As your eyes adjust to the brighter light and you look around you realise just how worked the stone around you has been.
The cave itself is circular, on the far side are four doorways, the walls, around them are a warm sandstone, carved with a bas relief showing hunting scenes, lions and leopards eternally chasing game.
Under foot the ground is stone blocks, a mosaic graces the center of the floor, a lions head stylised to also represent the sun, his mane radiating flames. Turning on your heel to take in the entire frieze, you become aware, for the first time, of eyes upon you
A huge tan cat watches your, her coat the same sandy hue as the stone."Hello." She rises and stretches, revealing pale wings that had previously been hidden in the shadows.
The feline sits once more and, between preening her feathers with her teeth, speaks on.
"I suppose you are another visitor. Hansome things aren't they." She flips her tail to indicate the carvings. "We call this place the chamber of the sun lion, it sis probably the remains of some great hall created by the Elders long before the mage storms destroyed them." She licks her chops.
"Makes me hungry just to look at those plump little gazelles. The craftsman ship is delightful, even to my jaded eyes."
She turns back to you and eyes you thoughtfully, as though debating which sort of salad dressing would best accompany you as a meal then grins, her eyes sining with humour at your needless discomfort.
"This network of caverns are set aside for felines of the Tir though not all of us live here. You won't meet many of us at this hour, most are out hunting..." She shuffles her wings and resumes. "Oh well, I am preened, I am cleaned and I am hungry so I shall be off to get my supper."
She flips her tail farewell and trots out the right most of the doors, leaving you to go where you will.
The right most doorway, you assume, leads to the shortest path outside. The second give no indication as to where it leads but the third is well lit a kitten playing down the far end. From the fourth and final doorway comes a gust of cool, moist air and the scent of water.