As far as they were concerned, Merritt was absolutely acing this dungeoneering thing. They had knocked down a whole wall, survived the creepy, sentient pottery. Now they had a companion, who was also killing this dungeon thing. Nicodemus may not have been the most talkative, but Merritt made that up for the both of them. The chestnut practically pranced along the pathways. They had approached another large, stone wall. However, as they approached it slid upwards to show it was in fact a door. The ground rumbled beneath them, slightly knocking Merritt off guard.

“ONWARD!” They cried, taking the lead and trotting through the new entry way. As their hooves trod the ground, dust began to kick up around them. The chestnut halted in place, only serving to surround them more with dust. They could no longer see the ground despite the torch light. Huffing, Merritt struggled to get a closer look. They lowered their muzzle in an attempt to wave away the dust and find ground again. 

Doing so, however, caused a sharp twinge in his nostrils as they inadvertently breathed in dust. 

“A-AH-AHCHOO!” 

Merritt not only cleared the dust, but their voice also echoed loudly around the enclosed space. Nicodemus felt his ears ring as he sharply shook his head. A quiet chuckle rang from next to him. The thick, grizzled champagne had looked on with thinly veiled amusement.

“Not the most subtle type, is he?” Demir mused, raising a scarred brow. Nicodemus shot the stallion a terse look. He looked on, owlishly as if to say ‘you think?’ Nicodemus then stepped over to Merritt as Demir shot him a commiserating look. 

“Perhaps, I should take the lead.” Nicodemus offered. They didn't quite know what was in here and with the overzealous chestnut, they likely lost what cover they had. Not that he was particularly paranoid, just simply cautious after their last encounter. Seeing that magic existed, it was hard to tell what things were in place here. 

Merritt raised their head to agree, only to find themselves locked in place by something. Jerking, they found something dark and translucent gripping their muzzle. Looking back, he found more along his legs, keeping him in place.

“Uh…Nico…buddy?” They hedged.

“What is it now?” Nicodemus responded, turning his head and immediately clocking what looked like hands all over the other. He lifted a leg to try and aid, but found himself also rooted in place. The hands were crawling up from the ground, the dust from earlier no longer there and a pristine floor took its place. 

“What the hell?” Demir yelled as he too was pinned down by the spectral hands. 

They didn't seem to do much more than pin them in place. Nicodemus grunted, trying to push against the hands to free his limbs. But to no avail. He shook his head and snapped his teeth at the hands restraining his head. “What are these things?” He asked as his teeth had no effect. 

Merritt whimpered and began to jerk more violently. They managed to dislodge two hands, but they quickly took a new hold. The chestnut bounced in place, legs kicking waywardly as they were freed then restrained. 

“Haven't they ever heard of consent? Hey, watch it!” Merritt groused, his voice turning to a squeal as the hands moved closer to hold down his bucking flank. “Let go!” they shrieked, struggling even more. Nicodemus continued to bite and jerk around, but much less in a panicked state. If he moved the right way, maybe he could free himself. 

“Panicking is not going to help anyone.” Demir called from his end of the path. The champagne hadn't tried bucking or biting. Instead tensing his muscles and gathering energy. If he planned it just right, he could free himself and the others. The hands seemed to function independently. Some loosening while others tightened, as if rotating who restrained what. 

When the hands all seemed to loosen for a fraction of a moment, Demir struck. He reared up, breaking the grip on half the hands. As they raced to restrain him again, he twisted away and barreled toward the others. 

“It is all about timing.” He crowed, using momentum to slide into Nicodemus and dislodge enough hands to free him. Nicodemus stumbled back, losing his footing and barely catching himself on his forelegs. Nodding his thanks, the pair righted themselves and moved to free Merritt.

“Just hold still.” Nicodemus tried to instruct the panicking Courser. Merritt didn't seem to hear and simply kept bucking and biting as he had seen Nicodemus do. Demir huffed and barreled over the shorter Courser, careful not to trample the other. Merritt, now freed, was sent skidding across the ground, head spinning from the force of the collision. 

Demir was undeterred and continued down the path to the exit. “Let's get a move on!” He ordered, not slowing to wait for the other two. Nicodemus quickly helped right Merritt and urged the chestnut to follow Demir. The hands all scrambled and formed a swarm to give chase. Nicodemus brought up the end as he followed, just barely sliding out of their reach. 

The trio slid to a stop in front of the pedestal in the center of the room. The very thing the hands were guarding them from. The hands surrounded them, but made no further motion. As if awaiting a command or for one to move within range again. Nicodemus studied them, curiously. He looked to the pedestal, wondering what could have summoned the hands of what they were protecting. 

“Clearly this pedestal must mean something. That or they were trying to tell us something.” Nicodemus mused, partially to himself. Demir grunted in agreement, focusing more on the pedestal. “Could be just about anything. But this does seem to have some significance. At least the craftsmanship says so.” Demir huffed, knocking a hoof against the pedestal. 

“Yes, yes the statue is very pretty. But are you both forgetting that we almost died!” Merritt shrieked from their place on the ground. The chestnut collapsed when the hands stopped approaching. 

“We did not almost die.” Nicodemus groaned.

“Stop complaining, you are fine.” Demir huffed.

“Something did die! My dignity!” Merritt replied, offended.

“Sure you didn't lose that ages ago?” Demir muttered, teasingly.

“What was that, Boulder-brain?” Merritt replied, standing up to face the champagne.

The pair were then head to head before Nicodemus cleared his throat. “We have much more important things to do than fighting. Let's look around for an exit.” the grullo instructed, leaving the pair to check the other side of the pedestal.