Exploring the depths is a fairly simple process. For the most part the same pattern repeats throughout, at least as long as you stay near Level Transitions and Staging Points.

  Main paths extend from these safer locations, most of which eventually reach crossroads that then fan out into further paths. Caves and caverns dot the walls of these paths, each potentially home to local Depths born creatures, or in exceptional cases, to Depths resources or Relics. These last two are highly sought after and can cover the cost of Diving or even running a Holding indefinitely if found.

  Most Depths born creatures remain in the caves they appear in, however certain types are more prone to wandering the paths, particularly when they are solitary in nature.

  The creatures in the caves will eventually repopulate through ambient Energy, it may take hours, or days, or even in some cases years, but eventually new threats will emerge in once safe areas. Due to the scarcity of caves without such threats, most Divers choose to camp near Level Transitions and Staging points, limiting their ability to search for new paths and rewards.

  ~ * ~

  After cleaning up from his encounter with the slimes they'd spent the evening relaxing before making up to one another. Anya had felt bad over calling him an idiot, even though they both agreed he'd acted idiotically, and he'd made up for being an idiot. They'd both slept well and relieved any lingering tension the day had caused.

  Over the next few weeks Seb felt himself improving on a daily basis. He'd gone from facing a single slime at a time to managing to handle small pods of them, and more importantly figured out how to avoid the worst of the mess they left behind. The rabbits were slightly more threatening, they could actually jump and scratch him even when they weren't biting and they were just fast enough he couldn't always avoid them. Individually they weren't much worse than the slimes, but once there were more than a couple he found himself glad that War Husks wouldn't scar.

  Anya had insisted he avoid the goblins for the first week and focus on improving against lesser threats. The first one he faced managed to dodge his thrust and cut him, proving her suggestion wise, the second survived and threw a dagger at his back when he turned away, teaching him to be certain of his kills. He also learned to maintain the technique when slashing well enough that it worked for a second strike, it might not be imbuement but it was an improvement.

  He'd even noticed that his Energy reserves seemed to be improving. The first few days he'd felt drained after only a few enemies but now he felt nearly fresh even after he finished clearing out a den. Some of that was practice, he had a better feel for how much Energy it would take to handle a single creature, but there also seemed to be an improved ease to his efforts, the Energy flowed more smoothly day by day.

  ~ * ~

  It was a few days before they were due to return to meet Phelann and Seb had finally convinced Anya to allow him handle his own scouting and approach. He was close enough to level two that he knew he'd be able to get there either before they left or with minimal use of their reserves when they got home. She'd been explaining her assessment of the caves for the last week before letting him approach and he felt confident that he could handle the same, at least with these familiar creatures.

  They'd been wandering further and further from their campsite each day and today their search had taken them down an entirely new path. The first few caves were slimes and he nearly bypassed them, they truly were a disgusting mess as they died, but intent on showing he understood how to judge a threat he dove in and dispatched them in short order. He even managed to keep from getting splattered by any of them and grinned at Anya as she looked over the result.

  Not a drop on me.

  Yes Seb, she answered warmly before teasing him. You've learned how to stay clean.

  He was just as successful against the following few caves of killer bunnies and goblins and could feel how amused Anya was getting at his self-satisfied mood. He also could feel how proud she was of his performance even though she was trying to keep it muted.

  One more cave and then we head back to the tent? he suggested.

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  If you're not feeling too tired.

  I can handle one more, even if it ends up being one of those slime balls.

  Yuck, she answered. I'm not helping you rinse off if that's what you find.

  He nodded without answering and made his way further down the path. He could feel Anya's slight frustration building as he skipped the first few options. If he was only going to do one more he was going to go into one at random. Finally he stopped and turned to her.

  This one, he sent confidently.

  Why? she asked. Why not one of the last dozen you skipped?

  Because I stopped here, he answered and shrugged.

  I'll be right behind you.

  With that he stepped towards the cave, weapon in hand and War Husk enhancing his every movement. Looking in he saw a single rabbit at the far side and frowned, if this was his going to be his last one he had hoped for something a bit more challenging than a single rabbit. Determined to make the best of it he let his Bladesong take effect as he ran across the room.

  Closing on the creature he noticed that it had a small horn in its forehead but thought nothing of it as it hopped towards him as slowly as every other rabbit. Coming into range he lunged, Energy flowing around his blade in an instant before exploding on contact with the rabbit. Coming to a stop he looked at the ground, only slightly surprised to not see a corpse at his feet. He started to glance around to try and determine where it ended up but paused as he felt a sharp pain in his side. His eyes tracked down to the source of pain and he frowned in confusion, why was there a hole in his-

  ~ * ~

  Anya stepped into the cavern expecting to see Seb gloating as he stood over whatever creatures he had found. Instead she came around the corner in time to see him crumple to the ground, blood starting to pool around his side. Refusing to panic she looked around, spotting a single rabbit slowly hopping back towards him from the far wall.

  As she started towards it she found herself panicking. Seb wasn't moving and she wasn't able to get any reaction from him over the band. Focusing on the rabbit she blanched, her eyes locking onto the bloody horn and realizing just what had happened. She hadn't thought to warn him about monster variants, about the dangers of creatures that didn't look quite right. She hadn't thought they'd wander far enough into the Depths for it to matter when she let him take the lead. And now he was bleeding on the ground, unresponsive and she was face to face with something far deadlier than even a horde of Depths rats.

  She managed to intercept it before it attacked Seb a second time, stepping between them and kicking it just hard enough to derail it mid leap before finding herself parrying its retaliatory lunge. Finding it focused on her she felt a moment of relief that Seb was as safe as he could be, it wasn't going to go after him and leave her to attack.

  The next few minutes were a frenzied blur, even for her. The variant lunged horn first, lashed out with its clawed front paws and tried to gouge her on every pass. She managed to weave around and below most attacks, parrying those that were too close for comfort and wincing each time her arms gained a new scratch. She didn't have time for this, she couldn't wear it down, couldn't wait for it to slow and give her an opening. She had to check on Seb, had to make sure he wasn't getting worse.

  Switching to the offensive she mimicked its attacks, kicking at it to force it to leap then lashing out when it came in range of her hands. Each blow left a mark but none were serious enough to ensure her victory. Even her Energy wasn't enough to break through its hide in a single blow, but she refused to slow. Finally she found luck in her favor as the beast cornered itself, its next hop letting her pin it to the wall with one clawed hand while taking an additional moment to focus, to pull all the Energy she could into her hand and strike it's head.

  When the tips of her claws struck the stone of the cave wall she nearly sighed in relief. The next moment felt like an eternity as she watched for any sign of life before forcing the entire rabbit into her pack, not taking time to search for the crystal fragment as she ran back over to Seb.

  Turning him over she winced and bit her lip, it looked as though the rabbit had driven right through his side horn first and kicked its way out of him in the process. When he didn't react to her moving him she picked him up, she had to get him out of his War Husk and into his Husk or True Self to recover, she had to keep him safe, had to keep his Husk from getting worse. Holding him in her arms she raced back through the depths, her thoughts constantly reaching out to him in an attempt to get a reaction, to get any sort of response and scream at him to switch to out of his War Husk.

  As their camp cave came into view she felt him shift, felt him start to cough and the band finally snapped into place.

  SEB! she felt herself thoughts shriek, she knew she was screaming but she couldn't stop herself. Drop your War Husk.

  She could feel his confusion and just repeated a few words, nearly a mantra as she sent it over and over. Drop it, please drop it. Please.

  Finally she felt his body shiver in her arms, shrinking ever so slightly and felt his thoughts start to clear. He'd gone all the way to his True Self, he'd become completely vulnerable but he answered her as she forced herself to slow and open the tent rather than tear her way in.

  Anya? What-

  You're safe, you're fine, she interrupted and felt his confusion grow worse.

  I? The rabbit, it?

  It's my fault, I didn't warn you, you're safe though, I killed it and you'll heal.

  As she set him down she felt him switch back to his Everyday Husk and grab her by the arms, jolting her out of the moment. Anya!

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