The entryway of the tomb was lit by a ray of light cast out from the still-glowing disc of quartz at the entrance. The bright beam was reflecting downward onto a standing pedestal in the center of the round room. Atop it was another quartz disk, twisted askew to where the light instead hit the bronze edge connecting it to the pedestal itself.

Eurwen walked toward the pedestal as Mo looked about the small first room. It had rounded walls that all led into a hallway directly ahead of them. Carved out of these stone walls were shelves, various incense, trinkets, and offerings crowding every inch of them. They all had layers of dust and sediment covering them, and despite their age and the state of their condition, the smells were still sweet. Honey, myrrh, and lavender overpowered any other scent in the room.

A movement in the room's light caught Mona’s attention and she turned to see Eurwen turning the disc on its swivel, the beam of light catching the many facets and lighting the room with moving shapes before they all joined together into another beam. Mo looked off into the hallway as the light shined down it, the bare stone walls of the path now visible. A glint caught her eye, however, and Mo pointed to a shape on the ceiling. “What’s that?”

Eurwen gave a soft hum. “Let’s find out,” she muttered, slowly moving the disc again to angle the beam. There was a flash as the beam connected with a quartz ball that was embedded in the doorway. The beam carried on down the hall to the next doorway, where it hit a similar structure.

Both of the adventurers blinked away the pain in their eyes from the sudden light before Mo gave a soft gasp. The light was somewhat dim before, details around them being somewhat vague, but now it was almost as though the sun was still beaming above them. The Beastfolk woman turned to look at Eurwen, taking in the awe-filled grin on the other’s face.

“Come on, let’s head further in!” Eurwen then quickly took Mo’s hand in hers and started to pull her along down the hall. Mo gave a soft gasp as the Elf hurried her on down, but she was too busy trying to keep up to protest. She stumbled slightly before starting to get the pacing right, having to take wider steps to accommodate for the height difference between them.

It was only when she heard a scraping of stone behind her that she stopped in her tracks, stumbling somewhat as Eurwen took a moment before letting go of her hand and slowing down. They both turned to look back at the entrance, standing halfway down the hallway. The doors were coming back up, rising back into place to trap them both inside. Mo cursed under her breath, taking a few quick steps back the way they came. She stopped as soon as she started, however. They were already trapped inside. The doors were half-risen already, and even if she’d gotten there in time, she’d be crushed trying to get through the gap before it closed.

There was a long moment where the two stared at the doors, the sight of the forest beyond becoming smaller and smaller. Eventually, the doors finally shut with a loud sound of stone hitting stone that made Mo flinch. The grinding sound of the moving doors was now gone, along with the green view of the ferns outside.

Mo could feel that uncomfortable yet familiar anxiety rising quickly in her stomach. Here she was, under the earth again with no clear idea of if she can get out or what lay ahead of her. Memories of Cove and the last cavern she’d been in started to flash through her mind. It’d been two years, why was it still so panic-inducing to be here? She’d thought she could handle it better, that she wouldn’t feel like this all over again.

“...Well, I guess we have to just keep going,” Eurwen sighed, rubbing the back of her head in a motion that made her fiery locks bounce. How could she seem so nonchalant about this?

Mo turned to look at her, her feline ears pressed to the back of her head and her eyes wide with worry and fear. “What if there’s not another way out?” she asked this almost breathlessly, quickly becoming aware of how tense her body was.

Eurwen paused and the look of disappointment she had now turned to concern as she heard how Mona’s voice cracked with her question. “We’ll find another way out. It’ll be alright.”

Mo’s brow knit further, unable to fathom how the other was keeping her cool. For all they knew they could have just been entombed, buried alive with no one knowing where they were. “But we don’t know that!”

Eurwen frowned, slowly walking up to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. The touch made Mona flinch, but she didn’t pull away. “Hey. We’re alright, just breathe.”

“But we’re trapped!” Mo choked out. Her breathing was ragged and she was fighting back the tears welling in her eyes. Her hands were shaking again and her mind was scrambling with questions. Would anyone even try to look for her? Was she going to die here? Why did she ever think she could overcome a fear that made her feel this awful?

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Before she knew it, Eurwen was moving her. The Elven woman put an arm around her waist and slowly guided Mo to sit on the ground, back to the wall. Immediately Mona was curling in on herself, hugging her knees to her chest and burying her face in them. She was trembling now, tail tucking close as she shook.

“Just breathe. That’s all you need to think about right now, alright? Deep breaths…” Eurwen gently rubbed Mona’s back, but after a minute or two of the woman’s panic not changing, she moved her hand to rest over hers. “Hey. Look at me.”

There was a moment when Mona almost didn’t hear her, having to take time to register what was being asked of her. Eventually, she raised her head to look at Eurwen, her pupils pinpricks and tears streaking down her scarred cheeks.

Eurwen gave her a warm smile, though her usually intense brown eyes were now soft and filled with concern. “There you are… Just breathe with me, okay?” She then took in a deep breath, holding it for a moment before letting it out, long and slow. She repeated this, never losing eye contact with Mona.

Mo did her best to follow along, her sobs occasionally interrupting her progress. Eurwen continued to reassure her between breaths, and eventually, it started to work. The panic began to ease somewhat and her body began to relax. Mo could feel exhaustion start to grip her as if a heavy weight was resting on her back.

They both sat there for what felt like ages, simply looking at each other and focusing on breathing. Eurwen continued to speak to her now and then between breaths, telling her that she was doing good and that she would be okay. That all she had to worry about was breathing.

After a while, Mona had stopped crying and was instead simply sitting there against the stone wall with Eurwen across from her. Her eyes were closed and she couldn’t help but feel that sense of shame start to wash over her again. Another vulnerable moment now witnessed by Eurwen. She felt weak, not only from the panic attack but as a person. She was supposed to be better than this.

“Are you feeling better?” Eurwen asked, pulling her from her thoughts. Mona opened her eyes and looked at her, but she couldn’t hold the stare for more than a moment before she was looking down at her feet.

“...Yes,” She muttered, acutely aware of the blush of embarrassment that was rising to her face. “...Please don’t talk about this with anyone.”

“Why would I do that?” Eurwen’s head cocked to the side like a curious puppy.

“Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because you don’t deserve it,” Eurwen said bluntly, smiling at the other.

Mo’s eyes glanced up at her again, but she couldn’t think of anything to say in response. There was a long minute of silence before Eurwen gave a soft sigh.

“Do you want to talk about it? The reason you’re having trouble being in here? You didn’t have to come in,”

Tension returned in Mona’s body and her brows knit with a mix of hurt and frustration, Cove popping into mind again for a brief moment. She felt so ashamed of her current state. “I… Lost a lot the last time I went into a place like this,” she muttered, biting down on her lip. “But I don’t want to be afraid of it forever. I thought I’d gotten better than this. I’m still so weak!” her voice cracked again and she ran a hand through her hair, tears starting to well in her eyes again.

Eurwen put a hand on Mona’s shoulder once more, though now she had that intensity back in her eyes. Her words were steady and her hand gently squeezed her shoulder to add emphasis. “Don’t say that.”

“...Huh?” Mo looked up at her with a bit of surprise at her sudden change in demeanor

“You are not weak for feeling pain,” Eurwen spoke with a stern tone as if to hammer in her point. “Whatever happened, you are not weak for feeling. In fact, I’d say you’re rather strong to be trying to overcome it at all.”

Mo blinked at her, emotional confusion now stopping her from crying. “But… You hardly know me, and you have no idea what I’ve been through. You can’t know that at all!”

Eurwen pulled her hand away and began to stand up. “I don’t have to know you, or what you’ve been through. It’s simply a fact of life. Being strong doesn’t mean you won’t hurt, it means that you’ll be able to stand up again despite it.” The Elven woman gave her a smile, one that almost seemed to add a bit more light around them with its positivity.

Mo watched as Eurwen held out a hand to her, staring at it for a moment before looking back up at her in awe. The wise words and the glowing nature of this woman simply took her aback. After a moment more of hesitation, she took her hand and stood, her other hand reaching up to wipe away the streaks on her face.

Eurwen gently squeezed her hand before letting go, turning and walking down the hallway once more, away from the entrance. “Let’s keep going. We’ll find a way through.”

Mona stared at Eurwen’s back as she started to walk off, still somewhat stunned. Eventually, she gave a nod and began to follow, continuing to breathe deep the same way that she had instructed her earlier.