For most of his life thus far, Rukbat had primarily stuck to the shallower levels of the dungeon. Not that he didn’t feel confident in his abilities, mind, but the lush caverns just below the surface usually were more than enough to provide for his and Auriga’s needs. Every once in a while, though, the thought of descending chewed at the back of his mind. Nothing lasted forever. Eventually, he would need to go down, once the resources here were depleted enough. The day came sooner than he’d hoped. His last few dives had come up with scarce few treasures and plants, and their stocks were beginning to run low.

He was not a fool, however. For one, he forbade Auriga from tagging along, at least until he got the lay of the land beneath their hooves. For two, he knew better than to attempt pathfinding alone. What coin remained in his stash could be used to buy food, but it was more wise to spend it hiring an experienced guide for his first few dives into the Furnace. On this, his first descent into the sweltering abyss, he’d contracted out the services of the Guild’s finest pathfinder, Phoebe. Her skills were widely renowned – it would be coin well spent for his future.

Their trek was nearly silent for the first few hours. The ambient noise of burbling magma and steady hoofbeats was occasionally broken only by Rukbat piping up to ask a question, sometimes twice before Phoebe noticed enough to answer. Most of his attention went to taking careful note of branching pathways and the less immediately obvious hazards Phoebe pointed out. He knew well enough not to step into lava, of course. But navigating a geyser field, picking out the weak spots in the earth where scalding steam was liable to burst forth at the slightest touch? Now that was a bit out of his normal purview. Nearly four hours into the trek, however, Rukbat’s ears perked up at the sound of another set of hooves. More distant than Phoebe’s, and less confident. Had someone else followed them? His ears swiveled until he triangulated the direction, and broke from behind his guide to peer into a chamber. “Hello?”

In the center of the chamber stood a confused Courser, who whirled around at the sound of another voice. “Ah! Hi!” She was clearly nervous. Her muscles quivered as she sized up Rukbat. He lowered his head and let his ears drift to the side to indicate he was no threat. After a few moments, she nickered an uncomfortable laugh. “So, uh, I’m… I’m lost. I’m not sure how I ended up here, or which direction I came from...” She craned her neck behind her and Rukbat could see why. There must have been five or six separate tunnels leading into this chamber, with no real distinguishing features between any of the entrances. One turn-around and it would be terrifyingly easy to lose your orientation.

“Happens to the best of us,” Rukbat nodded, swishing his tail. “First time down here?” The young stranger nodded, almost embarrassed. “Mine too. But I brought a guide with me.”

Her eyes glinted and her ears pricked. “Really? Can I follow you guys out? I’m… SO thirsty.”

Of course she was. Her dark fur was drenched in sweat. Her waterskin looked barely a third-full. She reminded him of Auriga, with her light smattering of white freckles and her naive enthusiasm. Ending the dive early would mean he wouldn’t get his full coin’s worth from Phoebe’s services, but he couldn’t just… leave this youngster here. “...Yeah. Sure. Stay here, let me get Phoebe.” Rukbat turned and exited the chamber. A quiet stamp of a back foot signaled Deadeye to leave his perch on his back and mark the entrance tunnel, which he did, though he panted from the heat once settled. Rukbat had half expected Phoebe to have wandered off completely without him, given her intense focus on her task. But no, she had remained in the vicinity, despite not verbally acknowledging his departure. Well, she hadn’t earned her reputation for renowned perception and awareness for nothing. “Phoebe. Let’s head back. I found a lost Courser who needs a guide more than I do.”

Phoebe’s ears pricked, and she immediately began trotting to the tunnel Deadeye marked without even needing any further guidance. “Of course.” When she poked her head in, she whinnied a greeting. “Hello, youngster! Let’s get you out of here, hm? This spot can be tricky for newcomers.” The young dark Courser eagerly trotted to Phoebe’s side, and the trio began their journey back the way they came. “We’ll have you up on the surface in no time.”