Orpheus watches the odd silver-white form of the Courser leading them into the Ruined Kingdom with only the slightest amount of apprehension. He's not too proud to admit that upon first meeting, he had been terrified of the strange creature- who wouldn't be, when faced with a form so familiar and yet so incredibly strange?- and he still can't quite quell the uneasiness he feels. He had never seen a Cavedweller previously; he had barely even known they existed. Rumors and stories mentioned them at times, of course, but he'd discounted them all as inexperienced Coursers seeing things that simply did not exist.

How wrong he had been.

That the Cavedweller was an entirely helpful (and shockingly pleasant, all things considered) presence definitely helped ease most of his misgivings; after doing his due diligence of research after being led to the Surface by him, Orpheus had learned that many Coursers were at least somewhat familiar with the idea of a silver, eyeless Courser saving the odd party of adventurers here and there. He'd even been scolded for his ignorance by Altassian; a truly humbling experience.

Orpheus did not want to remain ignorant. He especially did not wish to discriminate.

When Screech had ventured out of the Ruined Kingdom to find him yesterday, Orpheus had recieved him with warmth and care. The Cavedweller had at first seemed heartbreakingly surprised by his offer of a meal and shelter and had wanted to decline, but Orpheus managed to wear him down through sheer pigheadedness. Hospitality was something Orpheus took seriously, and he was not wont to allow any Courser to leave his home hungry or tired. Screech had been both.

The Cavedweller had eaten what Orpheus had prepared- warm oat mash with thick slices of banana, a healthy portion of molasses, and dotted with raisins- with such gusto that he had given him another portion, then a pile of leftovers to feed to the somewhat-horrifying companion strapped to his side. A mimic, of all things- though it seemed neutral enough, all said. Only after Screech was comfortably settled on a makeshift bed of blankets (the mimic placed very precisely on the floor behind him) had Orpheus asked his purpose on the Surface.

Screech had detailed a few strange happenings in the Ruined Kingdom- most linked to the earthquake from the month prior- and a request for assistance in searching out a few of the deeper caverns in the Moor for a few Cavedwellers that had ventured into unknown territory a few days previous and had yet to return.

"In all honesty," Screech rasped, "my family thinks we should leave well enough alone. But things have been strange as of late, and...Perhaps it is time for Cavewellers to venture beyond our old ways. I do not wish to live in secrecy."

Orpheus had readily agreed to gather a few available Coursers for a short expedition- and he'd sent a message to the Lock and Key with Kaeyi once morning had arrived. Screech spent the night curled into a tight ball on his floor; he'd woken after Orpheus had, strange eyeless face swinging back and forth. There was the faintest clicking hum emanating from the Cavedweller as he did so; Orpheus filed the information away for later. It made sense that a creature without eyes would find its own way to navigate the world, and he knew enough about bats to recognize echolocation.

Though he had sent quite a few requests for help, the first Courser that arrived was the grouchy- and yet well-proven- Runyalos, his strange companion Arte in tow.

Runyalos, familiar with the Cavedweller, had no interest in prolonging the debt he owed the strange Courser. Arte, in their limited means of communication, had made it clear he wished to venture once more into the Ruined Kingdom below. Runyalos couldn't quite parse the other Courser still, but he seemed competent enough despite the strangeness of his situation, so he welcomed him along.

And so now the four Coursers are venturing far below the surface. The first obstacle they encounter is a familiar field of greenery, vines hanging from the low ceiling; the living garden. Runyalos cannot fight the shudder that overtakes him as they pass each overtaken Courser, fur prickling. Even though they know the safest path through, anxiety still eats at him- one wrongly-placed hoof and he could join them.

Arte followed him silently, eyes taking in the world around him with obvious interest; he hadn't shrunk away from Screech in the slightest, despite the Cavedwellers rather grotesque appearance. Instead he had seemed intensely interested, and had watched the exchanges between Orpheus and Screech with undisguised curiosity. Perhaps such creatures were entirely unfamliar to Arte; Runyalos certainly had never seen a Cavedweller before. He'd barely even heard about them before Screech had saved all their lives just days previously.

"I know a shortcut," Screech says once they've crossed the field; Orpheus consents for the other Courser to take the lead readily enough.

Runyalos and Arte follow close behind, content to follow.

The path ahead slopes ever-downwards and onwards.