The shattered buildings loomed like giant husks around them as Fetch steadily marched forward. There was a heaviness in the air that bordered on suffocating. Phantom fingers brushed against his skin as he twitched at their presence. There was nothing here, however. No bugs, no creatures. He didn't see anything skitter under the rocks. The battlefield was completely silent.

"Anyone else feel like we're not alone?" Quinn asked. He hated the way his voice shook a little. The destruction was getting under his skin. He swore that to their right a skeleton moved. He took what reassurance he could from Walter nestled on his back, their point of warmth grounding him.

"Three were lost last week. Last heard roaming these grounds and never seen again," Fetch spoke easily, a fact more than something meant of fear.

"You're never alone in this dungeon, Quill. Not even in the darkest of darkness," Elrim added quietly, his tone meant to be both a warning and reassurance. Quill only felt a little more uneasy.

~*~*~*~

Something shined in the corner of his eye as he peered inside the old settlements. Just in front of the door, on the ground, something silver and blue caught his eye. Quill stepped off the path carefully, nosing away the small debris that cluttered it, and picked it up between his teeth.

He moved it back to the road as he dropped it, staring down at the beautiful blue-jeweled amulet at his feet. It was gorgeous. The colour reminded him of the ocean just before dusk, a hint of gold and greens glinting as the lantern's light washed over it.

"It's gorgeous," Quill whispered almost reverently. From his periphery he noticed the way Fetch went to study the rubble and Elrim stopped behind her. He didn't understand the significance though. "Are we allowed to keep it?"

Fetch stood over it for a moment, looking at the colours and the way the dungeon sighed around her. "It would seem that it's a gift." A small reassurance, a gentle warmth.

Elrim turned as if he was going to add something else, but instead shook his head. The mistrust was clear in his eyes. He wasn't going to discourage him, which left Quill wondering just what warnings he had to give. Ignorance wanted to scream that it didn't matter, but Elrim hadn't proven him wrong yet.

"If you got something to say, you know I'll listen," he urged.

Elrim didn't say another word as he silently walked over to the amulet and turned it over.

A familiar crest was craved into its back, a few small details different than his own.

"Wait, what does it mean? Did my ancestors fight in this battle? Did my dad lose this?" He didn't remember his dad ever wearing it. He couldn't leave it behind if it was a part of history. He had to bring it back home to show his folks, but Elrim's quietness didn't soothe any of his nerves.

"Elrim, please."

"I don't know," Elrim said instead, looking at Fetch for acknowledgment, but she was moving on ahead, carefully choosing their path and giving them space to talk. She wouldn't interfere here. "No, that's not entirely true." Elrim shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, looking back at the building that was too close to the path for that amulet to just sit there unnoticed by all who traveled. Quill wasn't the most observant.

"The dungeon's acknowledging you, whether through blood or trial."

The words made no sense to Quill.

"What does that mean?"

"If only I knew." Elrim's voice was apologetic. The smallest tinge of frustration and irritation that the answers taunted him just out of reach.

"Well, maybe it's a good thing then! Maybe it likes me." Fake it to you make it, right?

When a loved one gave you jewelery, it was a good thing. How bad could a dungeon giving him jewelery be?

As if reading his thoughts, Walter chastised him softly.

Yeah. Nothing to worry about.