Just as you were reading the signs, the tunnel ended. Your van came flying out into a massive and sprawling cavern. You leaned forward in your seat with wide eyes to gaze at the scenery. The ceiling seemed as high as the tallest buildings of downtown and was covered in cyan lights. It was like the night sky... but brighter! The lights twinkled and weren't drowned by light pollution.

Bioluminescent plants twisted and turned to hang over the street, lighting up your van and the road ahead of you. You saw buildings that were strung around, along, and between towering stalagmites and gravity-defying stalactites. It was reminiscent of the cities built in the rainforest's canopy. Great waterfalls crashed down at the distant edges of the cave, creating lakes and rivers along its floor.

Then, a shadow suddenly swept over your van, blocking your view. You quickly glanced out your side-mirror and saw a bat flying away, laughing to herself about diving so close to the van.

Looking around again, you saw the magic of flight everywhere! Though hard to see in the distance, bats of all shapes and sizes were moving about the cave. The cave's lights weren't twinkling... that was just bats flying in front of them! You also noticed small mammals, like hedgehogs, hamsters, opossums, all making their way around the underground city. Flying squirrels glided from houses attached to the ceiling to the shopping centers below.

"Wow..." You whispered, "It's beautiful."

You looked to your right to see Nick's reaction. He was also leaning forward and taking in the view. He nodded in response.

You let up on the gas as you coasted along, "have you seen this before?"

"I have," he said as he leaned back, "it just never gets old."

You rolled down your window and stuck your hand out to feel the air. It was cold and humid and made you shiver. However, other than the air passing around your van, there was no breeze. No plants nor mushrooms swayed. The air was very still.

This place was fascinating and... eerie. You hadn't visited this District because of your day job and the time difference. Staying up all night wasn't ideal and anyone who came to visit or vacation here experienced jet lag. Most of the cave was also really dark, so mammals without strong night vision struggled.

"But I don't think we should stay too long," Nick glanced at you with a worried look.

You sighed, "you're right."

After Stephanie's outburst, you didn't feel safe stopping anywhere except home. Especially not a dank, dark cave. Even if the views were really nice.

"So we'll just pass through?"

"That's the plan."

Tired and a little bummed out, you rolled up your window and continued to drive through the hollowed-out district. The waterfall in the distance drew closer and closer until the mist from it coated your van. You switched on the windshield wipers so you could see the signs detailing exits out of the Nocturnal District and back to Zootopia. You took a left toward the tunnel labeled for TundraTown.

This chapter was a bit artsier and world-building-y, let me know if you liked it (: