Word Count → 407
Now that both wolves had their prizes and were reunited, Kiara was more than willing to leave the caverns. The pair had been wandering around in the darkness for a few hours and their nerves were running thin. The snow wolf grabbed the stone at her feet and waited patiently until X'yrin managed to orient herself to the correct direction. X'yrin had been extraordinarily helpful today and Kiara would have to find some way to thank her new friend. Finally, the two began their trek out of the Mai Caverns with nothing more than bruised noses and their treasured stalagmite fragments.
As the pair neared the cavern entrance the air turned from wet and stagnant, to fresh and crisp. The light began to reach the arctic wolf's eyes allowing the darkness to fade away. Finally, she could see again. Kiara paused for a moment to look around the caverns. Although she had spent hours deep within its recesses, she didn't really know what it looked like. The brown stone walls shimmered a little from the moisture that clung to them. The cavern was relatively smooth and the floor was littered with small stones and the occasional boulder. If one looked carefully at the walls, they could see the layers of sandstone that made up the heart of the cave. After a few minutes Kiara ceased her observations and exited the Mai caverns.
Bright light burned Kiara's eyes as she stepped out into the forest. The experience had a similar feeling to when she had first left her mother's den and it made Kiara feel nostalgic. Up ahead, Kiara could see X'yrin running through the woods only too end up rolling on the ground. The arctic wolf wagged her tail and let out a cheerful howl. Kiara, following the golden wolf's example, broke into a dead sprint. She chased the golden wolf down and jump playfully at X'yrin. Kiara landed next to X'yrin and collapsed on the ground panting. She let the stalagmite drop form her mouth and watched as it rolled a little down the grassy hill. The young wolf looked up at the sky through the tree's leaves and watched as they danced in the wind. She brought her muzzle down to the ground and breathed in the forest's rich smell. Closing her eyes, Kiara bathed in the satisfaction of knowing that their task was complete and they had finally become members of the Ichika pack.
End
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