Luna and the underworld

Previously

…“Are you ready, child?” Xylo asked, his tone devoid of its usual cynicism. There was a genuine, albeit reluctant, concern in his voice. Luna took a deep breath, the cold, stagnant air filling her lungs. She thought of Whisperwing’s shimmering wings, of its tinkling voice, of its cryptic promise. She thought of home, of her mother’s smile, of the sun on her face. “I’m ready,” she said, her voice a small, determined sound in the encroaching darkness. She stepped forward, into the mouth of the cave, and the Underworld, in its infinite and terrifying capacity for surprise, seemed to hold its breath. The true test, she suspected, was about to begin.