kinda sucky adventure

Barkley did not like caves.

For starters, his best friend? Vivi? Died in a cave after a magical bird ambushed the two of them.

That and... cave cliffs were tough to climb! He learned that while he was scaling not just one, but two cliffs to avenge Vivi.

So... why was he in this awful, awful cave right now?

"Please help me!" Duskie yelled. Another bird, thankfully not the same kind that had ambushed Vivi, had snatched Duskie in its large beak and flew him over to the same awful, awful cave that Vivi had died in. "Please..." Tears fell from his eyes- water joining soapy foam in the rain falling from him above, getting all over Barkley, Hibiscus, and Siffrin.

"Looks like we're in a foamy situation, huh?" Siffrin forced a grin, and Barkley could tell that he was... not doing great. And if Barkley could be honest right now- neither was he.

He looked up and tried not to see Vivi crying out in Duskie's place. His paws stood on the same ground that Vivi had died on- the same ground he had dug her bones out of to move her to a proper grave.

This was a different kind of magical bird. This was a different kind of situation. The bird had gotten her from behind- had killed her in one strike. Duskie was still alive- just snatched up like common prey.

A flash of light shot from Hibiscus' paws, and the bird flinched, causing it to drop Duskie and for Duskie to fall. Instinctively, red wings appeared on his back, and he floated down towards safety- towards the three of them.

"Let's get out of here..." Duskie mumbled, and Barkley wished he could, but...

"We still have to defeat that bird, or it'll just dive back and pick one of us up..." Siffrin said, looking up at the bird. "Here, I'll handle it!" He swung a paw up- "KNIFE TO MEET YOU!" and struck the bird again.

Lightning crackled around the bird as it glared at the four of them.

"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" Barkley yelled, shoving himself directly at Duskie. The thunderbolt hit only empty space, causing it to breathe out a sigh of relief. He got up on his four paws and moved to kick a dart of ice right atthe annoying thing.

The dart struck the bird, and the bird... paused for a second, looking all four of them over, before flying off, presumably judging them as 'not worth hunting'.

Siffrin breathed in and out. Hibiscus smiled and Duskie rubbed his face into their neck, and Barkley wagged his tail, relieved that this was over.

The sooner they were out of this place, the better.

"By the way..." Duskie asked, while they were walking back home. "Was that the cave where..."

Yes. Yes it was. Yes it was, unfortunately, the cave where Vivi had lost her life. Barkley didn't need to answer- his body said enough.

"... That must have been scary..." Duskie said. "Do you want to get your mind off of it?"

"If you want, you can see my wood cravings." Siffrin said. "They're pretty good."

"Or we can play tag!" Duskie said. "Tag is nice!"

...Barkley wanted to play tag. "Tag! Tag it is!"

Duskie ran off at once, and Barkley ran after him, leaving Hibiscus and Siffrin alone to walk home- or... if they'd like, to join in!

Either was fine- neither Duskie nor Barkley payed any mind.