They turn from scouting unknown territory to exploring a wonderland.

And back to exploring dangerous unknown territory.

They take the passage to their left.

I expect any modern spelunkers cringe at seeing him put his dirty, bare foot on that pristine formation!

Oooops!

I may need to find a reference for the shadows.

Two Days Later

As the rest, penciled and inked on paper, digitally photographed, then worked on in GIMP.

Nicolas has been having a lot of explaining to do and arguing and such. Those scenes may or may not make it into the final version.

string or scent

Shelves like that grow along the edges of pools with stable water levels. If the water level changes, additional rims or shelves can grow.

If the shelves are close enough she'll be able to do it.

Is the light at the end of the tunnel a monster waiting to eat you?

Deep in the cave, string ran out a while back, and something is making light up ahead.

To see the next pages go to the Adult section.

A few days after finding the passage from Val's den to Duravin's valley, Nico and Val are down in Duravin's fields.

Val seems to be exhausted.

No, the badger doesn't need a reason to be grumpy. He's a badger.

Poking at a badger with a pole is a bad idea. Even if it is a ten-foot pole.

Nicolas is not trying to hurt the badger. He is only trying to make it angry. This is a very easy task... easy to do, but not so easy to survive. He is very frightened, he knows he's in danger of being savaged, but he is still purposely antagonizing the ferocious creature.

Nico is hoping the badger will do something against Duravin if he thinks that Duravin is "taxing" him.

Angry badger doesn't know which of them to chase.

Philosophy of savagery from Val.

Nico is sucking the goose gravy off his fingers while he's toasting the next piece.

Val and Nico are now committed to their job on Duravin's castle.