of her and waded into the water to help her out. 

The visitor’s name was Blue. She was about average height, with messy hair woven through with colorful ribbons and, true to her name, an all-blue outfit: a light blue Feasts cape hemmed with white fur and a thick blue tunic and tan pants. A blue handpan with gold tassels and accents hung from a strap on her back. Her mask was smeared with a long ribbon of blue over the eyes and down the cheek, meant to mimic the flow and curve of a river. 

She was younger than Cavern, but even though the age gap was bigger than his and Lightning’s, it still wasn’t very big. She was a Moments moth and one of the few regular visitors to the Peaks who didn’t come there just for winged light. He’d found her sitting on a rock spire playing her handpan more than once without a care in the world. 

I like it here, she’d told him when he’d finally worked up the motivation to bother her. It reminds me of when I was younger, and it’s quiet enough that I can play in peace. 

Couldn't you go to Harmony Hall, then? Cavern had asked out of curiosity. 

She shook her head and nervously tugged her cape a little tighter over her shoulders. 

It’s too dark and cramped, she said. I like the dark, but only in the nighttime and out in the open, where I can see the stars. 

Blue wrung the water out of her hair and shook her cape to get rid of the rest of it, spraying cold droplets on Cavern in the process. 

Sorry! she cried. I didn’t mean to-  

Cavern wiped the water off his mask with his sleeve and shook his head. 

I think I’m the last Descendant you should be worried about spilling water on, he said. 

Blue nodded and looked down at her feet. 

That’s…that’s true, she admitted. 

Cavern offered her a hand, and she took it. He flew them up to the mountain summit and perched there, overlooking the valley. Blue settled down next to him. 

What brings you here? he asked. Just stopping by? 

Blue nodded. She twisted the hem of her cape in her hands. 

I heard the Call, she said quietly. 

Cold shock settled in Cavern’s core. The Call of Eden was something every Descendant knew and few didn’t dread. It was a song that drowned out all else; it flooded the world with music and light and the promise of a kind future if they’d just step through the Eden Gate. Perhaps that worked on moths, but not on anyone else. Beyond the gate lay rebirth, but the pain of death was stronger than anything short of the Call itself. Stepping through that gate was certain death, but it was the only way to silence the Call, if only for a little while. 

He hadn’t heard the Call in a few months. He was one of the lucky ones, he supposed; Blue heard it probably about once a month at minimum, although he’d seen her fight it for twice that. The Call always won in the end, though, and towards the end of those fights she’d been worn out and exhausted and on the brink of breaking down completely. She’d shown up one day and grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him into a hug while sobbing hysterically. 

It hurts! she’d cried. It hurts so much! I can’t make it stop!  

He’d held her as she cried, trying and failing to soothe her until the Call drowned him out completely. He’d gotten Shadow to take her to Eden, being too frightened of the place to go himself. The harsh rock and sharp crystals and bitter, acidic wind were an even worse torment for him than her; she was used to the burning rain of the Hidden Forest and he was used to the soft grass and clear, sweet winds of Daylight Prairie, and he’d only slow her down. 

How did that go? he asked her in the present. 

She shivered. 

Same way it always does. 

No one came back from Eden unchanged. Sometimes it was for the better, sometimes for the worst. It all had a purpose, but that purpose was beyond them. All they really knew was that the end beyond Eden was the closest most of them would get to the forms they’d once had before they’d tucked their wings and fallen from the heavens into bodies made of clay and hope, and that perhaps someday they might return to that form. 

Someday. But not yet. 

Do you… she hesitated. Do you ever wonder about him? 

About who? 

The King. 

The words sent icy cracks through Cavern’s shell. 

Not really, he said, tucking his knees up to his chest. It’s hard to think about him all the way out here. 

I do, she said quietly. 

She lifted her head; somewhere out there, far beyond the clouds, lay the ancient ruins of the old Kingdom and its rotten, starving heart. 

I think he’s the reason we fell, she said. I think he was one of us and made some great mistake that we were sent to fix in his stead. I think it killed him when Eden exploded, and that he’s still there, and it’s our job to redeem him for his failures. I just don’t know if we’re doing it by choice. 

Cavern placed a hand on her knee. 

Does it really matter? he asked gently. We’re here. That’s what’s important. We’re here, and we won’t make the same mistakes as him. 

She nodded and closed her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder. After a moment, she straightened up again and unslung her handpan from over her shoulder, and tapped a few notes out on its rim. She hummed along to it; he recognized it quickly. 

The Call? he guessed. 

She nodded. 

I don’t hear it anymore, she said quietly. I can still remember it, though. 

She drummed out a few more notes, the end of the second measure. The beginning of the third rang in his ears, but something seemed…off about it. Out of the corner of his eye, he realized she’d taken her hands off the pan, and as soon as he realized that, the song was gone. 

A cold, eerie chill settled inside of him, turning his Light sour. He hoped it was just memory that started that measure, not a premonition. 

Blue thankfully lingered a little longer than Lightning did. She proudly showed off her ever-growing music sheet collection, which he had to admit he was a little jealous of; he didn’t have anywhere near the same number of sheets. 

That’s because you never get anything from the spirits! Blue chided him. 

I don’t have the candles! Cavern cried. 

Blue had shaken her head and gently swatted him on the back of the head. 

You should go candle-running with me sometime, then, she said. 

Cavern thought about it for a moment. Really, he did. Then he shrugged. Nah. I’m good. 

They took a few photos with Cavern’s camera before she left. His personal favorite was of him posing overdramatically in Blue’s arms while Blue tried her best not to drop him with all his flailing. She showed him some of her photos: several of her and her other friends goofing off, the Eye of Eden in the distance, and a rapid-fire string of photos showing her in various stages of being blasted around the room. 

I borrowed someone’s krill cat! she said cheerfully by way of explanation. 

Frankly, he was just impressed she’d been able to capture the photos on her own in the first place. 

He also showed her a neat trick he’d figured out by messing with the odd crystals growing around the Peaks: if you scratched at the surface of one and held your hand over it, it’d start draining your light. 

It doesn’t hurt as much as the crystals in Eden do, he added. I wonder if they’re related somehow. 

He and Blue eventually agreed that they were, in fact, probably related somehow. 

Blue took her leave eventually when another friend of hers showed up. She hugged Cavern and stuttered through her goodbyes; she was never very good at those in the first place. Then the duo were off, and he watched them from his perch until he finally lost sight of them when they flew into the entrance cave. 

Chapter Text

Cavern had been two days without his friends when he heard that song again. This time, it was him making it; he was fiddling with his panpipes when he suddenly realized he was playing a familiar tune. Unnerved, he stashed the panpipes away and headed to the river to clear his head with a swim. 

The river was colder the closer you were to the waterfall; this was unpleasant to most Descendants, who’d usually end up at the base of the waterfall trying to leave the crystal cave, but he enjoyed it. Eventually, he even began the treacherous and, more importantly, annoying hike up to the top of the waterfall to jump off. He had to stop and recharge his light every now and then, but that wasn’t really that big of a deal- 

Wait, what was that? 

He tilted his head back. The wind ruffled his hair and cape; it was colder than usual and sent an icy chill up his back. It sounded familiar. It sounded like… 

…like… 

…like the howling of a wind strong enough to pick up and carry boulders. Like the rumble of thunder that warned of each rockfall. Like the rattle of trembling red crystals that ate away at your Light until they burnt you out like a candle. With it came the snippet of a tune, achingly and hauntingly familiar, a familiar Call to home- 

Cavern froze in place, then squeezed his eyes shut. His fingers dug into the cliff face. No. No. Not Eden. It was too soon. It- 

It was gone. The Call was gone. There were no flying boulders, no rumbling thunder, no Light-hungry crystals. No song rattled in his head like a memory, luring him to his death with the promise of a glimpse of home. 

This - this - was his home. Prairie Peaks. Not the star-strewn waters in the sky, filled with the echoing hymns of his siblings, those who chose to return and those who never fell at all- 

Why did they fall? Why did the sky reject them and cast them aside like sparks? Was it something they did? Or was it something they chose? 

He remembered what Blue had said about the King. I think he was one of us. 

He opened his eyes. The sky was dark, and the chill of night had set in. He stepped up to the rim of the ledge he was hiking across and took a step. His unbalanced weight toppled over the edge, and he spread his cape to catch himself. The wind snapped against the fabric and ripped through his hair and his clothes. It worsened the chill, but at this point, he’d take it. It was a welcome distraction to the dread slowly growing in his chest. 

Chapter Text

It was around when Flower finally re-entered the mural of Cavern’s life that it became impossible for him to deny that he was hearing the Call, and, more importantly, near-impossible not to answer it. 

Flower was older than both him and Lightning, and unlike their other friends, she was much older. She’d fallen when the clouds first rolled back from the Village of Dreams, and she always wore the necklace she’d gotten during that period. Like him, she had an affinity for nature, although she preferred the Wind Paths, which would explain quite a bit about her flight style. He’d known her longer than he’d known Lightning, even if he never felt as close to her as he did to aem. 

She always wore her hair in loops. It was pretty much the one consistent trait of hers aside from her bare feet and her mask, which had teardrops painted under the eyes. Today, it seemed she’d gone with a more unusual outfit for her: a knee-high dress with a colorful trim and a cape that looked like it was made of flower petals. Usually, she settled for just a gardening tunic. 

By the time she finally landed gracefully at the mouth of his cave, her footsteps were drowned out by the roaring hymn that clouded his head in every waking second. By night, he dreamed of flying up above the clouds, higher and higher, until he could reach out his hands to touch the stars. He’d been making tea with shaking hands when Flower arrived. She’d tapped him on the shoulder, and he’d almost flung the teapot in her face in surprise. 

Sorry! he cried, startled. 

Flower wiped the tea from her mask with a sleeve. Then, presumably because she was Flower, she licked it off of her sleeve. 

It’s good tea, she remarked. 

He scooped the teapot up off the ground and went to go refill it. Flower settled down on the ground, legs folded under her. 

I’m sorry, she said. I didn’t mean to startle you. 

You didn’t startle me! he said. You just…uh… 

No explanation he could come up with was satisfactory. He sighed. 

It’s okay, he mumbled. 

He returned his attention to the tea. His ears were ringing, and his hands were shaking. It was getting close, far too close to his time to answer the Call. He couldn't fight it forever, and the longer he fended it off, the stronger it would grow until he could hear nothing else. 

He spilled a pot of spices and chirped in alarm, swooping in to clean it up. His work was interrupted by a hand on his wrist. 

Are you alright? Flower asked. 

He nodded. 

Why wouldn’t I be? 

She knew him too well; he could see it. She didn’t believe him. Still, she let go, and he went back to cleaning up his own mess. 

Eventually, Cavern was finally able to make the stupid tea. He handed Flower a cup, then settled down on his hammock. For a few minutes, it was quiet. Tense, but not uncomfortably so. He could feel the strain radiating off of her as she held off from questioning him further, and a bolt of fear shot through him as he wondered if she could tell he was hearing the Call. His mind raced to find something, something to say, something that might fix this… 

I’m going to the Vault, he blurted out. 

Flower froze, teacup halfway to her lips. Her eyes narrowed. 

That’s new. 

I, uh…I was talking to Blue a little while back. She was showing me her music collection and kept teasing me about how much smaller mine is, so I want to show her what-for. 

There! Perfect explanation! 

Flower stared at him for so, so long that it almost made him want to disappear, and his anxiety grew stronger and stronger until- 

She shrugged. You do you, I guess. Why the Vault specifically, though? I could take you through the Trials with me, and that would be twice as efficient. 

He shuddered at the thought of doing Trial of Earth or Trial of Fire, even with company that actually knew what they were doing. 

I…like the ambiance? he said much less gracefully. He cringed at how badly he’d delivered that lie; her suspicions were definitely going to be piqued after that. 

Flower shot him a dubious look, then shook her head. 

I’d ask why you’re like this, but I think that’d be the pot calling the sherd fragile. 

He let out a breath. His shoulders slumped. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t wrong; he was going to the Vault, but he wasn’t going to stay for long. Maybe grab some wax and then take the path on the highest floor. It’d be less awkward than the possibility of running into one of his friends at Aviary Village, at least, if more strenuous. 

Anyway, he said, rapidly changing the subject, What brings you to my domain? 

He spread his arms, then had to catch himself from falling over. Flower giggled. 

I was getting my Winged Lights back, she said. I got attacked by a krill in Golden Wasteland. 

He nodded. That…that sounded like Flower. 

Wait, which krill? 

Flower shifted awkwardly. 

The ones in Treasure Reef. 

It took a moment for that to sink in. 

What were you doing there?! he cried, befuddled. 

I tried to save a moth. It…didn’t go according to plan. 

Ah. That made sense. Flower tended to massively overestimate her ability to avoid krill. It would’ve been funny if he hadn’t been a victim of it himself a few times; by now, he’d learned not to let Flower lead in Golden Wasteland because that always ended in disaster and someone else having to save them. 

Well, at least she wasn’t Shadow. Shadow was worse, but Shadow was also actually good at it; unfortunately, that just made him cocky, which made him put himself at risk more often, which inevitably led to him getting flung halfway across the Shipwreck along with whatever poor passengers were tagging along with him. 

What about the moth? 

She shrugged. I showed him where the Winged Lights were and told him to come back when he was older and less scared of krill. 

That wasn’t a 100% guarantee, unfortunately. Blue was still terrified of krill, for instance, to the extent that on one of the few times he’d tagged along with her to Golden Wasteland, he’d had to drag her through the Graveyard to keep her from falling out of the sky during an anxiety attack. He resolved himself never to travel there with just her again after that incident. 

Do you need me to help you? Cavern asked. 

She shook her head. I have recharge spells if it’s somewhere hard to reach. 

He bit his tongue to keep from saying that there were faster ways to reach the two absurdly-placed Winged Lights that didn’t involve using a recharge spell. He didn’t want to interrupt what was clearly a laid-out plan with his antics, and besides, the longer she stayed here, the more nervous he became that she was going to figure out what was wrong, and she might try to make him go through Eden with her, and he- 

I just wanted to see you, she continued. 

He blinked, startled. Warmth washed through his core. 

Well, I’m glad you did, then, he said. It gets lonely out here sometimes. 

You could always stop by Aviary Village, she said. You don’t have to stay, but most of us would be happy to chat. She paused. Except for Yellow. 

…who’s Yellow? 

She flicked a hand dismissively. He’s like Blue if Blue was an overachiever. I’m starting to think all the Descendants who name themselves after colors are cursed with anxiety. 

Well…from his admittedly limited experience, she wasn’t wrong. She was pretty, scarily dead-on, actually. 

She stood. 

Well, I’ll be getting out of your hair, she said. Thank you for the tea and the conversation. It was nice to see you. 

Nice to see you, too, he said. 

She stepped up to him and held out her arms. He fell into the hug, and for just a moment, the Call seemed to dim down, just a bit. 

Take care of yourself out here, Flower said, ruffling his hair. 

Hey! he cried, trying to fix it with his fingers. She giggled and started towards the entrance. 

See you around, Cavern. 

She leapt off the ledge and was gone. He paused at the cave’s mouth to watch her go; it wasn’t until her vapor trail disappeared into the mouth of the crystal cave that he finally made a move. He took one last glance at his little cave, then at the rocky outcropping he knew led to the boat out of here. Then he sighed. 

Here goes nothing. 

Chapter Text

Finding Cavern in Prairie Peaks was about as surprising as the Sun rising in the morning or Eden spitting out crystals at inconvenient moments. So when Lightning showed up and Cavern wasn’t there, to say ae were a little concerned would be an understatement. Lightning was always more fond of Golden Wasteland, and if Prairie Peaks might as well be Cavern’s domain, then the Battlefield might as well be Lightning’s. Ae’d sit at the top of the ruined temple’s spires and watch the krill circle for hours for no other reason except that ae found the ugly bastards fascinating. 

Lightning and Cavern were a match made in Eye of Eden. Literally; The duo met in Eden when Lightning found Cavern - who staunchly refused to go unless the Call made him - hiding behind a pillar in the final stretch, too frightened to move and too lost in the Call to turn back. Lightning had grabbed Cavern by the scruff of his neck and dragged him through the final stretch, all the while cursing Daylight Prairie moths and whatever veteran thought it’d be funny to dump one here. Ae had been very surprised to learn that Cavern wasn’t a moth; he’d been around since Season of Passage and was just a massive coward. 

Anyway, all of that was besides the point. The point was that Cavern wasn’t in Prairie Peaks where he should be, and it was starting to freak Lightning out. 

Lightning managed to track down another mutual friend of theirs - Shadow, an ikeman who thought he was more dashing than he actually was - and convince him to come with aem to look for Cavern. They were eventually joined by Blue, a timid little creature just shy of her twelfth star and one of the few Descendants who liked to linger in the Peaks too, although not to the extent of Cavern. Together, the trio set off for the Peaks in search of their missing tree-hugger buddy in the hopes that maybe three eyes might be enough to find him this time. 

They split up in the Peaks to search for him. Blue went for the less well-known spots only a regular visitor would know about. Shadow, who had the most Light out of all of them, went for the hard-to-reach spots: the mountain peaks and that one stupid area full of caves and birds. Lightning went for the more familiar places: the firepits, the crystal cave, the hot spring, the river. But there was no sign of Cavern. They regrouped back at the firepit near the entrance. 

No sign of him, Shadow said. 

I didn’t find anything, either, Lightning said with a frustrated huff of breath. 

Both of their gazes turned to Blue, who shrank back a little. 

I-I found his nest, she said meekly. It was at the top of the waterfall. But I didn’t find anything useful there. 

Lightning huffed and rubbed aer temple. Aer shell felt like it was going to split open there; whether it was from frustration or worry or both, ae couldn't tell. 

Let’s check the rest of the Prairie, Lightning said. He can’t have gone far. 

The trio climbed onto the boat and set off back to Prairie Caverns. They tore Daylight Prairie apart in search of their friend, from the common area to Sanctuary Isle to the temple. There was no sign of him. 

Maybe he’s in the Isle? Shadow suggested. 

Lightning shot him a withering glare. The pressure came back; it was definitely frustration causing it this time. The last thing ae wanted was to backtrack, but aer worry overcame aer frustration eventually. Ae sighed. 

Fine, I guess it’s worth a shot. 

Chapter Text

He wasn’t in Isle, either. 

They took the Wind Paths because it was more convenient than working backward and emerged in the Cave of Prophecies. They immediately nearly crashed into a vet with a skull-shaped blue hat, a blanket-shaped turquoise cape, and a potted crystal on their back. 

After some frantic chirping, bickering, and Shadow’s fireworks staff going off on “accident” a couple times, Blue was able to explain that the newcomer was one of their friends. Their name was Crystal, and once she learned what they were up to, she immediately agreed to help. 

They combed the Isle top to bottom, and even went through the Trials in search of him, but found no trace of Cavern. It was like he’d vanished off the face of the Earth. 

Lightning sat down on the edge of the Temple isle and stared out at the shifting lavender-stained sand. Ae was nothing but stubborn, but even ae was beginning to feel tired and hopeless. 

He’s probably in the Forest, Crystal suggested. He is a nature lover, and it’s the last place with a lot of it before Valley of Triumph. 

He wasn’t in the Forest, either. 

In the Forest, they picked up another stray - Yellow, an exhausted, overworked chibi who took everything far too seriously. 

He might be in the Valley? Yellow suggested. He could be doing a full candle run. 

Lightning had to bite aer metaphorical tongue to keep from pointing out that Cavern hated candle runs, especially solo ones, and preferred to mooch off of his friends on the sparse occasions he found a cosmetic he liked and couldn't afford on his own. Not that Lightning minded, since you’d have to pry the Stretching Lamplighter’s cape and hat off of aer body. 

So off to the Valley of Triumph they went, piled in a tower on Yellow’s wobbly shoulders. 

Chapter Text

Cavern wasn’t in the Valley, either. They did, however, pick up more strays: Ash and Moss, another pair of Blue’s friends, who were standing at the gate before one of the races arguing about the merits of catching all the light and whether or not that affected how much wax you’d receive at the end of it. Lightning, by this point irritable and stressed to a fault, broke it up by shouting at them that it didn’t matter and you got the same amount of wax every time, before Blue stepped in to keep Ash from trying to strangle aem. 

I heard he was headed to the Vault, Moss chimed in when they learned about their task. Admittedly, I heard that from Flower, but… 

That’s good enough for me, Lightning muttered. 

Flower and Cavern were a much less unlikely friendship than Lightning and Cavern. They didn’t hang out as much, and Flower was a bit of a drama queen sometimes, but if anyone had any idea where Cavern was, it’d be Flower. 

Speaking of the Eden Elder, they found Flower chatting with a handful of other Descendants in the Golden Wasteland common area on their way to the Vault. It didn’t take much to convince her to come with them. 

Admittedly, the jaunt through Golden Wasteland went terribly even by their currently very, very low standards. Blue was the only one of them who was even approaching good at swimming, so when search through Treasure Reef was more like her search through Treasure Reef while the rest of them sat on the shore and pretended to be doing something. 

The rest of Golden Wasteland was little better. Yellow was attacked by a dark dragon by the Forgotten Ark and had to be rescued by Shadow, who spent the rest of the trip carrying Yellow slung over his shoulder like a sack of candles and lightly teasing him for somehow running afoul of the most easily avoidable dragon in the Wasteland. Lightning had to save Crystal from another dragon in the Graveyard, and Moss had to rescue Flower from a puddle of toxic water at the Shipwreck when a crab knocked her into it at low light. 

At least it can’t get worse? Blue said weakly. 

It did, in fact, get worse, because Ash accidentally opened the temple gate before they were done, causing a panic as the group scrambled for the safety of either the temple or the Battlefield’s ruins. 

I’m going to push that stupid crabhead into a rain of rocks, Lightning muttered as ae watched Flower and Blue run in frantic, chirping terror from a pursuing dragon. 

I said I was sorry, Ash said sullenly. 

He has to be in the Vault, Shadow said when they all finally managed to make it inside the temple. 

I dunno, he could be in the Battlefield and we didn’t see him because Ash set the dragons loose, Crystal said, shooting Ash a glare. 

How many times do I have to apologize for that?!  

Lightning buried aer head in aer hands. Then a cold, cruel thought wormed its way into aer head. 

What if he’s in the Eye of Eden? ae asked. 

The others fell silent, exchanging wary or nervous looks. All of them except Shadow, at least, who looked delighted at the prospect of going to Eden, and Yellow, who was about twenty seconds from passing out in Blue’s lap. 

Let’s check the Vault first before we go that far, okay? Flower suggested. It might've been aer imagination, but ae could've sworn that ae heard a tremor in her voice. 

Chapter Text

To none of them’s surprise by this point, they found two more strays in the Vault. They were Shadow’s friends this time; an old, old Descendant named Sparrow and her moth, Cloud, who was having a temper tantrum in Starlight Desert. Sparrow shot them all a despairing look when she first saw them. 

Crystal was able to calm Cloud down, and they set off again, this time with two more sets of eyes - well, one and a half, because Cloud was the kind of oblivious that only a moth could be and kept letting go of Sparrow so they could bump into walls. 

Cavern was nowhere to be seen in Starlight Desert, nor in Crescent Oasis. 

Is there any chance he’s in the Office? Sparrow asked. 

Lightning shook his head. 

He doesn’t have the right cape, and I’m the only one of our friends who does. 

Shadow coughed. 

…except him. 

I haven’t seen him since he dragged me through the Trials, Shadow said. That was a few weeks ago, at least. 

Sparrow hummed skeptically, but said nothing. 

They split up and checked the Repository and Archives next. Lightning went with the Archives group, who, despite having more than enough people to open the door, decided to make Yellow chibi-fall them in instead. 

Wouldn’t the door have been more efficient? Lightning asked. 

Doors are boring! Ash said cheerfully. 

They combed the Archives, but found nothing. When they re-emerged, they found the Repository group sitting in front of the wide-open four-person door, looking just as disheartened as Lightning now felt. 

He has to be somewhere higher up in the Vault, then, Lightning said, trying desperately to convince aerself more than anything. 

Ash and Blue exchanged looks. Neither said a word, despite obviously being troubled; they must have come to the same conclusion as aem. 

They pushed onward, up into the upper stories of the Vault. There was nothing. Nothing at all. Not until they reached the top story, the entrance to Eden, and something familiar caught Lightning’s eye. 

What is it? Blue asked, tailing behind Lightning. 

Lightning knelt. Pressed into a pile of sand - or maybe dust - was the outline of a sandal print. Cavern’s sandal. 

A cold, poisonous feeling crept into Lightning’s very core as every fear ae had about their friend’s fate seemed suddenly immediately validated. 

He’s in Eden, ae said quietly, not wanting to believe it despite the plain-as-day evidence in front of them. 

The journey to Eden was about as fun as it usually was. They huddled together in groups; Blue with Ash and Moss, Flower with Yellow, Cloud and Sparrow behind Shadow. Lightning was left with Crystal, who looked about as ecstatic as an angry crab. 

If we find him, I’m locking him in his nest for a week, she said. 

You’re used to Eden, though, aren’t you? Lightning asked. 

It’s not about Eden. It’s about him going there  alone  when he’s so hopelessly bad at making it through even Golden Wasteland unscathed. 

She had a point, at least. Now that she’d pointed it out, Lightning found aerself growing miffed that he hadn’t asked aem to take him, either. Lightning would’ve been…well, not happy with it, but okay with it. 

The gate opened with an earth-shaking groan. Shadow flipped his fireworks staff off his back and held it in the air triumphantly. 

Into the eye of the storm! he declared, before turning and skipping up the stairs like he was headed towards the Forest Temple and not certain death. 

Sparrow sighed. I don’t know where he got the recklessness from, but I hope it wasn’t me. 

The trip through the first area of Eden was, to put it lightly, almost as amusingly terrible as the first performance Lightning had ever seen at the Village Theatre. The younger Descendants took the two ground routes, while the older ones got roped into rescuing Shadow when he inevitably got hit by rocks trying to fly up to the ruined house. Lightning ended up dragging his Lightless body through the safer land route while the others flew with much more skill than him, landing safely on the cliff top. 

They eventually all made it to the top and pushed on into the second stretch. They’d barely made it twenty seconds in when they immediately ran afoul of a dark dragon. 

Scatter! Blue cried, bolting back for the safety of the ruined house. Flower was hot on her heels. 

Lightning resigned himself to his fate before realizing something odd: the dragon’s light hadn’t turned red. Did it not see them? Or… 

A white-haired head popped up behind the dragon’s. The rider waved cheerfully. 

Hello! She chirped. Don’t mind Mr Cuddles. He’s nice, I promise! 

Mr…Cuddles? Sparrow asked, sounding halfway amused for once. 

Yes! He’s my friend!  

As if to emphasize the point, the Descendant climbed up to the top of the dragon’s head and hugged one of its horns. It rumbled lowly, and the Descendant giggled. 

Yellow started laughing. 

Friends, this is Silk, he said by way of explanation when everyone understandably started looking at him like he was insane. Don’t ask me how she tamed a dark dragon, but she did. Somehow. 

I like to take moths through Eden! Silk said cheerily. They’re all very scared of Mr Cuddles at first, but they get used to him eventually! 

She scritched a spot behind Mr Cuddles’s horn, and Mr Cuddles rumbled again. 

Anyway, what are you doing here? Need a ride? Silk asked, propping an elbow on one of Mr Cuddles’s armored ridges. 

No, Shadow said. Well, yes. Well…kinda? 

We’re looking for my friend, Lightning said, pushing in front of Shadow. His name is Cavern. We think- no, we know he came through here earlier. 

Silk tilted her head curiously. What does he look like? 

He has spiky hair with twigs in it and a white and green cape, Lightning said. 

Silk nodded sagely. I haven’t seen him, but I’d be happy to help you look!  

Relief flooded through Lightning, although part of aem was still trying to figure out whether or not this was all some sort of strange dream. 

Let’s split up, then, Moss said, finally overcoming their sheer bewilderment at the situation. Silk and the veterans can take the more dangerous areas, and the moths and the younger Descendants can search the usual path. If anyone finds him, set off a firework. 

The Descendants chirped and hummed in agreement, and the group split up to fulfill their assigned tasks and search areas. Lightning flipped aer fireworks staff off aer back and glanced up at the churning sky. Ae closed aer eyes and sighed. 

Please let him be okay.