The deeper they ventured into the dungeon, the darker it grew. The air grew thick with the smell of damp stone and ancient dust, the only sound the soft echo of their hooves on the cold ground. As they set up camp for the night in a cavernous alcove, Diomedes, ever eager to be at the forefront of any challenge, lay down in his usual haphazard manner. His usual bravado had begun to fade, replaced with a quiet unease.

Tyffyn had already settled beside him, her body relaxed, though her watchful eyes scanned the surroundings. The cavern was still, silent in a way that set the hairs on the back of Diomedes’ neck on edge. He snorted softly, shaking his head to clear away the nervous feeling gnawing at him.

It wasn’t long before sleep claimed him, and his dreams began.

At first, the dream seemed ordinary, almost pleasant. He stood in a vast, open field—a place that reminded him of the meadows outside his home. The sun was high, and the air smelled fresh. He trotted through the tall grass, feeling the wind in his mane. But as he looked up, he saw them: figures, standing in the distance, just beyond the reach of the sunlight. Tall, shadowy shapes, with piercing eyes that glowed a faint, unnatural blue.

The figures watched him, their gazes cold and unwavering. Diomedes tried to move toward them, his hooves slow and heavy as if the very ground beneath him was resisting his every step. As he got closer, the air grew colder, and the field seemed to warp around him. The grass turned to blackened stone, the sky a dull, sickly green. He felt the pressure in his chest, a weight pulling him down.

Then the ground cracked beneath him, and he tumbled into darkness.

He woke with a start, his heart pounding in his chest and his eyes darted around the cavern, the dim glow of their campfire casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Tyffyn, ever watchful, was already awake, her gentle eyes meeting his. She could sense his discomfort.

“Diomedes,” she whispered softly, her voice calm and soothing. “You were restless in your sleep.”

Diomedes pawed at the ground, his muscles tense. “I—I don’t know what happened,” he stammered, his usual confidence shaken. “I was in a field… but it turned dark. And there were… figures watching me. They had these cold, glowing eyes, and I couldn’t move, Tyffyn. It felt like something was holding me there.”

Tyffyn regarded him quietly, her gaze filled with understanding. She knew how the dungeon could twist the minds of those who dared venture too deep. “The deeper we go, the more the dungeon plays with our fears. It can take the things we fear most and twist them into something far worse. Those figures… they may not be real, Diomedes, but the fear they instill is.”

Diomedes snorted, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Tyffyn. It felt real. And I—” He hesitated, his voice quieter now. “I don’t know if I can face whatever’s down here. I feel like… like something’s watching me. Like it’s waiting for me to slip up.”

Tyffyn’s gaze softened, and she moved closer, nudging him gently with her muzzle. “You are stronger than you think, Diomedes. Fear is a beast that thrives on the unknown, but remember, you are not alone. Whatever haunts you in your dreams, we will face it together.”

Diomedes met her gaze, the unease still swirling inside him, but he could feel the warmth of her presence calming the storm within him. “You’re right, Tyffyn,” he muttered, forcing himself to take a deep breath. “I can’t let it get to me.”

Tyffyn nodded, her expression steady and resolute. “Rest now, Diomedes. Tomorrow, we face what lies ahead together.”

Though the fear still lingered in his chest, Diomedes felt a small flicker of comfort. He wasn’t alone, not while Tyffyn was by his side. As he lay back down, the haunting eyes of the dream still lingered in the back of his mind, but he squeezed his eyes shut and tried to focus on the rhythm of his breathing, finding solace in the quiet strength of his mentor.

Diomedes thought of his brother-- would he be so scared? Was there really something watching him? He couldn't wait to talk to his friends about this journey that Tyffyn invited him on. He might leave out all the anxiety and looking over his shoulder in his retelling, though. 

Tomorrow, the dungeon would be waiting, and together, they would face it.