PRIORITY: NON-URGENT

PURPOSE: REMINDER

SUBJECT: THE SHADY CAVERNS

Good morning, everyone!

It has come to our attention that despite numerous bulletins and even personal invitations, no one has actually visited the Shady Caverns yet. Roy Shade has expressed his disappointment in several recent communiques, and we would like to remind you that the Shady Caverns are only a short walk from the outpost.

Don’t forget that as part of our wellness initiative, hours of exercise logged can be converted into dessert points! Exploring the vast network of caves would be a great way to rack up points while also getting away from the lab, enjoying some new sights, and observing the creatures of the Shady Caverns ecosystem in their natural habitat.

We hope that everyone will take some time—perhaps a weekend? Maybe a midweek minivacation?—to stop by the Shady Caverns, meet Roy and Nora, and delve into the caves. As an added bonus, it will be a nice, cool, constant temperature underground…much better than the recent heat spikes we’ve been experiencing since summer arrived!

Excerpts from visitor reports will be recorded here.

REPORTS FROM VISITORS

Rosa Dhey

I had so much fun at the Shady Caverns! I got lost a few times and almost fell in a river once, but it was totally worth it for all the cool sights I saw. There’s absolutely nothing like seeing a Monta Selo in its natural environment—they can blend in so well you don’t even see them before the massive boulder starts to move. I can’t wait to visit again.

Coral M. Mui

Other than having to deal with a minor cave-in, my experience exploring the Shady Caverns was certainly a positive one. I do wish I could have spent more time wandering through the caves, but the Suna Hundos I’m caring for in my lab get antsy if I am away too long. Maybe next time I can bring one of them with me, I’m sure they’d enjoy the outing.

Joyce Toller

Roy reminded me to bring a swimsuit, and I’m so glad he did. I took a few hours off from cave delving to swim in Shady Lake. The water was refreshing, just warm enough to be comfortable in the cool cavern. Surprisingly, Senvida Naganto appear quite friendly. I had several swim around with me for a while. (They’re also quite delicious.)

Marsh Nook

The Shady Caverns are a wonderful place to visit! I loved the quiet setting and the soft lighting—sometimes nothing more than a lantern, sometimes almost enough of a glow from the Kaverno Musko to see by alone. Cool, still air carries the scent of dusty eons compressed into hard stone. Oh, I’m waxing a bit poetic, aren’t I? At any rate, definitely stop by when you have a chance, you won’t regret it!