Each step drew the pair deeper into the cavern, until darkness engulfed them. But Rhaegal was unafraid, for he could feel the touch of Bastille at his hip and her presence emboldened him. Together they ventured deeper, the sound of their paws upon the stone floor all that there was to be heard. His eyes adjusted to the dimness, picking out the remains of the creature's kills scattered along the passageway. Perked ears strained forward, trying to single out what he'd thought was the slumbering breaths of a beast from the entrance. All seemed quiet, and it was only his familiarity with the girl at his side that kept him from flinching when she spoke. A single ear tipped back towards her and he nodded. "I think you're right," he whispered back.

Still, he wanted to see the fabled night beast with his own eyes. There wasn't much room to brag about finding the cave of a bear, without seeing the bear itself. So he continued forward, adrenaline coursing through his body. The deeper in they went, the more obvious it became that the bear had not returned to sleep there that day, but he wouldn't give up until he found the back of the cave and knew for sure that it was empty. Shadows could hold any number of mysteries, and maybe one of them yet held the bear! He paused, lifting his nose to sniff at the deep gouges of claws into the stone. They were still somewhat fresh, not more than a few days old, but as he looked at them the foolishness of it all seemed to dawn on him. Was he really willing to put Bastille's safety at risk jus for the glory of getting to brag about having seen a gargantuan bear first hand?

He turned his head over his shoulder to casually shrug it off as a lost cause and suggest that they should turn back, when he realized Bastille was gone. Vanished. His heart leapt into his throat as his eyes went wide, searching the darkness for her. Before he could even call out her name to ensure she wasn't just playing some trick on him, claws scraped against the stone walls. With the thought of claws that had the force to leave deep wounds in the rock fresh in his mind, a very real fear overcame him. A fear not for himself, but for his best friend, who he'd let be plucked from his side. Of course, he didn't stop to think about the silence of the matter, that there had been no panicked call or rustle of immense bear paws following them down the cavern. When the growling noise came, he quickly turned around and called out, "Bastille!" He lunged forward, intent on facing down whatever threat he might have to in the name of saving her, because he couldn't imagine a life without her.

Of course it was only a matter of a few strides before he collided headlong with Bastille herself, sending them both sprawling on the rock floor. As soon as their bodies met he knew it was her, his fears vanishing as a flood of relief washed over him, though it was quickly replaced by a mix of irritation and embarrassment. "Jesus christ, Bast. Don't do that to me." He bumped his nose hard against her cheek, and then immediately dissolved into laughter - because she'd gotten him again. Now that he knew she was safe the pieces all fell quickly into place and he realized how stupid he'd been to think it was a real bear and or that she'd been in any danger. "C'mon, there's nothing in here right now." Pulling himself back to his feet, he glanced down at her with a grin, taking his mistake in stride. Yet another point for Bastille.