Sunny listened to Kimmy's rambling explanation with a bit of a smirk. From the sound of things, several people had inadvertently ended up in the Realm, with no indication as to how. At least, not from what Kimmy had said. "So some of you went to a swamp, and some ended up being performers for Venger? Just how many of these so-called 'Outworlders' are here anyway?" She smirked as she imagined just what kind of performance her sister had performed for the Dark Lord.It was then that she heard the whispery voice! She squeaked out a gasp of excitement! "Blaze is just around the next corner?!? Ohhh!" And she took off at a fast skip, grabbing onto Glitter and his lantern as she went.
"Kimmy!" Sunny called, running after the Kenderkin. "For pity's sake girl, wait up! You don't know what you will run into!"
She heard the others thundering after her as she rounded the corner, skidding to a stop in surprise as she looked about her in awe. They now stood in a cavern, a rather huge one. The sheer size of it, however, was dwarfed by what was in it.
Treasure. Everywhere she looked, things were stacked haphazardly in large piles. Coin, gems, jewelry, even a sword. Sunny stepped forward, looking about herself in awe. She had never seen so much wealth in one place before, and she knew more than a few Netherworlders who were avid hoarders.
A loud roar disrupted her thoughts and she whirled to her right to face the noise, just as a blur of bright scarlet barreled into her, tumbling her to the floor. Now flat on her back, she looked up to see what from her vantage point looked to be an absolutely monstrous mouth gaping wide. Her arms were pinned to the rocky floor beneath her; even with her strength she couldn't get them free when she tried. Unable to do anything, she shut her eyes tightly, turning her face to the side as she waited for death to claim her.
"Blaze, no, stop!" Matthew's voice rang through the cavern, and Sunny opened one eye to see the creature's jaw snap shut. The scarlet head turned, eyes blinking a moment, before giving a joyful mew. One leap from the creature, and Sunny found she was no longer pinned. She followed the dragon's progress with her eyes as she gasped to regain her breath from the sudden fright.
Blaze, for his part, bounded over to Matthew, capering about him as if glad to see the young man. Matthew dropped to his knees, allowing the dragon to rest its chin on his shoulder as he scratched behind one eye ridge. "You are safe, thank all that be." Blaze purred his agreement, gently butting his head against Matthew's cheek. "But that was a naughty thing you did, giving Lady Sunny such a fright." Blaze made what sounded to be a sound of disappointment. "It is all right, little one. You were only protecting yourself, I know."
Sunny climbed to her feet, eyeing the length of the scarlet-colored dragon from head to foot. Little one? He is easily as long as I am tall! The scales appeared glossy to her in the light that Glitter's lantern cast
"Yes, he seems to be all right," she commented, brushing the dirt from her dress. She looked around her, pursing her lips in thought, then looked to the others. "This must belong to Blaze, his hoard. We have no right to touch any of this . . . " her next words she directed specifically at Kimmy ". . . so leave it be."
"Now that we have Blaze, we should take him back to Macula for safekeeping, I think. What say the rest of you?" She paused, then thought, And perhaps I should do something about those marks as we leave. I would not want the way to this place marked quite so clearly.
