Prompt: The next step you take feels a bit squishy and is immediately followed by a high-pitched ruckus at hoof level. *MIMIMIMI.* You have stepped on a mushroom, and a family of pixies is swearing at you for crushing their beautiful gazebo. Oops!

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Cordula’s lamp lit the way as they wandered through the thick plant life of the Overgrown Caverns. Leaves brushed against their side, bringing out a shiver from the weld colored courser. Only their little lamp brought them comfort as they trudged forward, exploring the dungeon for the first time.

As they entered the tunnel leading into the dungeon the light from their lantern had created rippled light resembling water but the tunnel soon expanded, the cavern grew, soon they were in a space too large for the light of their little lantern to reach the walls or ceiling. They had made their way down into the depths of the earth as the tunnel had led her down a slope. The plants became thicker, more lush. Sounds they had never heard before rang out around them. Some were sharp and startling, others deep and long getting louder as the seconds dragged on.

The light of the lamp was not quite enough to stop the young dungeoneer from stepping on something hidden beneath the brush. It squished beneath their hoof, making them jump back in surprise at the strange spongey feeling.

MIMIMIMI!

The highpitched sound near their ear almost sent the courser racing back to the entrance of the dungeon, but upon turning their head in a panic they spotted the pixies all flying around her. They clearly looked upset if their waving arms and frantic speaking weren’t enough of an indication.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Could you please slow down? I can’t understand you when you talk so fast and when all of you talk at once,” Cordula requested.

One pixie took the front and waved at the others, getting them to hush. They then cleared their throats and looked right into Cordula’s blue eyes, making sure the courser was paying attention.

“Can you hear me?” the pixie squeaked.

“Yes, now I can hear,” Cordula replied.

“Well, it would appear you accidentally stepped on our gazebo.”

“Oh dear! No one was hurt, were they?”

Cordula’s eyes widened in panic.

“No, no, no!” the pixie interjected before the panic of the courser could worsen.

“Oh, thank goodness…”

“But our poor gazebo is beyond repair!” the pixie wailed.

“I’m sincerely sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”

As soon as the words were out of their mouth, they regretted it. The pixies unleashed their demands upon the courser.

“If you’re so big and powerful then poof us up a new gazebo!” one yelled.

“Give us everything you have and leave. Sure you have something that can make up for it,” another huffed.

“How about the lantern! Break the glass, empty it out, BAM! Perfect new gazebo!” a third chimed in.

Cordula’s ears flipped back and forth as the chorus of voices devolved into a buzzing MIMIMIMI all around them. It did not take the weld courser long to realize there was nothing they could do. The demands got crazier and worse, their voices got louder, they began tugging at their ears and poking their face.

“STOP! PLEASE!” Cordula cried before charging forward.

Rushing through the plant life and darkness, sending leaves snapping backwards, they quickly lost the angry lot of pixies that clearly wanted revenge more than a fix to the actual issue. Nagging guilt hit the courser but they were certain that escape had been their only option.

“I’m sorry,” they whispered into the darkness behind them.

Slowly they continued forward, needing to give their legs a break from their sprint and to catch their breath but feeling the need to put more distance between themselves and the angry pixies. Cordula would need to go around this area on their way back to avoid their anger when this dive came to a close.