Chapter 71: Rootmilk (1)
Deeper into the cave, Yoa and Nova sat comfortably in one of the alcoves. It was big enough to fit them both, and the ground and cavernous walls were smooth. There had even been some animal hide there that Nova assumed correctly was Yoa’s from previous times he’d stayed here. This wasn’t one of his hideouts, as others could access it too if they dared climb down the treacherous path leading beyond the waterfall.
Unsurprisingly, not many did. Nova hadn’t paid attention to the route Yoa initially took to get them here, but he was capable of many things.
Nova’s gaze swept over the cave once more, a place awash with soft colours and scattered light, the cascading waterfall’s usual thunderous roar a distant, soothing rush. The walls surrounding them shimmered like glitter hairspray and, in certain lights, a sheen of blue. Nova not so subtly swiped her finger along the specks of light on the wall, inspecting it and discovering it would not rub off on her fingers.
Yoa chuckled from where his huge torso leaned up against the wall, his legs sprawled out in front of him, watching Nova stare at everything in wonder. "It is almost like this is your first time inside a cave."
Nova blushed, turning around to face him. Even while sitting, Yoa’s head was the same height as her chest. "Well, it is," she said, shrugging. "Unless you count those fake rock walls at the zoo."
His brow lifted in amusement. "Zoo?"
She waved a hand. "Never mind. It’s... different. This place feels alive." She wasn’t entirely sure how Yoa would feel listening to her describe what a Zoo is and how people paid to see animals in enclosures and not living freely in the wild.
Yoa tilted his head, his gaze softening. "Because it is. The island watches all."
Nova hesitated, her fingers brushing the glowing rock beside her. "That sounds a little creepy," she admitted, looking back at him.
Yoa smirked. "It does not creep on our lives," he added in amusement.
Nova shrugged. "Hey now, how would I know?" She waved her hand at the rock like it might be a camera, then shook her head.