You hear a faint trickling in the passage with you, and torchlight reveals a dark liquid rushing through grooves in the floor underfoot. You follow the trail to a stone sarcophagus sitting uncovered at the center of a circular chamber. Peering hesitantly inside, you see the dark liquid congealing there, its scabbed surface grotesque but enthralling…

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They had survived the vortex… thankfully. 

Although most of them were wet from the water attack, they managed to get out without any grave injuries, without even smaller bruises. Their manes were slowly becoming damp, and returning to their everyday state as the party took a quick break in one of  the caverns nearby in the dungeon.

Sylvan gently wiped Cithis’ body with a spare towel in silence, both mares not uttering even a word out as they fixed their appearances. Cithis’ body was a little tense, and her cheeks were burning red underneath her grullo coat at the close proximity with the bounty hunter, her heart beating just a tad bit faster. Like a hare escaping from a wolf.

Sereia finished fixing herself up, and Rogue was the first to completely dry himself off. They were ready to go once again. Rogue only made sure once more (and then at least ten times more) that everyone was good to go, and they set off deeper into the dungeon once again.

They walked, the cobblestone corridors familiar… But that was to be expected, right? Most of the corridors in this part of the dungeon looked similar to each other. It shouldn’t be anything surprising.

But the longer they walk through it, the more suspicious the party gets.

“Rogue.” Cithis swallowed hard, looking down to her hooves, seeing a familiar sight. One that she hoped to never see ever again, if she could. “Is this what I think it is?” She added, nervousness laced in her question. She was a brave one, sure, but almost being brainwashed by the mysterious pull of that thing and becoming one with it wasn’t something her mere bravery could stand.

“The tomb.” Rogue answered, his own fuzzy eyebrows furrowed. Was it the same path they took in the past? It’d mean that The Skull could be somewhere close around, too. But could’ve they really taken the same dangerous path twice now…?

“It might be that there’s more of these fucked up tombs located around the dungeon.” Sylvan spoke out from behind the two Coursers, her ear twitching. “It’s Rogue’s big day today, but I also advise us to be careful.” She added in the end.

“Oh, Sylvan, cut the boy some slack!” Sereia added teasingly, tilting her head to the side. “He managed to get us away from the vortex and easily found the safe way back there. I’m sure whatever happens now, he’ll manage.” The healer gave the rookie a toothy grin. She truly believed in the young apprentice’s abilities.

“Like when he had to grab your tail, or you would’ve ended up swimming away with the water current?” Sylvan raised an eyebrow, earning a huff from Sereia. The bounty hunter couldn’t help but grin, seeing that she got under her friend’s skin playfully.

“Let’s just try to walk around it, without looking inside… We already know what is there, after all.” Rogue finally spoke out, and the party proceeded into the chamber… their gazes still drifting towards the sarcophagus in the very middle of it.

Cithis was trying very hard to not look, swallowing hard as she kept her head up high, only giving spare glances towards the creepy tomb. Rogue had a bit more trouble, but since he was the party leader for today, he tried his hardest - it was his trial, after all, he had to show that he was worthy of becoming a recognized member of the Howlingthorn.

Sereia and Sylvan were doing better, although the seafom-coloured mare stole more glance than Cithis at the tomb, wondering whether the mysterious liquid would prove useful in her job as a healer… only to get nudged in the side by Sylvan, who rolled her eyes, already knowing what her friend was thinking at this moment. Sereia only gave her a teasing grin in response, shrugging. What? That was the life of a healer, she had to get creative with her medicine!