-
Candi took one last calming breathe before cautiously moving over the edge and into the entrance of the mine shaft. Slowly she propelled down, shaking so hard she worried she would lose her grip. The descent felt like it was taking forever, and she quietly cried to herself as the light became more distant. " D-darling, I-I don't think I can make it, I'm so scared!!"
She yelled below as she completely stopped moving.
-
Blinkie stretched, and began to set up trio of tents.
"We should set up camp for the night. Remember, two ponies to a tent, safety in numbers."
She looked around, and smiled, pointing to Whirl Wind.
"I trust you, Windy. C'mon, help me finish our tent."
The two other tents were already set up, standing under the strands of moonlight.
-
"So, um, who am I staying with?" Red asked Blinkie, a little nervous about being alone with another pony. "I'm not good with being alone with people, it gets really Awkward for me."
-
"Well, since Candi and Whim are undoubtedly staying in the same tent, and me and Windy are, then you and Ferr should be. But, you don't have to, if you don't want to."
She tossed her a sleeping bag, a pillow and a lantern.
-
"I'll just deal with it..." Red said to herself.
"After all, it's not like I haven't had a sleep over or something like that before, right?" Red laughed at this last statement, then shook her head to clear her paranoia. She felt as if she was being watched...
-
Whim looked up the shaft, seeing that it was mostly top soil all the way down. He nodded, and yelled up, "Stay right there, I have an idea!" Whim then started to ascend the wall of the shaft climbing about three quarters of the way up. When he felt comfortable with it, he closed his eyes and felt the ground at the edge where Candi was. He carefully changed the density of the ground at the edge, forcing it out into a platform and readied himself to descend slowly, changing the density at the point where that platform touched the wall. A make-shift earth elevator. He had done this a couple times, but not this distance. It might be tricky. After the platform was set, he opened his eyes and yelled up, "Step onto the platform. I will lower you down!"
-
Whirl blushed when Blinkie said they were sharing a tent. He tried to hide it as he helped her set it up. "S-so uhh you do this for a living huh?" he asked her while he was pushing in one of the tents stakes.
-
Candi forced her eyes open and looked for the platform in the dull light. Seeing it below her she tentatively reached out her back legs until she could touch it. She tested the ground, applying more weight to the dirt platform. Feeling it was secure she let herself fall onto it, taking in a deep breathe. Ever so carefully she fell to her stomach and wiggled to the end of the platform sticking her head over, "O-ok I'm on it, what now?"
-
Whim smiled up at her reassuringly. "Just sit tight. We will be down at the bottom soon. I have you." He slowly lowers himself, unable to repel because he needs to stay in contact with the wall. He gradually lowers the platform with Candi on it until they reach the bottom. When the platform touched the ground, Whim collapsed onto the floor, completely wiped out from the expendeture of his magic. "We've... arrived... M'lady..." he panted from the ground, kicking up dust with each word.
-
Candi jumped off the dirt platform and ran to Whim. She laid down next to him and stroked his mane reassuringly, "Darling, you could of just said some reassuring words and coaxed me down. You didn't have to drain yourself like this." She looked at him sadly, and set her lips on his forehead. "Cmon, our tent is set up, lets get you in there so you can rest." She pushed against him, trying to get him to get back up.