"Always make sure your most basic of needs are met before helping others. You will not be of any use to them if you are dead; don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm." - Amira's Notebook, Chapter Two: Survival Underground

She was licking the walls. They tasted good- and they usually had water dripping down them, too. Her mother had always emphasised the importance of staying hydrated; did it matter how? Sartoris thought not.

 

When the rock began to lose her interest, she turned and looked for something else to investigate. The trip-trap of tiny hooves across stone rang softly through the cavern, and her end of her tail swished softly across the ground. Oops. That had been another thing her mother taught her- carry her tail off the ground!

 

"We must always present ourselves the way we want to be seen," her mother had said. "I don't mean to say 'always look presentable'; I mean that in order to survive, sometimes you have to play a part."

 

Right now, Sartoris wanted to play the part of the intrepid explorer. Her head high, she scoured the dungeon for treasure- bountiful riches beyond imagination!

 

She skidded to a stop suddenly, ears pricked. There was a...squelching sound. She'd never heard that before! Her nose fell to the ground as she sniffed at the mossy rocks to her left.

 

Treasure! Sartoris' eyes widened to match the single eye of the green pile of goop in front of her. It bobbed softly and seemed to be constantly melting into itself - small globs of slime detached themselves and rejoined the main body in an eternal cycle. Perhaps it was edible?

 

Sartoris licked it. It was sweet, with a bitter aftertaste. Not snack-worthy, after all.