---
Fenna blinked, then nodded, a soft flush on her cheeks. She thinks, "My Zep is becoming romantic."
Star groaned like an old man.
"Yeah, yeah," Zephyr muttered. "You're coming too."
They stood at the cave entrance, watching the slow curl of sulfurous mist trail out from the shadows. No turning back now. Together, they stepped into the volcano's mouth.
The tunnel grew hotter with every step.
Zephyr wiped a bead of sweat from his brow as they descended deeper into the volcano, the walls glowing faintly with threads of molten red, as if veins of lava pulsed beneath the stone skin. The air was thick… thicker than any forest humidity they had faced. And it clung to their clothes like a second layer of steam-drenched armor.
Star padded ahead cautiously, sniffing the air. His black eyes were alert, wings slightly fanned for balance. He occasionally paused, tilting his head, nostrils twitching.
"We're close," Zephyr murmured.
