“Hold still,” Pascal said firmly, putting one hoof down on Phoebe’s shoulder to hold his fellow Dungeon Courser in place. “That lichen drake did a number on you.”

“And more will come if we don’t get moving,” Phoebe retorted, though the end of her sentence was cut off by a small hiss as pain shot through her shoulder. Pascal rolled his eyes.

The pair had retreated to a small alcove where they were hidden by a curtain of hanging moss, only a tiny torchlight giving Pascal just enough vision to see and work. Somewhere nearby, water dripped rhythmically from the ceiling and splashed into a puddle below. Otherwise, silence filled the air, though both Coursers swore they could hear the muffled screeches of… something in the distance. Neither acknowledged it to the other.

“Quit moving!” Pascal said, huffing as Phoebe flexed her shoulder and blood blossomed out from underneath the bandage he had just applied, staining it a deep crimson. Both Coursers froze as something wheezed around the corner, taking in deep, stuttered breaths. Eventually, the sound moved past the moss curtain and away from them, fading into the distance before disappearing entirely.

Silence fell upon them once more.

“... so why did’ja choose to be a healer?” Phoebe said, finally breaking the tension in the air.

“I, hmm…” Pascal whispered back, rolling his tongue in his mouth as he thought. “I suppose I had to, in a way. I used to know other Coursers, when I was a foal. They are… not around, anymore.”

Phoebe’s ears perked up, a slight flash of sympathy sparking in her eyes.

“Who were they?”

Pascal sighed, and lifted his hoof, letting Phoebe get up with a grunt of soreness.

“You should be able to walk now. Let’s go,” he said, exiting through the curtain and into the darkness of the dungeon once more.