"You head back to your makeshift camp to rest after a brief but perilous exploration of a pit nearby. When you return, you find that another adventuring party has taken up residence and is rummaging through your treasure! Diplomacy is ineffective; these ruffians won't move unless you move them."

---

After covering ground far from the room of ill-natured tomes, the party could finally slow their pace. As promised Fetch had kept the magical library's irritable denizens at bay but... the ether's absence did cause the party some unease. If she didn't return what would they do...?

They could not leave her, despite the insistence that she could handle the situation.

"..." The sordid thought rolled through Vivaine's mind, one hoof pawing impatiently at the slick cobble as a soft snort escaped their muzzle. Worry heavy in the champagne courser's thoughts; they could only hope for the best. But what if hope betrayed them?

"Do not worry, we will wait," the grey Casper attempted comfort.

At this Vivaine perked their ears forward, appreciative.

"And if they do not show I will go and see if I can find them," The guard bay tacked on with a nod and a nicker- he had no intentions of leaving anyone behind.

And so they waited; moments of silence dragging on for a nervous eternity. Until, finally, they heard the thud of hoofsteps on the cobble, the rhythmic sound of a fast pace as something tried to catch up. Soon the ether courser had returned- a few nicks in her pelt and... the smell of soot hanging off her coat?

The party could only imagine how she might have handled the deadly library then.

"What are you lot standing around for? I told you I could handle it- and handle it I did," Fetch returned with a smirk and a spring in their step; whatever they did (set the library on fire) they were quite proud of it. "Told you when you hired me I was born here- few things can get the upper hand on me!" She gave a triumphant snort.

"We were waiting on you," Vivaine commented- significantly more chipper having not lost a party member.

"We weren't just going to leave as though nothing happened," Casper chimed in.

"Well appreciate it, but we should get moving- didn't you get a nasty snap Kalim?" The ether questioned, their blue eyes getting drawn to the red iron that marked the bay's heel.

Kalim snorted, head held high- it was a simple nip. His pride took a bit of a blow, being coddled with concerns over a wound so insignificant. "I assure you I will live."

With that, they could return to camp in higher spirits.

But luck refused to ally itself with them.

The dungeon would never let them know true ease, would it?

As they returned to their camp a new scent filled the air; it was familiar but belonged to strangers. With a deep breath, Vivaine took in the scent; it was faint but she had managed to pin it down... "Other coursers," The brindle-coated spoke flatly.

"Friends of yours?" Fetch raised a brow.

"Not mine," Vivaine spoke- mismatch hooves picked up the pace and urged the rest of the party to travel swiftly as well. While they had yet to accrue any real treasures, they did come with a fair amount of supplies- enough to stay a few days in the dungeon before going back above ground. But if strangers ransacked them for all they had...

Would they even make it back up?

...

They were right to return swiftly.

Strangers were picking through the supplies, teeth biting into goods reserved for treks further in. Hooves pulled tent stakes up while teeth were used to undo ropes, and buckles, and otherwise take down anything that could be carried away. Thankfully their recklessness in pilfering the supplies left them blindsided until it was too late.

With a swift charge both Kalim and Fetch barreled forward, shrill squeals of aggression leaving both as the bay shoulder-checked one larger ruffian while Fetch put her full weight against another. Even Vivaine would get into the mix as Casper hung back; the grey was a historian, not a fighter.

"Aye get the hell away from our camp!" Vivaine yelled, teeth sinking into one of the stranger courser's crest; their small size and swift feet made it difficult for the stranger courser to shake them off.

Having had surprise as their ace, the party had the upper hand in the quarrel- but that did not mean the desperate would go down without a fight. Flat teeth bit into muscle and bone while sharp kicks were passed back and forth. One stranger even managed a blow that brought Vivaine to the ground; winded.

But like a spring the brindle was back on their hooves, swift hooves trying to push even the larger stranger's right into Kalim or Fetch's kicks.

"We're not going down easy," One of the larger unknown coursers bellowed, muzzle pulled back in a sneer as they tried to keep their kicks between them and the camp's owners. They sounded like the authority- a leader. "We're taking what you got, so go ba-" They tried to threaten but Kalim landed a heavy kick to the barrel.

With that the fight was really on; it was anyone's game to win.