D-011: Cave of Wonders
Theme: Crystal Cave
The entrance is cleverly hidden behind a large rock formation, vines, trees and a few well-placed shrubs, the only tending it required was the adjustment of the branches and occasionally finding new ones as they decayed. The forest around it was untouched beyond the spore of the occasional fox and the nibbles of a rabbit. The trees towered high above, providing little splinters of light to softly grace the forest floor. The shadowed entrance was a small tunnel, which widened into a large cavern, the natural walls looked to have been painstakingly carved with claws. Several tunnels exited the first room, all were long and twisting but large enough for an enormous dragon to wander through. Many had turn-offs that were either blocked off or turned into small alcoves of various things. The same something had carved out shelves in the walls at various intervals with knickknacks and random materials that looked to be from a five-year-old's exploration finds. A broken rock that glittered on the inside, a gnarled root that twisted on itself oddly, a couple of strange coins that had a touch of Chronoscape.
One such alcove held a scattered nest of furs, mismatched blankets and a few bits of clothing, both recognizable and not. Atop one such mound of clothes was a sleeping kitten and next to the 'bed' was a small brazier, burning low to conserve fuel. It didn't look like the owner stayed in one place often, but the look of the small place implied they were willing to stay as steadily, more and more odds and ends appeared in the rock shelves. A few stacks of books were in the corner as none of the shelves were large enough, but it was only a matter of time before that was fixed.
A distant muttering of a stream trickled into hearing from the left-hand tunnel. The cave dips downwards immediately and curled around on itself. Strange colors reflected along the damp walls, then suddenly widens into an enormous cavern, brilliantly light with thousands of crystals of each and every color and hue in existence. Every shape and size towered above the opening, mocking the dark hole that was the quiet lake, lapping disarmingly against the glittering rocky beach. The water's edge curled outwards on either side, lined by stalagmite crystals, tall spires of tranquil beauty that reflected the softly rippling water.
