Their lead into conversation was abruptly severed. X'yrin had only just prepared a response before the wind was softly knocked from her companion. The warrior froze in step, her head whipping back in reflex only to face the darkness. "Kiara?" Panic crept into her voice. Had the female hurt herself? Here? In the darkness where she could not see the injury to asses it?
But her worry was premature. An obstacle had managed to hinder the path of progress. And it was their sought object; what luck! However, elation was short lived. Before she could even wag her tail, the Nomad was met with disappointment. The rock was too large to move. But finding one now was a good sign they were in the right place. Truly, if they could see this search would have been over and done with by now. However the purpose of this task was not to complete it with ease. Complication was necessary so that they could learn from this; to utilize what they had to be successful. The she-wolf sighed, annoyed by what they had to endure, but in this dispel of tense air came sudden clarity; an idea.
"Kiara, please stay where you are. Even if we found the stalagmites, it's much too dark in here. We could get turned around searching then not know the way out." They needed an anchor of some kind, a lifeline that would reel them back to the open world. "If you would, turn around to face where we just came from so there is a sense of direction. If you found one stone, perhaps there are others around us.... but we cant search in a straight line, you see?"
Have one act as a beacon while the other searched, was the idea. And already the Secui female was nose to the ground, more confident in knowing there was a secure line to the outside. She brushed the ground with a quivering nose, scenting stagnant water and earth. She swept wide, allowing her muzzle to act as a detector, bracing herself for the rough impact or muzzle-to-stone. And sure enough, a sound 'thack' resounded within the Cavern coupled with an odd clatter of rock against stone. The rock must have been thin to have broken so easily... but it still counted! Blindly she felt around, nose to the ground again this time inching for loose stone.
Success was rewarded to the determined. "Kiara," X'yrin lifted her head, calling to the girl from around the slender rock on her maw. "Please say something."