Chapter 35: The Echoing Canyon
Hiroto's boot made a soft sound as it crunched on the gravelly ground, which then echoed into a deafening trudge, reverberating through the vast chasm. The Echoing Canyon stood before them, its tall, jagged walls carpeted with moss and gleaming with gem-like stones. It was beautiful, and ridiculously loud.
Riku leaned closer to Hiroto, attempting to whisper, "I have a stash of sn--" but jumped back in surprise as his whisper came out as a thunderous declaration. Everyone burst into laughter, the sound amplified a hundredfold, making them laugh even harder.
Luna unraveled an ancient scroll and pointed to an illustration of a delicate flower. "This," she announced, her voice echoing melodiously, "is the Silent Bloom. If legends are right, it will let us communicate without speaking." Given their current location, the value of such a flower was immediately apparent.
Hiroto squinted, spotting translucent creatures flickering in and out of existence. Made purely of echo, their forms shimmered with every sound. Fascinated, Hiroto greeted one, only to receive an echoing reply that sent them in the wrong direction. Three times. After ending up back at their starting point for the fourth time, Luna's patience was wearing thin.
Just as Hiroto was considering retreating from the canyon altogether, Elara closed her eyes, her Moonhare ears twitching. "The echoes... they vibrate differently for each direction," she murmured, guiding them through the maze.
As Hiroto leaned into Elara, trying to catch her whispered guidance, Luna's eyebrows furrowed. "I can make an excellent echo too!" she exclaimed suddenly, producing a thunderous boom, her face then coloring with embarrassment.
Riku, always the opportunist, unveiled a cluster of blue, spiral-patterned mushrooms from his pouch. "Echoing Mushrooms," he declared proudly, urging everyone to try one. The results were unexpected and hilarious. Their internal thoughts, from Hiroto's strategic calculations to Luna's wistful hopes, boomed out for all to hear. The real comedy gold, however, was Riku's internal debate about whether spicy or sweet sauce was superior.
Amidst the laughter and bickering, Elara was drawn to an ancient carving on the canyon wall. She traced the outline of a majestic Moonhare with stars for eyes. Memories of bedtime stories resurfaced, of her ancestors playing a vital role in guarding the canyon's secrets.
The group's dynamics continued to shift as Hiroto, sensing Luna's distress, offered her a soft compliment. But in the echoing cacophony of the canyon, it blasted out like a royal announcement, leaving both of them crimson-faced. Not to be outdone, Hiroto then exchanged a charged look with Elara, the tension palpable.
As they neared the heart of the canyon, Hiroto felt an unsettling sensation of being watched. Out of the corner of his eye, he kept catching glimpses of a shadowy figure, its eyes glinting mysteriously.
Finally, bathed in a pool of moonlight, they discovered the Silent Bloom. Its petals shimmered ethereally. Each team member consumed a petal, and the world went still. Thoughts intertwined, offering clarity and understanding. Hiroto could feel Luna's hesitations, her doubts, and her hopes, which assuaged some of his guilt.
The moment of profound connection was broken by Riku's thoughts, loudly pondering the culinary potential of the Silent Bloom. The group's laughter echoed one last time as they made their exit, leaving the canyon – and the mysterious watcher – behind.