The two stayed up in the lair of Moraznia for a while longer, they didn't speak all too much past Luna's initial excitement over the blessed boon of the near mountains of herbs and spices present in Volet's new ring. She was quite impressed with the variety of outfits present too and even 'stole' a couple for her own use, of course with Violet's approval.
But after giving the large chamber one more look over to make sure they didn't miss anything the two walked over to the exit and looked out over the vast expanse of forest around them. The view was awesome.
The Endless Forest truly lived up to its name as all they could see was an endless sea of trees. To the North they could clearly see the giant lake that dominated the landscape, its surface rippled with the invisable breeze causing it to sparkle and shimmer in the early evening light. Even from this height they were still unable to make out its distant shores.
To the East they could make out the craggy landscape that lead to the Elementsl Valleys and the giant raised plateau that separated it from the rest of the forest. This feature too extended off into the distance and claimed its own domain within the trees. Past that raised plateau Violet could just make out the serrated edge of a mountain range that seemed to act as a deciding line splitting the Forrest in two. She could help but wonder what lay beyond that boundary.
"I think I want to head East, I-i want to find out more about these humans. I want to know if they truly did hunt dragons to such an extent. I don't know what I will do once I know but… but I think I need to know." Saying so Violet looked over at her companion, Luna was stood besides her gazing out at the view before them, she too turned towards her and they met each others eyes.
Violet eyes met Arctic blue orbs and a smile blossomed on both girls lips, one of which showed considerably more teeth that the other. "Yeah I think that would be the right thing to do. Plus we won't be able to grow any stronger here the mana levels are just too low to support anything worth hunting around here. May as well begin to travel towards something."
"Thank you."
Snorting Luna learnt forwards and rested her head against Violet's own forehead. "Silly dragon, you never need to thank me for following you. We are companions and you won't be getting rid of me any time soon."
Stepping back the two grinned at each other before both turning away and gazing once more out at the scenery before them.
The silence was eventually broken by Luna. "Umm so are we going to fly down or are we walking?" Her voice was decidedly neutral although Violet could feel a faint flicker of apprehension present.
This time it was Violet that snorted in amusement. "Fly of course! And don't worry I won't crash this time!" She sounded far too happy about that statement and it somehow did nothing to ease Luna's worry. Regardless she did eventually climb up onto her back and settled down at the base of her neck. "Hold on now!" Was the only warning Violet gave before she bounded forward and leapt off the edge with her wings extended.
She didn't go into a dive right away this time and quickly settled into an easy glide. Once outside she slowly circled around and gazed back at the lonely mountain. The cavern that laid rest to the ancient dragon was very close to the summit and Violet decided that she wanted to go to the top before she left for potentially the last time. So flapping her wings she angled her body and began to accend.
Noticing this Luna spoke up with some confusion evident. "Umm Violet why are we going up? I thought we were going to be going down?"
"Well we will be eventually but I wanted to quickly stop by at the very top of this place before we go. Did always want to go to the very top after all."
Shrugging as she didn't particularly mind Luna just tightened her grip around Violet's neck and settled in to enjoy the flight.
It didn't take too long for them to reach a relatively flat expanse near to summit. And carefully Violet lowered herself down and managed to gently land first on her rear legs and then lowering down to the floor on all limbs. Swiftly climbing off Luna couldn't help but sigh in relief, the trauma of her first crash landing evidently not quite leaving her just yet.
Snorting in amusement at that Violet noted that their was no clear path up. Taking a moment to decide where to go she eventually just shrugged and decided to take the direct route and began her accent by foot.
Following closely behind, Luna followed her friend as they clambered up the rough terrain. The temperature was quite frigid this high up but to Luna it was quite welcoming and she relished the cold as her speciality sang in delight. Violet meanwhile simply ignored the chill, through her bond with Luna she had gained some resilience to extreme cold but not to the point that she was not effected by it.
All too soon the two companions eventually made it too the top. Standing atop the barren rock that comprised this mountain summit the two girls stood and took in the breathtaking vista that surrounded them.
The now familiar sight of the lake and Elemental Valley dominated the north and east respectively. But to the south nothing but an endless sea of trees dominated the landscape all the way to the horizon. It was the west however that raised some unusual questions for the two girls as they had not truly had a chance to observe what type of landscape dominated that side of the Endless Forest.
For far to the west their was no forest, their was very little in fact bar a singular item that dominated the landscape and sat in the centre of the circle of desolation. Right in the middle of this treeless vista a gaping hole sat like an open wound in the side of the world. No signs of life could be seen within several hundred miles of this hole and it stretched on into the horizon. The tree line didn't end for hundreds of miles but the stark absence of trees there was a unsettling sight for the two women who had spent their entire life within the embrace of trees.
"Wh-what is that?"
"I don't know but I don't really want to know either. I'm just glad we are going in the opposite direction to that place."
Violet couldn't argue with Luna's logic there and the two quickly looked away from that spot feeling like there was something very wrong with that abyss in the Earth.
"Alright let's head down now I think I'm ready to never see that hole again." Nodding in agreement Luna quickly climbed up once more and together the two swiftly took to the air and dove to hide that stretch of desolation behind the lonely mountain.