Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

2.35 Where is Here

Luca looked around slowly while he checked the map. Well he could tell that geographically he was in the Harpy mountains. That did not however tell him where he was. He was in a cave of some description the walls and stalactites gave that away the bit that was concerning for Luca was that he could a) see around the cave despite there being no light source. While b) despite being able to see he could see no entrance or exit to the chamber he was in.

[Lucky: I’m here, not sure where here is but I’m fine?] Luca offered his reassurances as he continued to look around. Not so much because he wanted them to come find him, but more because the noise they were producing was distracting.

[Rӓv: Lucky? Geeze what the hell happened? Where did you go?]

[Lucky: Good question, better question would be how did I get here? Unfortunately I don’t have any answers.]

“Kyuh, Kyuh, Kuh, La.” Lil’ Miss chirped merrily. Unlike before though Luca got a sense that Lil’ Miss meant it as a welcome. Luca tried for several minutes to figure out what the welcome was for but had no real success. It was like talking to a very young child you could get a general meaning but the precise thought process was elusive. Eventually Luca gave up on that answer and asked a different question.

“How do I get out of here?”

“Kyu, Kyuh, Ki.” And that didn’t help either. Same same, was not a clear answer since Luca didn’t know how he’d gotten in.

[Rӓv: Lucky who are you talking to?]

[Lucky: Lil’ Miss.]  A cacophony of voices followed, and Luca couldn’t distinguish what anyone was saying.

[Rӓv: Shut up. We agreed I’d be talking.] Rӓv’s shout left Luca’s ears ringing but silence reigned afterwards.

[Rӓv: The dragon is with you?]

[Lucky: Yep, Me and Lil’ Miss in a cave with no obvious exit or entrance.]

[Rӓv: Your glasses are back here. The replica brought them back from the control room. I also cannot get any visuals from your contacts.] Luca c****d his head; he could still see the map so obviously he was still wearing his contacts. A quick pat down showed that he still had all his belt pouches and his Fae weapons.

[Lucky: I don’t know only thing missing is the glasses. Everything seems to be working on my end.]

[Rӓv: I can see your position relatively but you’re inside a mountain from what I can tell. Should we land and look or?]

[Lucky: Don’t land, that would likely spoil all our plans, I’ll get out on my own and we’ll go from there.]

[Rӓv: Are you sure?]

[Lucky: all of you versus just me. I’m sure. Tails you have command.]

[Tails: I have command.] Luca nodded and then put the others from his mind for the moment. He couldn’t do anything for them at the moment.

[Lucky: Rӓv take me off the voice channel, messages if we need to talk.]

[Rӓv: Removing you from voice.] Luca waited till the world went silent before lifting Lil’ Miss off his shoulders to hold her in front of him.

“Lucky follow Lil’ Miss?” He didn’t have any other ideas and at least Lil’ Miss had given the impression that she knew the way in.

“Kyuh, Kyu.” The sentiment of transient joy was sufficient agreement for Luca. Though the underlying fell of Follow play, was more that a little concerning. He didn’t know that he could play in quite the way a dragon might like. Lil’ Miss flapped out of Luca’s hands and did a figure eight in the air before she shot off across the cave.

Luca trotted after her. Across the cave Luca found a group of three stalactites overlapping each other. There was just enough gap from him to slide through amongst the rocks. Luca passed through there and came to a steep corridor. Luca started up the corridor only to have to pause and brace himself as Lil’ Miss came rocketing down the corridor aimed straight at his chest. Luca slid back two steps as he caught her.

“Kyuh, Kuh. Kyu Ki La.” Well that sounded like grumbling and the feel behind it was annoyed but it wasn’t true anger. More like the reaction between Ghost and Rӓv. Lil’ Miss circled around Luca’s arms and up onto his shoulders before letting out an unhappy chuff. A bright red puff ball shot down the tunnel. Luca automatically braced. Really, he probably should have dodged aside but he didn’t really think about it immediately.

The red ball slammed into him the same as Lil’ Miss had. Luca found himself with a armful of red  bird? Well it and feathers, a beak, and wings so Luca was calling it a bird. Even if it was entirely too round, flight should not be possible. Still that certainly seemed like what it was doing before it crashed into him.

“Cheep, Chirp. Cheep, Cheep.” The bird twittered out a greeting that sounded like a bossy big sister. It was a very strange feeling. The bird popped itself free from Luca’s arms and started a conversation with Lil’ Miss. Luca decided to just let them have at it as he focused on climbing up the tunnel. At the top of the tunnel Luca was met with another large cavern this one almost fully covered in water. The small ledge he was standing on seemed to be the only clear space.

Luca looked around and the vision thing was really starting to confuse him. He could see clearly through the water and even in bright light that shouldn’t have been possible. As nice as it was to be able to see in the dark Luca was concerned about the sudden cause of the change.

“Kyuh, Kuh.” Lil’ Miss crooned and then slipped off Luca’s shoulders and dove straight into the water. Luca had figured that was going to be the only direction he could go so the, this way, prompt was unnecessary though with any Luck she might show him where the presumably underwater tunnel entrance was. Pulling his goggles from his bag Luca slipped them on.

Luca slid into the water even if he could technically see diving into a strange water was never recommended. Well to be far getting in strange water sources was not recommended at all but Luca had choices get in or stay where he was. His second one wasn’t helpful so in he went. The water actually didn’t feel that cold. It was bordering on warm honestly. That was a concern in and of itself warm water required a heat source after all.

Luca swam across the surface in the direction the Lil’ Miss had gone while the bird circled above. Just in front of Luca the bird gave a long call and dove into the water. With no better option Luca dove under the water. He immediately spotted the tunnel entrance. It was a long way down. Luca resurfaced and then took a few quick short breathes. He didn’t do a lot of free diving but he did know the basics.

Diving down Luca swam hard. Down. Down into the tunnel and then swimming and pulling himself along the tunnel as it sloped back up again. As Luca broke out of the tunnel and kicked towards the surface a realisation almost made him inhale the water. He didn’t feel strained at all. It was like he wasn’t even holding his breathe.