Paige had sobered up some after the rather animated discussion with Phoebe about just what the symbols meant, especially considering the potential source of the coppery smell that had hung in the air. In any case, better equipped though she was for the furnace, Phoebe had promised to show her a path back to more familiar territory, so she could relay her most recent findings back to her tribe.

The air had finally started to cool when a wailing whinny bounced through their corridor, the sound lacking a significant amount of eerieness for either courser (or wolf, for that matter) to brush it off as phantom voices, and despite their relatively minor amount of time together, even Phoebe's often one-track mind apparently faltered when she heard a Courser in distress.

With Cinder leading the way at Paige's soft request, the coursers leapt into a steady canter, sure footed in the way regular dungeon goers (or those lucky enough to be born there) tended to be, despite the unfamiliar territory on Paige's behalf.

It seemed they weren't the only coursers within earshot, and Paige braced herself at first for the colony of bats that were sure to follow the one that had just sped in front of her, clicking away in the direction they were now travelling only to be met with a pair of unfamiliar coursers - to her at least.

"Fetch! What brings you this way? Phoebe asked without giving the other coursers another glance, her tone conversational despite the energy being used to get where they needed to go.

"This is Neo" Fetch responded instead, tossing her head towards her companion without missing a step, already slipping in beside the other two without questioning if they were headed the same way.

"Paige." Paige answered in kind, though her attention wasn't so much on the pleasantries at the time.

Paige enjoyed running with others, though the slight worry about what they's find at the end of this tunnel dampened her spirits somewhat. The only thing that would make it better was if more of the wolf pack were beside her - but beggers couldn't be choosers.

Neo didn't speak at all, though she seemed as eager to reach their destination as the others, her attention somewhat on the bat that still flew before them which gave a good indication that it was her companion, just like Cinder was hers. Unable to question her though, they continued to run in silence, hoofbeats drumming a pleasant beat along the stone floor until they burst out of the tunnel onto a ledge that led towards a filthy cesspool of water, and four other coursers who were desperately trying to reach them.

Calix and Cerridwen were lagging behind while Tyffyn and Sorrel lunged through the water towards safety, attempting to deter the creature charging at them from under the water. Phoebe and Fetch don't hesitate, jumping into the water to help while Neo and Paige went for Tyffyn and Sorrel, to help them escape the cistern.

Maggie floated forward, diving into the water to distract the creature at a better vantage point while Fetch acted as a shield, cutting between the creature and Calix and Cerridwen to give them some room to head towards the stairs they'd just come down. Phoebe had pulled a rope from her pack, a loop already tied into it that she looped around the creature's jaws while Maggie distracted it, pulling the loop closed with a practiced snap of her neck, minimising the threat posed from the long, toothy maw. "It'll break out of it quick enough, but we should be able to escape" She explained, surging away from the beast and offering Cerridwen and Calix support from behind, trying not to be rude about her urging, but also not liking their chances if they couldn't get out before the monster had managed to free itself.

They did manage to survive the encounter, exhausted, a little worse for wear, but safe, the tunnel that had led Fetch, Phoebe, Paige and Neo to the adventuring party evidently just one of many exits to the chamber they found themselves in. It was green in a way that would put the Caverns to shame, the columns extending to a ceiling that was riddled with holes, allowing light enough to see the forest made from natural and unnatural things. They did not hesitate to find somewhere to rest, all but piling up on eachother on the floor, Phoebe inspecting them for injuries and Fetch standing, taking in their surroundings with a soft, musing hum, more to herself than the others.

Tyffyn was unscathed, having been further from the threat with Sorrel, and able to get further away, especially once Calix and Cerridwen had begun to fend off the watery beast that had been charging for them. She was circling their group, tail flicking nervously as she took in their surroundings. She was not unfamiliar with the enchantments that could bleed into these rooms, and this place felt like one of those.

Sorrel was bewildered, glancing at the additional coursers with confusion that he quickly masked, ignorant to the uneasiness Tyffyn and Fetch were displaying and instead focussed on not looking a fool in front of the newcomers. Clearing his throat, and making sure he looked somewhat decent considering the much that clung to his fur after the water, he offered his thanks to the coursers who had helped them out, very humbly not explaining that he was perfectly capable of rescuing them all himself if he hadn't been so deep in the water himself.

Neo nodded at Sorrel's words, offering no introduction herself as her attention wandered to Screech, fluttering near the ceiling trying to ascertain the source of the unease both he and his companion felt. She had noticed the dark crow that was settled quite politely on Sorrel's gear, though only afforded Lark a small glance before her attention was to Screech, waiting to see what he found.

Paige wasnt nearly so wuiet, bouncing up to investigate Sorrel's gear and greet the crow on his back with a delighted "Hello!", paying little mind to the other courser's personal space and absolutely thrilled when she said her name only to have the crow repeat it back. "That's handy! Does she speak often?" She asked of Sorrel, startled when Lark responded with a sharp "Yes" Instead of waiting for Sorrel's response. "She's clever. Saved my rump more times than I can count." Sorrel explained, pride for his partner clear in his tone, the boast for his bord overriding his need to be the most important creature in a room.

"Very cool. This is Cinder, and that's Neo. Do you know Paige and Fetch?" Paige continued, nodding her head to indicate who she spoke about and clearly enjoying each time Lark repeated the names back. "Doesn't seem like the wisest choice wading through water you can't see through" She added, a gentle tease as though she'd know the snowflakes Stallion far longer than she had.

Sorrel went to clarify the reasoning, about to recount their trip through the too-narrow passage when the wolf he'd only just been introduced to started growling softly, shifting to press her weight against Paige's legs and causing the other courser's demeanour to change sharply. "Did you see that?" She asked, stopping his argument before he'd begun to make it.

Neo had moved closer, lowering her head to inspect Cinder's posture and trying to look in the same direction, unable to see the danger but fully trusting that there was a potential problem beyond where the light was.

Sorrel hummed a soft no, though he mimicked the other horses as he tried to figure out what they were looking for, paying no mind as Fetch wandered back towards where Phoebe tended to Calix and Cerridwen, ears twitching slightly at the soft conversation but unable to make anything out.

Phoebe stsrted nudging Calix to his feet, slow, deliberate movements so they didn't attract attention, concerned that the watcher in the woods may very well be predatory in nature, and eager to consume the injured coursers.

Fetch approached again, though this time she offerred Neo a gentle nudge, an unspoken farewell before she was off to join Phoebe in her assistance to the injured coursers.

Phoebe in turn, hissed towards Tyffyn, pulling her attention away from where she had been watching to bring her in on the plan she and Fetch had worked out.

"Fetch and I will take these two back to the surface. They're in no state to defend themselves if this goes south." She spoke softly, though did not mince her words regarding the potential fates of the seasoned adventurers. Fetch wouldn't accompany her the entire way, but between her skills as a navigator, and Fetch's innate familiarity with the dungeons, they were the ideal pair for such a situation.

"It's possible they're friendly, but I dont want to risk it. Keep their attention on you, if you can."

Paige and Neo had already picked up on what Phoebe was going to ask, flanking Tyffyn on either side and allowing her to nudge them into a more advantageous decision. Sorrel, meanwhile, had been slower on the uptake, though a soft croon from Lark brought him back to the situation at hand and he trotted over as well, standing to Paige's other side and shifting so he was blocking as much space as he could - a quick glance behind to check on the others though they'd already managed to disappear into the murky darkness - which at least made the next bit easier.

Hopefully the watchers were friends, not foe.