After satisfying his hunger on the tasty plants growing in the previous chamber, and harvesting some to take with him for later, Rufus trotted merrily into the next cavern, where a pool of water was formed from the groundwater dripping down the cave walls. He peered into the pool, admiring the strange, brightly colored creatures swaying in the currents. What a beautiful place! There was no treasure to be had in here, but nonetheless it seemed like a waste to just move right on. He’d rest his legs for a while there, Rufus decided, settling down on the floor.

He’d been doing fairly well for himself on this dungeon trip, having only had to rely on a chance encounter with Velasco once so far, and for a fairly minor slip-up compared to some of Velasco’s previous rescues of him. Maybe soon he wouldn’t need to keep hoping Velasco would save him every time something went wrong. 

The thought made him proud, but also perhaps a little sad. Why was that? Did he like being saved by Velasco? 

Maybe a little. 

Perhaps, Rufus decided, he should seek out Velasco on the surface sometime, and try to make friends with him outside the context of chance encounters whenever he was in trouble. He smiled to himself as he stared thoughtfully into the pool. Make their friendship official. That sounded nice.