Leviathan's laughter was infectious and even with the soreness of her muscles and exhaustion plaguing her steps, the lass couldn't help but beam up at the stallion, momentarily forgetting her distress at Maxence's arrival. The boulder moved forward in jerks and starts, sometimes lingering upon the earth as if it had been glued there and other times sliding a few inches over the ground with something akin to ease. Indeed, the assistance of her brothers in arms was vital to any sort of progress at all. As the trio pressed themselves against the massive rock, their grunts of effort rising into a chorus of laborious struggle, Eden did her best to keep her thick mane of locks and wildflowers from getting caught between herself and her brothers -- Because that is what they must be; brothers. There was no room in a warrior's life to soften her heart to her Commandant. Of this she must convince herself. -- bodies. It would do them no good to yank out a dread or crush a flower.
Then, before she knew it, the doorway was free and the three children of Solis were standing in a loose circle huffing and puffing away their efforts. Eden found herself following suit as both Leviathan and Maxence shook the exhaustion from their muscle laden frames, though she didn't miss the vast difference in sizes; she had considered Leviathan's bulk before, when they had sparred, but to see his towering body among things as casual as a dusty old smithy made him seem even larger. Then, with Maxence, though his height was not that of a behemoth, he still made a dwarf of Eden with those
Making a cursory inspection of each stallion, Eden noted how a few of Leviathan's newly-healed wounds had opened at the edges, oozing scarlet beneath the scalding sun. Pursing her lips, the lass fixed the horned behemoth in those amber eyes of hers and gave another huff, "You should take better care of your wounds, brother, I'd hate to best you in the sparring ring because of a few infected scratches." While her tone was light and teasing, Eden felt a measure of worry creasing her brow - Leviathan was the first friend that she had made among the golden sands of Solterra and she wanted him healthy and whole. She would have said more, but Maxence's thanks stopped her short. Turning her attention to her chocolate splashed King, the paladin suppressed the beaming grin that was bubbling within her chest at the praise and instead responded with a respectful lowering of her head and a murmured, "Anything to better my Court, Commandant."
Attention was then turned toward the gloomy innards of the smithy -- though her eyes had yet to leave the electric intensity that was her sovereign's gaze -- with Leviathan's question of who was to venture within and Maxence's resulting suggestion for her to proceed with caution. It was Brows shooting up, the lass forgot all youthful hero-worship and insecurities she may have in the face of her King and gave a vigorous nod, an elated smile splitting her face. Glancing to Leviathan, the mare widened her eyes slightly and grinned wider, her excitement palpable.
Taking a few steps forward, Eden paused at the doorway and took a deep breath to calm herself, her mind instantly quieting as she found her center. Proceeding forward, the youthful warrior moved slowly to allow her eyes to adjust to the darkness, yet what she found within brought forth a delighted gasp. "Leviathan! Maxence!" She yelled, forgetting entirely to use her commander's honorific, "Look! You must come look!" Moving to the center of the wide room, Eden's expression changed from one of determination to one of awe and wonder as she took in the stacks and stores of sand-dusted arms. It was as if time had forgotten about the blacksmith's shed, for despite a find layer of sand, dust, and cobwebs, every lance, shield, and suit of armor showed no signs of rust or decay.
Shuffling in place and stamping her front hooves a few times in a show of excitement, the lass was too busy envisioning herself training with lance and shield to notice the sizable scorpion scuttling toward her back legs, venomous tail poised to strike...
@Maxence @Leviathan <3 this is so fun! also why not add a little scorpion in there? feel free to stomp the bugger out~
