Morning brought with it much more pleasant scents, unlike the night with stagnant air and the sickly smell of iron. He relished in the warm breeze that caused his hair to sway and with it came the scent of morning dew. But Daki had to admit that it was a lot more lonely during the day. Most of the survivors remained indoors, even when it appeared to be safe for them to leave their homes. Because although night was indeed more dangerous, at least then they could forage for what they needed to continue living in their hostile world.

“You don't have anyone else, do you?”

Daki looked down at the hare and shook his head. “Mother Margie is the only one,” he said.

“Then come with me,” Taeo said. “You can meet my family.”

He didn't really know if it would be right for him to do so, but mother Margie was the only person he had on this side of The Scar. And although she was his caretaker to some degree, she was much more of a mentor. A person who taught him everything he needed to know, everything she knew to teach and now there was nothing else. Daki would go see her right before they left, but for now there was nothing else for him to do. He nodded his head.

“Let's go,” Daki said.

The hare led him through the maze of streets and alleyways and to the central part of their city. It was there that they reached a small white house nestled in between two much taller buildings.They were apartments which could house a lot of other people. His eyes turned to the door as Taeo walked up to it and rapped on its green surface three times.

Taeo looked over his shoulder at Daki. “I don't truly have to knock since this is my house and I live here, but I feel it is the right thing to do. since I'll be leaving… anyway…” he turned back to the door as it creaked open.

“Daddy,” a young male leverett leaped through the door and into his father's arms. “How was your night? Did you slay some monsters?”

Taeo smiled and lowered his son gently to the ground. “Easy cowboy!” he said. “We'll get to that. For now why don't we all go inside? I've brought us a guest.” Taeo gestured toward Daki.

“Taeo?” came a female voice from inside. She stared at them all through the doorway, with an almost stunned expression. “Why did you knock?”

“I… I'll be leaving soon, I'm sorry.”

The female sighed and jerked her head, gesturing for them to enter. “Well… I thought this time might come. No one's ever joined The Guild without being asked to descend. Come in both of you, the least I could do is offer you a warm meal before you leave.”

As he followed Taeo through the door, Daki glanced around at the interior. Though it was small, it was also a very cozy environment. The walls were painted a soft Grey and there were pictures of the animals which might have been seen before their world ripped open. Birds of various species, herds of horses, deer, cow’s. images of vast forests in picturesque picture frames on the walls and within the hallway cabinets. the way they were kept so pristine even with their obvious age, Daki knew these were precious treasures held by this family.

“Where is Jana?” Taeo asked.

“You know… she wants to be just like her father.”

“Jana?” Daki asked.

“Oh I'm sorry, my name is Rose,” the female replied. “Jana is our daughter and she's always leaving even at the most dangerous times. She wants to learn how to fight and use Magic.”

“Oh she'll turn up Rose,” Taeo said.

“ I can only hope that you're right, my dear. Anyway, how about we all sit down for a meal?”

“That would be nice, but we shouldn't stay long. Do you have to leave as soon as we can. I only came by with my friend here, to say goodbye. I don't know when I'll return or if I'll even be able to.”

Rose frowned. “Isn't that even more of a reason to stay for breakfast? Come on, both of you. Go sit down and I'll fix you up something to eat.”

It was hard to argue with that kind of logic, so Taeo sighed and led the way into the dining room. the little male Leverett that beside his father as they waited for their last meal before they would finally leave.

DakiI was surprised when it was brought to them. Were hares not vegetarians? but what was in front of them was far from that. sure there were few greens, but mostly it was eggs and bacon. and of course pancakes.He looked up at them confused when his plate was placed in front of him on the table.

“I know exactly what you’re thinking,” Taeo said. “You're wondering why plant eaters are eating meat, aren't you?”

Daki nodded. “Is it wrong of me to wonder such a thing?”

Taeo laughed. “No no! not at all!” he said. “In fact if you didn't wonder why, I would probably think there's something seriously wrong in your head.”

“So?”

“Normal hares might be vegetarians, but as you can see we are anything but normal. I mean since when have you seen one of us who could walk and talk? and then to take my fighting into account and my very loose ability to use Magic. What do you think we are?”

Taeo had a very good point, unless they had somehow evolved extremely rapidly within the space of twenty-four years there's no way they could be normal hares. He didn't think they were humans under a curse either. What were the chances of an entire family being cursed? No, they were something very very different from what he was used to. His only other guess was that they were probably daemons from the scar.

The hare nodded his unspoken agreement.They were in fact daemons from the scar. His only other question now, was how did they get here? But when Daki glanced over at Taeo, the hare nearly shook his head. Another time.

The two of them fell silent for the remainder of their meal. It was good, the lady hare was an excellent cook, but their minds were elsewhere. This would presumably be the last time they'd be on the surface, at least for a while. After their meal they would have to leave the house, say goodbye to the family of hares and then gather whatever they would need to descend into the chasm.

“Goodbye Rose,” Taeo said. “Goodbye kian.” he exchanged hugs with both his wife and his son, then he turned towards Daki.

Daki nodded. “ I'm ready whenever you are Taeo,” he said. “And look I'm… sorry for dragging you into this. I didn't even know that this is what Mother Margie wanted me to do.”

“You don't have to apologize, I knew what I was getting myself into when I first joined The Guild. And besides Mathias was right, you're still new and need someone with experience. I can help you with that.”

“Okay,” Daki said with enthusiasm. “We should probably start this adventure.”

“Hmph! And this is how you energetic fools get yourselves into heaps of trouble.”

Daki smiled. “I'm sure we'll be fine,” he said.

Taeo gave him a mischievous look, before bounding toward and around some of the buildings in their path. “Go get what you need and we'll meet back at the guild.” and then the hare was gone.

What Taeo wanted him to do though, was much easier said than done. Daki Had never been into the scar, so how would he know what he actually needed? I guess I could go see Margie, she probably knows what I need.

That was what he did. It didn't take him long to get there, because he knew the city almost inside and out. Daki which shortcuts to take and what ways to avoid, you didn't take him long to arrive back at the old house he grew up in. it stood tall under the bright sunlight hitting it from above. From the ground he could see its balcony, hanging over the chasm and the building slightly leaned that way as well. Daki rushed through the front door.

“Margie!” he called. “I've done what you asked me to do, and now I need your help.”

Daki listened for her voice, but no answer came. He called again and again, waited, but nothing. He searched the house. Everywhere on the ground floor, then he went upstairs. she wasn't there.

“What now?” he's supposed he could just go and find his friends and ask. But Taeo I had asked him to be ready before meeting him at the guild.And perhaps it was some kind of test to see just how resourceful Daki could be. Daki sighed. “All right Margie and Taeo, have it your way.”

Though he wasn't sure of everything he might need for his descent, Daki had a basic idea. He searched around until he found a small coin purse. opening it revealed several copper docats. that he figured would be at least enough to get him started. Though felt guilty about taking it because it truly wasn't his, it was Mother Margie's fault for not being there in the first place. With a silent apology, Daki left once again through the front door.

With the few funds that were available to him, he went to the nearest tailor and requested to buy one of the cheapest backpacks on sale. It was old and leathery, and almost falling apart. but this would have to do, at least for now.

Next he went to a weaponsmith and bought himself an old rusted short sword. The rest of his supplying went like that, running from one place to another buying the cheapest most unreliable gear he could, because it wasn't like he could afford anything better, at least not yet. and then finally Daki went back to the Guild Hall where his friend was quietly waiting.

He found Taeo standing on an odd, wooden contraption. There was a large crane connected to a very flat wooden platform. If he had to compare it to anything, it was almost like those weird magical elevators he had seen when he was younger, only this one was obviously not magical. Taeo glanced over in his direction and waved a hand, beckoning Daki onto the platform.

“Over here! Over here!” Taeo shouted.

Daki quickly boarded and nodded his head in confirmation that he was ready. He couldn't help but glance around and down into the void below them. “This is…”

“I would say incredible, but then I realized that I actually don't want to go, so that would kind of defeat the purpose of my obvious scowl,” Taeo said. And though he tried to hold that scowl, he broke out laughing almost immediately after his statement. “Are you ready?”

“For now,” Daki said. “ I know what I have doesn't look like much, but I didn't really have much to work with.”

“Don't worry about it,” Taeo said. “Most of your equipment will actually come from down there.” he pointed the finger into the void.

Of course… it made sense that most adventurers would use the materials they found on or collected from monsters they defeated. and the first few levels according to the guildmaster, were supposed to be easy. They had already been cleared by previous spelunkers and apparently cities were actually being built down there. In a way, that made their job just a little bit easier.

“Just be aware, that once we start descending there's no turning back,” Taeo said. “This elevator will ascend back up, so there's no way for us to return to the surface unless we climb. plenty of people have tried it, but very few have managed to succeed.”

Daki understood. “Let's go,” he said without any reservations. At this point he had one goal in mind and that was to find his brother and the man who might possibly be his father. He would do whatever it took, even if that meant he might die in the process. “I'm ready.”

Without a reply, Taeo signaled to someone by the crane and the platform began its descent. As he stood there watching the city get further and further away and The cliff face moved passed them, in his mind Daki compared it to what a descent into madness might feel like. With all the strange noises below them and some elevated noises from the city above and the shadows along the cliff face and edges, creatures he could not see. It was the type of thing that could make anyone go insane. Daki took a big breath and closed his eyes, letting all his senses shut off, until he was left with nothing but darkness and himself.